the NEW east Coast of the US blizzard of 2016

[Bob]

So tell us, what has it been like for you?

A real blizt storm a blizzard or a non event?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2016/01/22/blizzard-snowstorm-mid-atlantic-northeast/79159054/ http://cc.amazingcounters.com/counter.php?i=3190880&c=9572953


A potentially historic snowstorm whipped by gale force winds was barreling down on the Mid-Atlantic coast Friday, threatening to shut down big eastern cities for days with more than two feet of snow in some areas, widespread power outages and impassable roadways.

As of Friday morning, more than 85 million people – or roughly one in every four Americans – in at least 20 states were covered by blizzard, winter storm, or freezing rain warnings from Arkansas to the Carolinas to the New York City area and extreme southern New England, according to Weather.com.

In Washington, the bull's eye of the storm, the federal government was shutting down at noon, as residents braced for as much as two feet of snow and likeLY whiteout conditions from strong winds.

"This is a major storm, it has life and death implications, and all residents of DC should treat it that way," District of Columbia mayor Muriel Bowser said Friday. She said that residents by 3 p.m. need to be in the place they intend to be for the weekend.

"We want people to hunker down, shelter in place and stay off the roads," she said.

Lyman, South Carolina


About an inch here in Lyman SC-the worst is yet to come FREEZING RAIN.

[Bob]

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/usatoday/editorial/graphics/2016/01/012216-Predicted-snowfall_2.jpg

Bulls Eye


http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2505665.1453459685!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_635/usa-weather-snow-storm.jpg

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_img_full/image/image_file/P021010PS-0126_0.jpg

[Bob]

From the BBC news service (play the theme now.. :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TSJhIZmL0A

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35374741


http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/8B33/production/_87853653_e701a0aa-ae92-4e6c-a533-1b66d3d27a84.jpg


Delays and cancellations are mounting across the eastern United States ahead of a blizzard expected to dump excessive snow from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and New York City.

Before the storm aims for the Northeast, snow, ice and severe weather will continue to impact the South.

As the storm strengthens, wind speeds and snowfall rates will increase. Whiteout conditions will occur in several states. The storm has already shut down major airports and slowed travel on major highways.

[Bob]

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/8B33/production/_87853653_e701a0aa-ae92-4e6c-a533-1b66d3d27a84.jpg

A disaster or just another problem to deal with? Ya don't want to die, do ya?


A huge blizzard bearing down on the US east coast is expected to dump near-record levels of snow on Washington and the Mid-Atlantic region.

More than 50 million people have been warned of a "potentially paralysing storm" late on Friday that will bring 24in (60cm) of snow within hours.

There are warnings the blizzard could cause power outages and will bring road and air travel to a halt.

A rush for supplies led to long queues and empty shelves at supermarkets.

The weather system has already proved to be deadly, with two drivers killed in North Carolina, one in Tennessee and a pedestrian dead in Maryland.

In Washington, Mayor Muriel Bowser has warned residents of winds up to 50mph (80km/h) with the possibility of thunder snow.

"I want to be very clear with everybody, we see this as a major storm.

It has life and death implications," she said.

[najara12000]

I'm in central PA and won't know until it arrives. They have warned us the storm has a sharp cutoff. It can move and give us more snow or less snow. Right now we are in the 4"-8" forecast. As, well, a Blizzard can occur only with a few inches of snow as the term "Blizzard" is about wind blowing snow around.

[Bob]

Nashville - TN


http://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/includes/columns/newsstory/2016/650x366_01221556_czvam1cvaaayxq-.jpg

http://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/includes/columns/newsstory/2016/650x366_01221430_czvand_uaau69dl.jpg

[Bob]

Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina - 3AM


http://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/includes/columns/newsstory/2016/640x403_01220833_screen-shot-2016-01-22-at-3.30.47-am.png

[Bob]

Ice forecast so far - Ice is usually responsible for power outages, downed power lines, downed trees and major accidents due to conditions..


http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160122085617-ice-forecast----january-22-2016-exlarge-169.jpg

[Bob]

Virginia - State of Emergency declared ahead of storm

http://wtkr.com/2016/01/21/state-of-emergency-declared-in-virginia-ahead-of-winter-storm/

Richmond, Va. – Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has declared a State of Emergency ahead of the winter storm expected to impact the state through the weekend.


“All Virginians should take the threat of this storm seriously and take necessary precautions now to ensure they are prepared for travel disruptions and possible power outages during a cold weather period.”

“VDOT is prepared with crews, equipment and materials to treat roads in advance of the storm and will work throughout the storm to plow roads,” said Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne. “Driving conditions during the storm are expected to be hazardous and motorists are urged to stay off the roads until the storm passes.”

State Actions:

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews are on 24-hour operations and are pretreating roads where temperatures permit. Motorists are strongly encouraged to stay off the roads during the storm. For information about road and traffic conditions, check www.511virginia.org or call 511 before traveling.

