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| Big Storm and Its Disruptions Descend on the Northeast | Big Storm and Its Disruptions Descend on the Northeast |
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| Millions of people in the Northeast were bracing on Friday for what forecasters said could be the biggest blizzard in a century. People rushed to stores to stock up on supplies, drivers lined up at gas stations to fill their tanks and local authorities from New York City to Maine implemented their plans to battle the snow as it began to pile up across the region. | |
| While the worst of the storm was not expected until evening, Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts took the unusual step of banning all cars from the roads in the state starting at 4 p.m. He also joined his neighbors, Rhode Island and Connecticut, in declaring a state of emergency. | While the worst of the storm was not expected until evening, Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts took the unusual step of banning all cars from the roads in the state starting at 4 p.m. He also joined his neighbors, Rhode Island and Connecticut, in declaring a state of emergency. |
| Thousands of flights out of New York and Boston airports were grounded, and the authorities expected air travel to ground to a halt by evening. | Thousands of flights out of New York and Boston airports were grounded, and the authorities expected air travel to ground to a halt by evening. |
| With officials warning people to leave work and get off the roads, workers in towns and cities across the region started moving out with their plows, rechecking their stocks of salt and bracing for what could be a very difficult evening commute. | With officials warning people to leave work and get off the roads, workers in towns and cities across the region started moving out with their plows, rechecking their stocks of salt and bracing for what could be a very difficult evening commute. |
| Amtrak announced that beginning early Friday afternoon it would suspend northbound service out of Pennsylvania Station in New York and southbound service out of Boston. | Amtrak announced that beginning early Friday afternoon it would suspend northbound service out of Pennsylvania Station in New York and southbound service out of Boston. |
| Schools across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced that they would close, or dismiss students early on Friday. | Schools across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced that they would close, or dismiss students early on Friday. |
| On Long Island, the local power company, which received heavy criticism for its response to Hurricane Sandy, was sidelined as National Grid, the utility company that operates the power grid on Long Island, took the lead in preparing for power failures. | On Long Island, the local power company, which received heavy criticism for its response to Hurricane Sandy, was sidelined as National Grid, the utility company that operates the power grid on Long Island, took the lead in preparing for power failures. |
| In Massachusetts, Governor Patrick said at a 12:30 news conference that the storm was going to be every bit as bad as predicted. | In Massachusetts, Governor Patrick said at a 12:30 news conference that the storm was going to be every bit as bad as predicted. |
| “Two or three feet of snow is a profoundly different kind of storm than we have dealt with,” the governor said from the state’s emergency bunker in Framingham. Officials recalled only one previous such ban, in the aftermath of the blizzard of 1978. The penalty for violating the traffic ban is up to one year in prison and a fine. | “Two or three feet of snow is a profoundly different kind of storm than we have dealt with,” the governor said from the state’s emergency bunker in Framingham. Officials recalled only one previous such ban, in the aftermath of the blizzard of 1978. The penalty for violating the traffic ban is up to one year in prison and a fine. |
| Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York said the storm was “reasonably unpredictable” but warned that heavier snow was due to come later this evening. | Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York said the storm was “reasonably unpredictable” but warned that heavier snow was due to come later this evening. |
| “Stay off the city streets, stay out of your cars and stay in your homes,” Mr. Bloomberg said. With reports of long lines at gas stations and scattered reports that some were running out of fuel, the mayor said people should not “panic buy” gas since there was no expectation that there would be a disruption in supply. | “Stay off the city streets, stay out of your cars and stay in your homes,” Mr. Bloomberg said. With reports of long lines at gas stations and scattered reports that some were running out of fuel, the mayor said people should not “panic buy” gas since there was no expectation that there would be a disruption in supply. |
