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@MayorBowser vs. #Snowzilla: D.C. official weathers the storm on social media @MayorBowser vs. #Snowzilla: D.C. official weathers the storm on social media
(about 1 hour later)
In the latest wintry drama pitting a D.C. politician against snow, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser unleashes a flurry of tweets to battle a monster blizzard and inspire the confidence of her constituents.In the latest wintry drama pitting a D.C. politician against snow, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser unleashes a flurry of tweets to battle a monster blizzard and inspire the confidence of her constituents.
Bowser’s Twitter-ized snow wars thriller — call it @MayorBowser vs. #Snowzilla — begins with a show of contrition following an initial defeat. Her government, @TeamMuriel, has just been blindsided by the leading edge of what was then being referred to as #winterstormjonas.Bowser’s Twitter-ized snow wars thriller — call it @MayorBowser vs. #Snowzilla — begins with a show of contrition following an initial defeat. Her government, @TeamMuriel, has just been blindsided by the leading edge of what was then being referred to as #winterstormjonas.
“Last night the District failed to deploy the necessary resources in response to the snow - for that I am sorry,” Bowser (D) tweeted on Jan. 21 after an inch of snow coated the region, iced the roads and stranded motorists for hours upon hours. So much for #DCSnowReady, a hashtag that Bowser used at one point. “Last night the District failed to deploy the necessary resources in response to the snow — for that I am sorry,” Bowser (D) tweeted last Thursday after an inch of snow coated the region, iced the roads and stranded motorists for hours upon hours. So much for #DCSnowReady, a hashtag that Bowser used at one point.
Among the deluge of replies — some not so nice — was a welcomed one from a grizzled veteran of city snow wars past, @TonyWilliamsDC. He was the District’s mayor during the blizzard of 2003 — and survived unscathed. Williams tweeted “Way to go. Open. Transparent.” Among the deluge of replies — some not so nice — was a welcomed one from a grizzled veteran of city snow wars past, @TonyWilliamsDC. He was the District’s mayor during the blizzard of 2003 — and survived unscathed. Williams tweeted: “Way to go. Open. Transparent.”
Meanwhile, Capital Weather Gang meteorologists at The Washington Post had picked the winner of a contest to name the approaching storm. #Snowzilla was coming. The Capital Weather Gang went so far as to depict the snow on its blog as Godzilla spewing ice crystals along the Atlantic seaboard, freezer-burning the District, Maryland and Virginia completely off the weather map.Meanwhile, Capital Weather Gang meteorologists at The Washington Post had picked the winner of a contest to name the approaching storm. #Snowzilla was coming. The Capital Weather Gang went so far as to depict the snow on its blog as Godzilla spewing ice crystals along the Atlantic seaboard, freezer-burning the District, Maryland and Virginia completely off the weather map.
[A storm named Snowzilla][A storm named Snowzilla]
No city or state could be truly prepared for something like that.No city or state could be truly prepared for something like that.
On the other hand, a mayor or governor could give the appearance of being ready or at least convey a sense of being engaged. Perception, that’s what mattered most, as Marion Barry had learned the hard way as mayor during a snowstorm in 1987.On the other hand, a mayor or governor could give the appearance of being ready or at least convey a sense of being engaged. Perception, that’s what mattered most, as Marion Barry had learned the hard way as mayor during a snowstorm in 1987.
Barry was in Southern California for Super Bowl XXI that year and refused to return when the snowstorm struck. He argued that his director of public works was capable of handling a snowstorm. And what the city couldn’t remove, the sun would melt. So why risk flying into a blizzard for nothing?Barry was in Southern California for Super Bowl XXI that year and refused to return when the snowstorm struck. He argued that his director of public works was capable of handling a snowstorm. And what the city couldn’t remove, the sun would melt. So why risk flying into a blizzard for nothing?
Residents were furious. Twin storms had hammered the city with more than 20 inches of snow, leaving roads clogged with snow drifts for days. Barry would apologize upon his return, but even some who had overlooked his personal indiscretions would not forgive him for being AWOL during a crippling snowstorm.Residents were furious. Twin storms had hammered the city with more than 20 inches of snow, leaving roads clogged with snow drifts for days. Barry would apologize upon his return, but even some who had overlooked his personal indiscretions would not forgive him for being AWOL during a crippling snowstorm.