The Virginia State Police have all uniformed personnel and necessary specialty units ready for response to the next round of increased volumes in traffic crashes, disabled vehicles, and other storm-related emergencies. Virginians are advised to plan ahead for slick, treacherous road conditions. They can also help reduce traffic crashes and delays by avoiding travel during the storm.

The Virginia National Guard has been authorized to bring up to 500 personnel on state active duty for possible assistance with the state’s severe winter weather response operations. The Guard plans to stage personnel at readiness centers in key locations across the commonwealth in order to be ready to rapidly respond if needed.

The alert process to notify personnel to report for duty began Wednesday afternoon, and the Guard plans to have forces in place and ready to go by early evening on Thursday, Jan. 21.

Potential missions for the Guard include transportation through heavy snow, downed tree removal, debris reduction and distribution of food, water and other supplies.

[Bob]

Maryland, D.C. and Virginia have declared states of emergency..


"A snow emergency goes into effect at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the Washington DC District, which means vehicles will not be permitted to park along snow emergency routes.

“Given the significant severity of the forecast, we will treat this event as a Homeland Security and Emergency Management event,” Bowser said during an 11 a.m. news conference."


--------------

Maryland’s Gov. Larry Hogan announced a state of emergency will go into effect at 7 a.m. Friday. Pointing to a forecast that predicts Maryland will see between two and three feet of snow, the governor says the State Highway Administration is already pretreating roads and that highways will be the priority.

“It could take them days, even a week, to dig out local roads. Be prepared and patient,” Hogan said in the press conference.
Hogan requested that residents who don’t need to be on the roads stay home and stay safe.


-------------------------

Virginia’s Gov. McAuliffe said that he declared Virginia’s state of emergency based on current weather forecast predictions that could result in downed trees, power outages and blocked roads.

According to Storm Team 4, total snowfall accumulations are expected to be around 20 to 30 inches on average for the region. Amounts may be a little higher, around 24 to 30 inches of snow, west of Dulles International Airport to the Blue Ridge mountains.

“Keeping Virginians safe in the event of severe weather is our top concern — that is why Virginia began preparing for severe winter weather yesterday by ordering more than 500 vehicles out to pretreat roads in Northern Virginia,” McAuliffe said.

“All Virginians should take the threat of this storm seriously and take necessary precautions now to ensure they are prepared for travel disruptions and possible power outages during a cold weather period.”

[Cidersomerset]

US snowstorm: Preparations for huge US blizzard

6_K9rAvwvJM
Published on 21 Jan 2016

The National Weather Service has said that millions of people in the US
mid-Atlantic region should prepare for "crippling" snow.Forecasters say
2ft of snow could fall over the weekend in some areas, with Washington
to bear the brunt.Rajini Vaidyanathan has been out to see how the city
is getting ready.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.7.3/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

US snowstorm: Preparations for huge US blizzard

52 minutes ago

Short vid on link....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35379708

Six states in the USA have declared a state of emergency, ahead of a giant
snowstorm expected to hit the east of the country on Friday or Saturday.
Forecasters say it could be the worst blizzard in nearly a century, with areas
around Washington DC getting up to two feet of snow.

There are also warnings of high winds and flooding.

Jon Sopel reports.


Read more


US snowstorm: Millions in path of huge blizzard



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35379708

[Matt P]

Snow started here in Lexington about 8am this morning. Got about 8-9 inches so far. Good thing we have maps like this so we could be prepared! ;)

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/2c/a5/35/2ca5358c657fc612b965c92cad75ddba.jpg

http://kcweather.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Map4.jpg

:focus:

[Bob]

Let's see if this works for an animated radar image:


https://images.washingtonpost.com/?url=https://icons.wxug.com/data/weather-maps/radar/united-states/staunton-virginia-region-current-radar-animation.gif&op=noop

[Tangri]

Despite the Weather Channel’s best efforts, we still don’t name winter storms like we name hurricanes.

This means that, while tropical cyclones tend to get remembered by their monikers (Ivan, Sandy, Katrina), snowstorms either get a quirky nickname or take on the weight of their whole year. “Snowmaggedon.” The Great Blizzard of 1996. The President’s Day snowstorm of 2003.

Well, watch out: Here comes the Blizzard of 2016. This weekend, a snowstorm equal to those historic gales is expected to wallop the mid-Atlantic states, dumping record-breaking levels of snow across the I-95 corridor. A weather model run on Thursday morning says that Washington, D.C could be headed for two-and-a-half feet of snow, a devastating amount of precipitation for the city. Towns along the East Coast shore, meanwhile, could face flooding and a hurricane-like storm surge.

And this forecast has pretty much been the word since Sunday, when all the major weather models came into concord about the size and import of the storm.

http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/01/what-makes-a-blizzard-textbook/425106/

[Bob]

Thousands stranded on roads. They are calling this storm "Jonas".

Kentucky - 3000 vehicles stranded

http://www.weather.com/storms/winter/news/winter-storm-jonas-i-75-kentucky-carolinas-georgia-tennessee


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZY8rNkWIAAdXcc.jpg

Drivers were still stranded on Interstate 75 south of Lexington on Saturday morning as Winter Storm Jonas turned the major freeway into a parking lot. Some motorists said they had been stuck for up to 15 hours.