| As people rushed to stores, emptying shelves of food and supplies, the memory of Hurricane Sandy seemed to be fresh on many people’s minds. | As people rushed to stores, emptying shelves of food and supplies, the memory of Hurricane Sandy seemed to be fresh on many people’s minds. |
| Still, despite pleas from public officials for people to stay home from work if possible on Friday, many kept to their usual morning commute, anticipating that they could get home before the worst of the storm was expected to hit. | Still, despite pleas from public officials for people to stay home from work if possible on Friday, many kept to their usual morning commute, anticipating that they could get home before the worst of the storm was expected to hit. |
| To help commuters beat the snow, New York transit officials announced increased bus and train service in the afternoon. | To help commuters beat the snow, New York transit officials announced increased bus and train service in the afternoon. |
| The latest forecasts continued to call for a powerful storm, with its force starting to be felt as early as 4 p.m. | The latest forecasts continued to call for a powerful storm, with its force starting to be felt as early as 4 p.m. |
| In New York City, for most of the day there has been a mix of rain, snow and sleet, and a rush of cold air is expected to filter back into the region in the early evening, at which point the rain will transition back to snow, said Tim Morrin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service based in Long Island. | In New York City, for most of the day there has been a mix of rain, snow and sleet, and a rush of cold air is expected to filter back into the region in the early evening, at which point the rain will transition back to snow, said Tim Morrin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service based in Long Island. |
| “From then things go downhill pretty quickly,” he said. The winds will pick up, and snow will start coming down heavily. | “From then things go downhill pretty quickly,” he said. The winds will pick up, and snow will start coming down heavily. |
| In New England, the storm will intensify at about the same time, but because the area has not had rain, the total snowfalls will be greater. | In New England, the storm will intensify at about the same time, but because the area has not had rain, the total snowfalls will be greater. |
| “The worst conditions will be after dark and overnight,” Mr. Morrin said. “We don’t want to have folks get complacent seeing the rain and the just wet streets.” | “The worst conditions will be after dark and overnight,” Mr. Morrin said. “We don’t want to have folks get complacent seeing the rain and the just wet streets.” |
| Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut said at a noon news conference that people should not wait for conditions to worsen. | Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut said at a noon news conference that people should not wait for conditions to worsen. |
| “If you are not already on the road to get home, you should be,” he said. | “If you are not already on the road to get home, you should be,” he said. |
| By Saturday, the total expected snowfall in New York City is expected to be between 10 and 14 inches. In Long Island, the snow totals will range from 14 to 18 inches, with the highest amounts at the east end. | By Saturday, the total expected snowfall in New York City is expected to be between 10 and 14 inches. In Long Island, the snow totals will range from 14 to 18 inches, with the highest amounts at the east end. |
| In New London, Conn., there will most likely be more than 24 inches of snow and even more in Boston, which could break modern records by topping 28 inches. | In New London, Conn., there will most likely be more than 24 inches of snow and even more in Boston, which could break modern records by topping 28 inches. |
| The severe weather is the result of two weather systems colliding, producing a powerful force. One system is coming from the north, carried along by the arctic jet stream, which will drop down from Canada and intersect with another system propelled by the polar jet stream, which usually travels through the lower 48 states. | The severe weather is the result of two weather systems colliding, producing a powerful force. One system is coming from the north, carried along by the arctic jet stream, which will drop down from Canada and intersect with another system propelled by the polar jet stream, which usually travels through the lower 48 states. |
| “The storm should reach its peak intensity early Saturday morning just east of Cape Cod,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. With hurricane-force winds, the Weather Service also expects flooding along the Atlantic coast that could affect up to 8 million people. | “The storm should reach its peak intensity early Saturday morning just east of Cape Cod,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. With hurricane-force winds, the Weather Service also expects flooding along the Atlantic coast that could affect up to 8 million people. |