[Elected officials see storm as a test][Elected officials see storm as a test]
Williams learned from Barry’s mistakes. He had been vacationing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when he got word of the approaching snowstorm in 2003. He didn’t want to fly into a blizzard, either. So he caught flights that circled around the storm and got back to the city just as the snow was starting to fall.Williams learned from Barry’s mistakes. He had been vacationing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when he got word of the approaching snowstorm in 2003. He didn’t want to fly into a blizzard, either. So he caught flights that circled around the storm and got back to the city just as the snow was starting to fall.
“People just want to know that their leaders are with them, that everyone is in this together,” Williams said at the time.“People just want to know that their leaders are with them, that everyone is in this together,” Williams said at the time.
Of course, if there had been Twitter back then, both of them might have been able to make their presence felt with a tweet. Barry could have sent assurances that he had the snowstorm in 1987 under control #SomewhereinDC.Of course, if there had been Twitter back then, both of them might have been able to make their presence felt with a tweet. Barry could have sent assurances that he had the snowstorm in 1987 under control #SomewhereinDC.
To her credit, Bowser also held many media briefings — in person. Remarkably, though, @TeamMuriel still used the same reasons as Barry for why snow removal doesn’t go as well in the District as it does in places such as Buffalo or Minnesota.To her credit, Bowser also held many media briefings — in person. Remarkably, though, @TeamMuriel still used the same reasons as Barry for why snow removal doesn’t go as well in the District as it does in places such as Buffalo or Minnesota.
Washington just isn’t built to handle snow.Washington just isn’t built to handle snow.
But it was the barrage of hashtags and ampersands that conveyed her minute-to-minute engagement in the crisis. For millennials, who represent the largest number of newcomers to the city, Bowser’s tweets satiated a craving for instant updates and news nuggets, no matter how insignificant.But it was the barrage of hashtags and ampersands that conveyed her minute-to-minute engagement in the crisis. For millennials, who represent the largest number of newcomers to the city, Bowser’s tweets satiated a craving for instant updates and news nuggets, no matter how insignificant.
Any latent fears that group might have about Yoyo (Twittertalk for “You’re on your own”), @MayorBowser made clear they were not.Any latent fears that group might have about Yoyo (Twittertalk for “You’re on your own”), @MayorBowser made clear they were not.
Although the District would get the least amount of snow of any jurisdiction in the Washington area and has only 4,400 miles of road to clear compared with, say, 71,000 miles of road in Maryland and 162,000 miles of road in Virginia, @MayorBowser and @TeamMuriel would come to personify the regional resistance movement in #Snowzillia #Blizzard2016. Although the District would get the least amount of snow of any jurisdiction in the Washington area and has only 4,400 miles of road to clear — compared with, say, 71,000 miles of road in Maryland and 162,000 miles of road in Virginia — @MayorBowser and @TeamMuriel would come to personify the regional resistance movement in #Snowzilla #Blizzard2016.
She would protect her city #StaySafeDC and enlist every able-bodied resident in the counterattack #DCDigOut. Not everyone was pleased. After the defeat against Jonas, some fumed displeasure @MayorBowser #Shameful.She would protect her city #StaySafeDC and enlist every able-bodied resident in the counterattack #DCDigOut. Not everyone was pleased. After the defeat against Jonas, some fumed displeasure @MayorBowser #Shameful.
On Monday she tweeted “This afternoon the @WhiteHouse reached out and pledged to support the District as we dig out. Thank you @POTUS.” On Monday, she tweeted: “This afternoon the @WhiteHouse reached out and pledged to support the District as we dig out. Thank you @POTUS.”
Reinforcements were on the way. Washington, under the command of @MayorBowser, had weathered the storm.Reinforcements were on the way. Washington, under the command of @MayorBowser, had weathered the storm.
As for #DCDigOut, to be continued . . .As for #DCDigOut, to be continued . . .
To read previous columns, go to washingtonpost.com/milloy.To read previous columns, go to washingtonpost.com/milloy.