Kentucky State Police said emergency shelters were opened near two exits along Interstate 75 for motorists who've been stranded by the mammoth storm that dumped 18 inches of snow on portions of the state, the Associated Press reported.

At least 3,000 people were stranded on the highway, WLKY.com reported. The traffic backup – from mile marker 76 to mile marker 41 – is 35 miles long, state trooper Kendra Wilson told CNN on Saturday morning.

Ice storms leaving hundreds of thousands without power/light/heat - North Carolina

On Saturday morning, an estimated 147,000 homes and businesses were still without power across the state. Wake County was the hardest hi with 61,000 outages, followed by Johnston, Harnett and Nash counties.

In DC, people were taking advice to stay off the roads, stay at home.

New Jersey, 40 miles away from Atlantic City, Stone Harbour - shore flooding, 50 mph winds and a LOT of water in town.


Moderate to major coastal flooding is occurring along both the New Jersey and Delaware coasts this morning.

A Dangerous Nor`easter located off the Virginia capes today will turn east and out to sea later tonight.

This storm is battering the coasts of Delaware and New Jersey with 60 to 75 mph wind gusts with widespread moderate coastal flooding this morning in New Jersey and near record Major flooding in Atlantic coastal Delaware.

Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until noon EST Sunday.

Power outages, no heat, light and food spoilage possible - keep your refrigerator/freezer CLOSED to preserve lower temperatures, do not consume spoiled food.

Atlantic City Electric is reporting nearly 20,000 power outages in Cape May County as a result of this morning’s winter storm and high wind event. There are nearly 30,000 customers in Atlantic City Electric’s service area without power at 7:45am on Saturday, January 23rd. Atlantic City Electric is reporting outages not only in Avalon and Stone Harbor, but in Sea Isle City, Lower Township, Middle Township, Upper Township, Cape May, and the Wildwoods. It is possible that this could be an extended power outage for customers who have been affected by these multiple outages.


http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/pressofatlanticcity.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/11/a11f4d82-c1d0-11e5-98be-6f646e4c3cbb/56a3788986def.image.jpg?resize=620%2C407

Cold freezing temperatures are leading to another condition - burst water pipes which are exposed, not insulated in homes and businesses which do not normally expect such low temperatures.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Auch3Q7Uc

[Redstar Kachina]

..........

[Bob]

Yup, ~24 inches in D.C. by the time this storm thingee wraps up...

How's the power reliability? Smartphone browser if the cell towers remain up allow for communications.. No power for computer desktops tho, and folks get out of touch fast. Who these days keeps AM emergency radios?

Storm conditions are like a mini-disaster.. Did people prepare for power outages, no heat, no light? Food issues?

Winter storms and Hurricanes are a good example of what could happen when the "big" infrastructure failure hits..

[Bob]

Jersey shore towns are not faring well with the tidal surge, above the maximum flood stage levels..

Ice in the south, snow onshore, flooding on the coasts..

How is one going to take precautions for coastal flooding where towns, homes and businesses are flooded?

During the "big one" in Colorado with the flooding from intense rain, contamination from waste, from fuel sources (oil/gas) was present. Water supplies contaminated..

Weeks at times goes by and supplies people may have stockpiled for 72 hours dwindle fast..

With the snow ice conditions on roads, when people stay OFF the roads, plows are able to get through (hopefully)..

Will people be able to prepare for the bigger issues? A serious storm is a case where folks can understand the necessity to be prepared.

[Bob]

Long Island New York State -


http://cdn.patch.com/users/5713/2016/01/T800x600/20160156a3b9695c4d7.jpg

The island just isn't used to big snows. Hurricanes, those come through and people sort through the flooding and power outages..

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a travel ban effective at 2:30 p.m. for Long Island and New York City roads.

The ban applies to the Long Island Expressway and the Northern State Parkway, Cuomo said.

“Plows cannot keep up with snowfall at a certain rate,” Cuomo said. “That is a situation that is now occurring.”

The Long Island Rail Road will shut down at 4 p.m.

Between 18 inches and 2 feet of snow is expected to accumulate across Long island through Saturday, according to the latest National Weather Service snowfall map. Wind gusts could hit 60 mph Saturday afternoon. Manhattan may see up to 30 inches of snow. Manhattan is certainly not used to that.. Where will all the snow be put?

Long Island is under a blizzard watch until 7 a.m. Sunday. Coastal flood warnings have also been issued for Nassau and western Suffolk.


“I cannot stress this enough folks: stay off the roads and avoid all unnecessary travel,” Bellone said in a statement. “The Suffolk County Police Department has already received emergency calls for over seven car accidents. Not only will staying off the road allow the 100 county trucks already on the road to do their job, but it will ensure your safety.”

On the Island - Massapequa was currently reporting 12 inches, as of 8:30 a.m. Manhattan's east Village was reporting 10 inches.

[Redstar Kachina]

..........