| The storm could rival the blizzard of 1978 in New England, when more than 27 inches of snow fell in Boston and surrounding cities. That storm, which occurred on a weekday 35 years ago, resulted in dozens of deaths and crippled the region for days. | The storm could rival the blizzard of 1978 in New England, when more than 27 inches of snow fell in Boston and surrounding cities. That storm, which occurred on a weekday 35 years ago, resulted in dozens of deaths and crippled the region for days. |
| Officials expect to be better prepared this time. | Officials expect to be better prepared this time. |
| In the predawn hours, 300 road crews in Massachusetts started spreading salt and brine. | In the predawn hours, 300 road crews in Massachusetts started spreading salt and brine. |
| Even as utility workers across the region scrambled to add extra crews, utilities warned that power failures could persist for several days since workers cannot operate during the height of the storm. Even after the storm passes, downed power lines may need to be dug out from under mounds of snow. | Even as utility workers across the region scrambled to add extra crews, utilities warned that power failures could persist for several days since workers cannot operate during the height of the storm. Even after the storm passes, downed power lines may need to be dug out from under mounds of snow. |
| Several cities including Portsmouth, N.H., and Kittery, Me., have banned parking on their streets. | Several cities including Portsmouth, N.H., and Kittery, Me., have banned parking on their streets. |
| Jerome Hauer, the New York State commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, said that coastal areas of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island could experience flooding and that residents should be prepared to seek alternative shelter. While the storm surge is expected to be only 3 to 5 feet — well below the 14-foot surge that Hurricane Sandy delivered — he said large waves could bring water inland. | Jerome Hauer, the New York State commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, said that coastal areas of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island could experience flooding and that residents should be prepared to seek alternative shelter. While the storm surge is expected to be only 3 to 5 feet — well below the 14-foot surge that Hurricane Sandy delivered — he said large waves could bring water inland. |
| “If you see flooding, have plans for somewhere to go,” Mr. Hauer said. | “If you see flooding, have plans for somewhere to go,” Mr. Hauer said. |
| In New York City, 1,800 sanitation trucks were at the ready to deal with snow. As conditions worsen they will spread out across 6,300 miles of roadways — roughly the distance from New York to Los Angeles and back — and spread some 250,000 tons of salt as well as work to clear roadways as the snow builds. | In New York City, 1,800 sanitation trucks were at the ready to deal with snow. As conditions worsen they will spread out across 6,300 miles of roadways — roughly the distance from New York to Los Angeles and back — and spread some 250,000 tons of salt as well as work to clear roadways as the snow builds. |
| Mr. Bloomberg, who came under criticism for the city’s slow response to a snowstorm in December 2010, sought to reassure New Yorkers that the city was prepared, but urged people to leave work early. | Mr. Bloomberg, who came under criticism for the city’s slow response to a snowstorm in December 2010, sought to reassure New Yorkers that the city was prepared, but urged people to leave work early. |
| Government offices and public schools in New York City remained open Friday, but after-school programs were canceled. Schools also canceled entrance exams that had been scheduled for Saturday, and the state canceled Civil Service exams as well. | Government offices and public schools in New York City remained open Friday, but after-school programs were canceled. Schools also canceled entrance exams that had been scheduled for Saturday, and the state canceled Civil Service exams as well. |
| For many in New York and New Jersey, the memory of the gas shortages and prolonged power failures that followed Hurricane Sandy are still vivid, and they were taking no chances, with some stations already reporting that they have run out of fuel. | For many in New York and New Jersey, the memory of the gas shortages and prolonged power failures that followed Hurricane Sandy are still vivid, and they were taking no chances, with some stations already reporting that they have run out of fuel. |