[Flash]

Our happy little village leads the parade in D.C. with 18.5" as of 11:45 a.m. EST today, so we've blown past 20" by now, which is a couple inches more than the 2010 Snowmageddon. :)

http://www.wunderground.com/US/DC/001.html?MR=1

I feel like being nasty... our winters are sooooo often harsh, that today is revenge day lllllllolll teasing of course

But here in Montreal, Canada, is it a very sunny and beautiful day, not too cold either.

[Redstar Kachina]

..........

[Bob]

Our happy little village leads the parade in D.C. with 18.5" as of 11:45 a.m. EST today, so we've blown past 20" by now, which is a couple inches more than the 2010 Snowmageddon. :)

http://www.wunderground.com/US/DC/001.html?MR=1

I feel like being nasty... our winters are sooooo often harsh, that today is revenge day lllllllolll teasing of course

But here in Montreal, Canada, is it a very sunny and beautiful day, not too cold either.

The storms of 1998 and 1961. http://cc.amazingcounters.com/counter.php?i=3190880&c=9572953

How many people affected by the Montreal Ice Storm of '98? About 200 military units across Canada helped provincial and municipal workers clear roads, rescue people and animals trapped by storm wreckage, evacuate the sick, shelter and feed about 100,000 people frozen out of their homes, and ensure that farmers had the generators and fuel required to keep their operations going.

How many people affected by the winter storm Jonas?

(Source (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12117261/Storm-Jonas-NYC-Washington-blizzard-weather-new-york-live.html))

Storm Jonas: At least 12 killed as blizzards and strong winds batter American east coast - latest

A massive snow storm shuts down New York and Washington on Saturday with 11 states of emergency declared across the region.

Seven locations near Washington have unofficially passed the 30 inches of snow mark, as of 1 pm Saturday, reports AP.

(Source (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3411364/Monster-blizzard-bearing-eastern-US.html))

At least 10 are killed by 'life and death' blizzard. Washington could be buried under record 30 inches of snow. New York braces itself for two feet. 7,700 flights are cancelled. 85million are threatened..

[Bob]

What about preparations for a winter storm?

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm


Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
Insulate your home by installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic from the inside to keep cold air out.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year.
If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.


Put Together a Supply Kit

Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day
Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
Flashlight [Available on the Red Cross Store]
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) [Available on the Red Cross Store]
Extra batteries
First aid kit [Available on the Red Cross Store]
Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc.)
Multi-purpose tool
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
Tools/supplies for securing your home
Sand, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter to make walkways and steps less slippery
Warm coats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots and extra blankets and warm clothing for all household members
Ample alternate heating methods such as fireplaces or wood- or coal-burning stoves

[Flash]

Our happy little village leads the parade in D.C. with 18.5" as of 11:45 a.m. EST today, so we've blown past 20" by now, which is a couple inches more than the 2010 Snowmageddon. :)

http://www.wunderground.com/US/DC/001.html?MR=1

I feel like being nasty... our winters are sooooo often harsh, that today is revenge day lllllllolll teasing of course

But here in Montreal, Canada, is it a very sunny and beautiful day, not too cold either.

The storms of 1998 and 1961. http://cc.amazingcounters.com/counter.php?i=3190880&c=9572953

How many people affected by the Montreal Ice Storm of '98? About 200 military units across Canada helped provincial and municipal workers clear roads, rescue people and animals trapped by storm wreckage, evacuate the sick, shelter and feed about 100,000 people frozen out of their homes, and ensure that farmers had the generators and fuel required to keep their operations going.

How many people affected by the winter storm Jonas?

(Source (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12117261/Storm-Jonas-NYC-Washington-blizzard-weather-new-york-live.html))

Storm Jonas: At least 12 killed as blizzards and strong winds batter American east coast - latest

A massive snow storm shuts down New York and Washington on Saturday with 11 states of emergency declared across the region.

Seven locations near Washington have unofficially passed the 30 inches of snow mark, as of 1 pm Saturday, reports AP.

(Source (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3411364/Monster-blizzard-bearing-eastern-US.html))

At least 10 are killed by 'life and death' blizzard. Washington could be buried under record 30 inches of snow. New York braces itself for two feet. 7,700 flights are cancelled. 85million are threatened..


Snow will melt Bob, as long as there is electricity, and people stay home, there is not problems. The problems are for those in emergencies (like needing hospital) and the nut heads going on the road.

What you are talking off for Quebec went on for more than a month - think of it, more than a month!!

And what nobody was told, but I learned, because my cousin was a translator in Spanish for the province's prime minister (equivalent to a state governor), is that the city of Montreal was one hour short of no more water. One hour - the prime minister who was supposed to travel to South America had my cousin call all the presidents there to cancel. So she was with him in his office, hearing about all the emergencies and water problem. The army came in to give their power generator for the city water system. We were drinking the bottom of the city reservoirs (yeurk!) and did not know it.

So it was not 100,000 only. The 100,000 affected were those for whom it went on for a whole month. But millions were affected during two weeks. Two weeks!! millions!! Everybody was moving in my house because I still had electricity (i did not know but my electrical line is connected to the main supplying part of downtown) and then it went away and everybody moved where they could where electricity was still going (my daughter was 8 months old). So I moved to a friend. My mom in the country had a generator, but gaz was running out. Name it.

This would be a tragedy if it were to happen to 85 millions people.

[Bob]

Ice storms in the South - currently present in the US. It's easy enough for another storm to come back up the coast and hit Montreal once again.

See the current ICE storm damage reference this post here (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?88381-the-NEW-east-Coast-of-the-US-blizzard-of-2016&p=1039985&viewfull=1#post1039985)

Ice storms leaving hundreds of thousands without power/light/heat - North Carolina

On Saturday morning, an estimated 147,000 homes and businesses were still without power across the state. Wake County was the hardest hi with 61,000 outages, followed by Johnston, Harnett and Nash counties.

(reference post here (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?88381-the-NEW-east-Coast-of-the-US-blizzard-of-2016&p=1040185&viewfull=1#post1040185))

[Flash]

Our happy little village leads the parade in D.C. with 18.5" as of 11:45 a.m. EST today, so we've blown past 20" by now, which is a couple inches more than the 2010 Snowmageddon. :)

http://www.wunderground.com/US/DC/001.html?MR=1

I feel like being nasty... our winters are sooooo often harsh, that today is revenge day lllllllolll teasing of course

But here in Montreal, Canada, is it a very sunny and beautiful day, not too cold either.

The storms of 1998 and 1961. http://cc.amazingcounters.com/counter.php?i=3190880&c=9572953

How many people affected by the Montreal Ice Storm of '98? About 200 military units across Canada helped provincial and municipal workers clear roads, rescue people and animals trapped by storm wreckage, evacuate the sick, shelter and feed about 100,000 people frozen out of their homes, and ensure that farmers had the generators and fuel required to keep their operations going.

How many people affected by the winter storm Jonas?

(Source (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12117261/Storm-Jonas-NYC-Washington-blizzard-weather-new-york-live.html))

Storm Jonas: At least 12 killed as blizzards and strong winds batter American east coast - latest

A massive snow storm shuts down New York and Washington on Saturday with 11 states of emergency declared across the region.

Seven locations near Washington have unofficially passed the 30 inches of snow mark, as of 1 pm Saturday, reports AP.

(Source (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3411364/Monster-blizzard-bearing-eastern-US.html))

At least 10 are killed by 'life and death' blizzard. Washington could be buried under record 30 inches of snow. New York braces itself for two feet. 7,700 flights are cancelled. 85million are threatened..


Snow will melt Bob, as long as there is electricity, and people stay home, there is not problems. The problems are for those in emergencies (like needing hospital) and the nut heads going on the road.

What you are talking off for Quebec went on for more than a month - think of it, more than a month!!

And what nobody was told, but I learned, because my cousin was a translator in Spanish for the province's prime minister (equivalent to a state governor), is that the city of Montreal was one hour short of no more water. One hour - the prime minister who was supposed to travel to South America had my cousin call all the presidents there to cancel. So she was with him in his office, hearing about all the emergencies and water problem. The army came in to give their power generator for the city water system. We were drinking the bottom of the city reservoirs (yeurk!) and did not know it.

So it was not 100,000 only. The 100,000 affected were those for whom it went on for a whole month. But millions were affected during two weeks. Two weeks!! millions!! Everybody was moving in my house because I still had electricity (i did not know but my electrical line is connected to the main supplying part of downtown) and then it went away and everybody moved where they could where electricity was still going (my daughter was 8 months old). So I moved to a friend. My mom in the country had a generator, but gaz was running out. Name it.

This would be a tragedy if it were to happen to 85 millions people.

the lesson:

Water is a must, fill the bath tub and everything you have, to be used only for drinking and cooking - you will stink.

Sleeping bags for artic weather (minus 50) - you can always survive in these and not freeze.

Food for two-three weeks.

Having a heating stove you can install rapidly, or a fireplace and some plastic to insulate the only room you may be heating. Russians insulate their room with large carpets, anything will do.

Something to cook on, but beware of gaz - i had colleagues who died axphysiated int he first date you mentioned above. Cook what is unfreezing from the freezer if you can.

A batteries radio.

Cards.

Collaborate with neighbours - this is what saved the city here when the ice storm happened.

¤=[Post Update]=¤


Ice storms in the South - currently present in the US. It's easy enough for another storm to come back up the coast and hit Montreal once again.

Please, do not wish it:bigsmile: We do have our share yearly.


addition: cash is not necessary, nothing to buy on shelves - filled tank of gaz a must to be able to get help if needed or go elsewhere. Winter tires Winter tires Winter tires.

[Bob]

[..]

[/COLOR]
Ice storms in the South - currently present in the US. It's easy enough for another storm to come back up the coast and hit Montreal once again.

Please, do not wish it:bigsmile: We do have our share yearly.


addition: cash is not necessary, nothing to buy on shelves - filled tank of gaz a must to be able to get help if needed or go elsewhere. Winter tires Winter tires Winter tires.