| “I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as they’re saying, but I said that with Sandy too,” said Lavel Samuels, 42, as she filled her tank at a gas station in the Far Rockaways. “I’m filling up based on my experience with Sandy, in case there’s no gas on Sunday or Monday.” | “I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as they’re saying, but I said that with Sandy too,” said Lavel Samuels, 42, as she filled her tank at a gas station in the Far Rockaways. “I’m filling up based on my experience with Sandy, in case there’s no gas on Sunday or Monday.” |
| At the Shell station on Beach 59th Street some motorists also filled red spare gas tanks in their trunks for generators they bought to survive the post-hurricane power failures. Josephine Perkins, 55, who is retired, said she had her generators ready and was stocking up on fuel. | At the Shell station on Beach 59th Street some motorists also filled red spare gas tanks in their trunks for generators they bought to survive the post-hurricane power failures. Josephine Perkins, 55, who is retired, said she had her generators ready and was stocking up on fuel. |
| “If you get snowed in you just stay inside and ride it out,” she said. “We’re used to this now.” | “If you get snowed in you just stay inside and ride it out,” she said. “We’re used to this now.” |
| By noon Friday, some stations on Long Island and in New Jersey reported they had run out of gas. At a Shell station in Jericho, N.Y., Andy Harris, the station owner, said that he had sold more than 12,000 gallons of gas in the past 24 hours — more than double his usual sales. He said he expected to run out of gas by midafternoon. “We’re seeing tremendous panic buying because Superstorm Sandy is on everybody’s minds,” Mr. Harris said. | By noon Friday, some stations on Long Island and in New Jersey reported they had run out of gas. At a Shell station in Jericho, N.Y., Andy Harris, the station owner, said that he had sold more than 12,000 gallons of gas in the past 24 hours — more than double his usual sales. He said he expected to run out of gas by midafternoon. “We’re seeing tremendous panic buying because Superstorm Sandy is on everybody’s minds,” Mr. Harris said. |
| In New Jersey, so many anxious residents flooded gas stations that the local police were called in to maintain order. | In New Jersey, so many anxious residents flooded gas stations that the local police were called in to maintain order. |
| South of Interstate 78 and along the Jersey Shore, where the hurricane hit hardest, there was only rain Friday morning. But seas were rough, and forecasters warned that there could be coastal flooding at high tide, scheduled to hit around 6 p.m. Friday. | South of Interstate 78 and along the Jersey Shore, where the hurricane hit hardest, there was only rain Friday morning. But seas were rough, and forecasters warned that there could be coastal flooding at high tide, scheduled to hit around 6 p.m. Friday. |
| Near Trenton, meanwhile, Gov. Chris Christie opened the state emergency center, where he had managed operations during Hurricane Sandy. | Near Trenton, meanwhile, Gov. Chris Christie opened the state emergency center, where he had managed operations during Hurricane Sandy. |
| Almost all schools across Massachusetts were closed Friday, including the public schools in Boston as well as Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Airlines canceled more than 4,000 flights starting Friday afternoon. | Almost all schools across Massachusetts were closed Friday, including the public schools in Boston as well as Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Airlines canceled more than 4,000 flights starting Friday afternoon. |
| Governor Patrick told nonemergency government workers to stay home and urged private employers to issue similar stay-at-home orders. | Governor Patrick told nonemergency government workers to stay home and urged private employers to issue similar stay-at-home orders. |
| He said that his biggest fear was that people would not take the warnings seriously enough. He said he understood the tendency, given previous storm warnings that had proved ill-founded, and he recalled his own carefree attitude when he was a student during the 1978 blizzard. | He said that his biggest fear was that people would not take the warnings seriously enough. He said he understood the tendency, given previous storm warnings that had proved ill-founded, and he recalled his own carefree attitude when he was a student during the 1978 blizzard. |
| “I remember classmates cross-country skiing down Mass Ave.,” he told reporters with a smile. But, he added, “I approach this storm very differently than that because I have to worry about people being safe.” | “I remember classmates cross-country skiing down Mass Ave.,” he told reporters with a smile. But, he added, “I approach this storm very differently than that because I have to worry about people being safe.” |
Reporting was contributed by Al Baker, Jess Bidgood, Matt Flegenheimer, Patrick McGeehan, Nate Schweber, Alex Vadukul and Kate Zernike. | Reporting was contributed by Al Baker, Jess Bidgood, Matt Flegenheimer, Patrick McGeehan, Nate Schweber, Alex Vadukul and Kate Zernike. |