Wouldn't think of it :raining:

Perfect opportunity to talk about what survival items are needed. Instead of tons of cash, trade-ables obviously.. Who tho is going to want to trade some silver bars for 10 gallons of gasoline? Immediately needed $$$ in hand for whatever one can get, at a store, quickie mart, from a neighbor.. If one already in the boonies, adequate ammunition and keep your powder protected and secure. I've sealed all my primers in the bullet casings with nail polish (careful not too much) which pretty much makes the bullet/round ( 44 mag and upwards) very good for those moist days.

[Bob]

So if power remained out for weeks and weeks.. or if another storm or another "event" appeared in the middle of a natural occurring disaster, what would one have to barter with?

http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/41-items-to-barter/

In preparedness circles, the term barter is used a lot when describing a post SHTF situation when goods and services may no longer be available through normal channels. According to Wikipedia, ”barter is a method of exchange by which goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money”.

A lot of people think of bartering as something to do when they are down an out, perhaps unemployed, or low on cash. But nothing could be further from the truth. Bartering has been around from eons and is simply a smart way to acquire goods and services under the radar screen.

The Best Items to Use For Barter in a Post-Collapse World

There are a lot of different opinions as to what items will be best for barter in a post-collapse world where the underground economy may be the only viable economy for the passing of goods and services. That said, consider this a starting point as you begin to acquire goods for barter.

In no particular order, consider accumulating some of the following items for barter purposes. And keep in mind that in a post-collapse world, the items do not necessarily have to be new, but simply serviceable.

Water purification supplies including purification tabs and filters
Hand tools including hatchets, saws, machetes and general fix-it tools
Fire making supplies, including lighters, matches, flint fire steel
Sanitary supplies including toilet paper, feminine products and diapers
Disposable razors and razor blades
Fuel, any and all kinds (gas, diesel, propane, kerosene)
Prescription drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics
First aid remedies such as cough syrup, cortisone cream, boil-ese, calamine lotion and topical pain relievers
Spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka
Coffee and tea (instant coffee is okay)
Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries
Standard Batteries
Reading glasses
Paracord
Bags, including large garbage bags as well as smaller zip-close bags
Plastic sheeting
Duct tape
Tie Wraps
Heavy plastic sheets and tarps
Toiletries including toothpaste, dental floss soaps, shampoo (tip: save those small sized toiletries that are provided by hotels and motels)
Condoms
Latex or Nitrile gloves in a variety of sizes
Hard candy
Fishing supplies
Knives of various types including fixed blades, kitchen knives, and box cutters.
Condiments and Spices
Paperback books on a variety of subjects
Tobacco and cigarette rolling supplies
Amusements such as playing cards, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku
Pencils & paper
Pepper spray
Garden seeds
Flashlights
Vinegar and baking soda to use in DIY cleaning supplies
Empty spray bottles and squirt bottles
Hand pumps for both air and liquids
Mylar blankets and tents
Hand warmers
Sewing and mending supplies
Knitting or crochet needles and yarn


One thing you will notice that I have not included firearms or ammo and for good reason. In a post-collapse society, you might not know your barter partners well and may run the risk that they will use these items against you so that they can steal the rest of your stuff. One person’s opinion, anyway.

Of course one may have security cameras in place running off the grid to keep aware of one's surroundings..

[Bob]

NY City notice

"If you are caught on the road and you are not an emergency or police/fire vehicle, you WILL be arrested, vehicle towed/impounded.."

They are serious about it. The storm isn't what they have had for many years. Stay off the roads is the announcement for the lower counties in NY State..

3 dead in NY city area. Over 16 nationwide confirmed so far.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/gov-cuomo-declare-state-emergency-blizzard-article-1.2506950

(Source (http://national.suntimes.com/us-news/7/72/2485354/monster-snowstorm-leaves-at-least-16-dead-paralyzes-east-coast))

It's a bit different than previous storms.. This storm started in the Kansas/Oklahoma area a few days ago, and grew..

[Carmody]

This is all Obama's fault! Damn those liberals!

OK, back to reality now...

[Bob]

Crazy - Stone Harbour folks are saying they can't leave, the flood has walled them in..

Something seem strange with this storm?

30-40 inches being reported in Virginia/West Virginia..

Ya it'll melt (dohh...) in the meantime the folks dying and getting into accidents are going to appreciate that if they stay put for a few days (stranded on roads) it'll all be over..

[giovonni]

On a lighter note ...

Washington DC is my hometown and i really miss it during these kinds of wondrous moments ...

Here's a beautiful scene captured near the Rock Creek Park area ...

Deer Prance Through Empty Snow-Covered Streets in Washington, D.C.

Four deer pranced through the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Cleveland Park early Saturday as a potentially
historic snowstorm descended upon the nation’s capitol, bringing with it significant snow and wind.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiPsx8vdPV4

[Redstar Kachina]

..........

[Bob]

NY City says, its record book stuff..

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/01/23/blizzard-2016-new-york-city/

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Snow totals exceeded 2 feet in Central Park late Saturday, in what amounted to the third highest snow total in recorded history – at a point when the snow was far from done falling.

The National Weather Service said the 7 p.m. Saturday reading came in at 25.1 inches in Central Park. It is the third largest total since records have been kept in 1869.

The current record is 26.9 inches, which dates back to February 2006, CBS2’s Lonnie Quinn reported.

As of 7:40 p.m., a total of 25.1 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park — a total coming perilously close to setting an all-time record. The all-time record is 26.9 inches..

Yes those are cars under the snow drifts..


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZcacXLUsAAdKbF.jpg

[Linderlou]

I'm in Manhattan and was online all morning checking weather updates, trying to figure out if transit would be shut down and whether my staff would be able to get to work. Luckily work was canceled (with promptings from the mayor). I have plenty of food and water for a tiny NYC apartment, reading material and the internet for streaming and surfing. I'm good! We'll see what tomorrow brings!

[heretogrow]

My car looks the same! I wish I was techie savvy enough to post a picture of my mom and dads street. We stayed here this weekend to help shovel because my dad, in his seventies is not as strong as he used to be. Low and behold, when I got up to help shovel this morning he had forgotten to get the snow shovels out of storage even though my mother reminded him three times yesterday. One would think, just tunnel up to the storage building and get the shovels and help the dear old man, but no! Families are dysfunctional and oh so strange! I was not allowed to get the shovels as he would be reminded that his memory was failing. I waited around until 2:30pm and with 30 inches of snow awaiting us said, who cares about my dear old daddy's pride, we are buried and I must get the shovels. I trudged with snow up to my waist to storage to get shovels, dug out to the driveway and by then I was whooped. That snow is so heavy! I will shovel the rest tomorrow! Instead of shoveling I drank wine and took in the neighborhood kids to feed them cinnamon buns. I am not perfect but this may well be the perfect storm! I can't help but wonder what is going on behind the scenes as we are distracted from digging out from a major storm! In a way I feel guilty because I chose the less of the evils. We only got 30 inches. If I had stayed at my boyfriends as we usually do every weekend we would have been snowed into the doorknobs AND had to process pigs that went to slaughter this week. Thank goodness for the snow and a little break!(all comedy aside this has been a serious kick ass storm!) e will find out soon enough what went down when we were all distracted by the shoveling!

[Bob]

NY city Central Park missed breaking the record by a few 1/10's of an inch.. 26.8in. (dohh bet it was a record and it melted a tad with some warm wind gusts from the pretzel heater !)

New Jersey was hit hard. But the Governor thanked people as did the NY Governor for staying off the roads (of course the road closure warning may have helped remind folks)..

42 inches in west Virginia.

A record, the largest snowstorm on record for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Baltimore; and JFK Airport in New York City, with all of those locations receiving over 2 feet of snow. More all-time snowfall records may continue to break as final reports are made official by the National Weather Service. Snowfall totals from the storm topped out near 40 inches in parts of West Virginia and at least 14 states in total received more than a foot of snow from the storm.

29.3 in Dulles International DC area.

Shoveling - uhh ohh.. If you are out of shape, haven't shoveled in a while watch out for blood vessel close down, chills, and heart attacks. NY City has reported so far 3 deaths attributed to shoveling..

(Side note, the Magnesium Bicarbonate thread in Alternate Health is interesting. I've found many plus benefits being able to work out in the cold, however one out of shape certainly would take un-necessary risks pushing it in the cold, doing shoveling, etc.. caution..)

A major concern in New Jersey is the coastal flooding threat. Officials in the city of Barnegat issued a mandatory evacuation for some residents on Friday afternoon alongside a local state of emergency. Residents were advised to evacuate by no later than 10 p.m.

Even Georgia was affected - In Georgia, the City of Atlanta closed at 11 a.m. and state offices closed at noon on Friday, while many universities and school systems in the city plan on closing two hours early.

Many schools were closed in North Carolina as well, including the state's major universities. Additionally, over 138,000 people in North Carolina were without power Friday evening.

Keeping KIDS SAFE

Protect from the cold bundle up, make sure to keep hydrated. Watch for frostbite (discolored skin, painful comments, prickly feelings) every 20-30 minutes.. Watch out for traffic and snowplows which may NOT see the kids ! If they start getting clumsy, bring them in (I call it clunky)..


http://creativekidsplay.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_3004.jpg

Careful with the snow caves ! We've heard of kids snow caves being buried by snow plows.

[Carmody]

We used to make snow cave complexes in snow banks that averaged 20+ feet in height.

Of course, it was never warmer than -20 degrees, so it was not in much danger of collapsing.

Not to make light of it, but we had our cars and roads covered like as seen in this thread, at least 20 times a season. Minimum. We were used to it and it was normal, so we had learned to deal with it, and had no problems.

Sitting outside.....in the quiet darkness.... at minus 45.... listening to trees explode. If one sat still for a few minutes, one would always hear at least one. If not more. That's when you knew it was really cold. Frozen tress.... past their stress point, ice still expanding.....and boom/crack!..echoing though the quiet darkness. (when you hit -40, that's when the trees begin to let go)

There is no grounds to compare, as the people down south, well, this storm that has just passed...is simply outside of their understanding, outside of their experience and expectations.

Which makes it dangerous for them.

[Flash]

We used to make snow cave complexes in snow banks that averaged 20+ feet in height.

Of course, it was never warmer than -20 degrees, so it was not in much danger of collapsing.

Not to make light of it, but we had our cars and roads covered like as seen in this thread, at least 20 times a season. Minimum. We were used to it and it was normal, so we had learned to deal with it, and had no problems.

Sitting outside.....in the quiet darkness.... at minus 45.... listening to trees explode. If one sat still for a few minutes, one would always hear at least one. If not more. That's when you knew it was really cold. Frozen tress.... past their stress point, ice still expanding.....and boom/crack!..echoing though the quiet darkness. (when you hit -40, that's when the trees begin to let go)

There is no grounds to compare, as the people down south, well, this storm that has just passed...is simply outside of their understanding, outside of their experience and expectations.

Which makes it dangerous for them.

Exploding trees!!! I had not heard this for a long time and this winter seems rather mild, so I won't hear it.

But I do remember those winters in the country side filled with snow storms and exploding trees (rather eerie when you hear it). You were courageous to sit outside at minus 45. You could have exploded too (just kidding). Sitting out at this temperature is somewhat dangerous too unless you are dressed for the artic and have something covering your nose so that the air warms up before getting into your lungs.

Yeah, we are both real nordics it seems.

A side story: i was caught in a tropical storm in Florida once. My car was heavy enough, and I had to drive back to the airport in Orlando from the Gulf of Mexico for 6 hours, in that hurricane just turned into a tropical storm. It was real dangerous, and all along, I saw cars slip in the ditch along the highway.

Then I realized they were slipping and ending on the ditch because they did not know how to slide and let go on time and recuperate the steering on time etc. They had never driven on ice!! I went all along, slid a few times, managed the sliding appropriately and ended up staying on the road all along. And I thought: well Canadian driver here, used to sliding on ice, oh! worst, Montreal driver, used to crazy trafic lolllllll

[Bob]

42 have died and about 850 million $ (US) in costs/damages/losses from the effects of the storm. Many of the deaths were the result of snow shoveling. http://cc.amazingcounters.com/counter.php?i=3190880&c=9572953

Many side roads are not touched by plows, being compacted, ice blocked with vehicles hopelessly buried as the snow/ice gets harder and harder. As the snow remains built up on old roofs, the lingering water eventually starts leaks and damages are created from the water infiltration.


http://a.abcnews.go.com/images/US/GTY_Snow_aftermath_03_mm_160125_12x5_1600.jpg

D.C. public schools remain closed. In Virginia, classes at Fairfax County schools have already been canceled for Tuesday as well.

If you are not in shape, don't go shoveling but ask for assistance - In Mahwah, New Jersey, police said a group of students who got off a school bus Monday afternoon discovered the body of a neighbor almost covered by snow. The 64-year-old woman was found with a snow shovel, and investigators believe she suffered a medical emergency and collapsed during the blizzard. Why wouldn't the kids have helped the elderly lady with shoveling? No community spirit?

In Pennsylvania, a 56-year-old man died of carbon monoxide poisoning after a snowplow buried his car, an 80-year-old man died while shoveling snow and a pregnant 18-year-old died after collapsing while shoveling snow, officials said.

In Passaic, New Jersey, a mother and son died inside a car, trying to stay warm while the father shoveled snow outside, police said. The car's exhaust pipe was blocked with snow, police said, causing carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle. A daughter who was also in the car was in critical condition.

Another storm is coming according to the forecast.

Days after a blizzard clobbered the East Coast, officials across the region were still dealing with a difficult problem: where to put all the snow.

Across the other side of the world, East Asia facing worst winter in decades, with 85 dead reported in Taiwan.


East Asian countries are facing one of the worst winters to have hit the region in over 60 years as temperatures continue to plummet. Taiwan recorded the highest toll of 85 deaths as of 24 January evening, due to the cold spell.

The Taipei government said the cold wave pushed temperatures to a 16-year record low of 4C in the capital city. Focus Taiwan reported that the maximum number of deaths was due to hypothermia and cardiovascular disease as the vulnerable were caught off guard by the abnormally cold weather.

The Hong Kong Observatory said if temperatures drop to 0C, it will be the lowest ever in over 120 years.

China has already issued a yellow alert, the third level in a four-tier system, for severe weather. Beijing could see temperatures plunge to -17C on 25 January, while regions in the north could experience -40C. In Shanghai, the lowest temperature in 35 years was recorded on 24 January morning with a low of -7.2C, not experienced in the city since 1981.

China's People's Daily said on its Weibo social media account that the city of Guangzhou recorded its first snowfall since 1929. Emergency workers have also been put on standby with several flights being cancelled and highways closed.

In Japan, the Kyodo news agency said five people had died and more than 100 injured in weather-related accidents across the country in the past 24 hours.

That certainly doesn't sound like El Niño does it? (Source (http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.html))