Here at the ole' homestead about 100 or so miles east of NYC a Blizzard Warning has been put in effect. The governor has told all non essential workers to stay home. In fact, as I write this the snow is coming down and the wind has picked up. I know some places have added a few extra guys and manned a couple of spare rigs. I'm sure other vital services have also taken that into account.
So far, as anybody who lives here in the northeast knows, this has started out to be one very tough winter.
Let's all hope that history does NOT repeat itself as some of us remember 40 years ago on Feb 5, 1978 - "The Blizzard of 1978" began. Most of the area had already had a lot of snow on the ground from previous snow storms. Then it started to snow again on February 5th. And that snow just kept on coming down the next day and the next day after that. Even the busy I-95 was closed down as cars could NOT move. Many places also lost power for those days.
Some fire depts. used snow mobiles to respond to calls. They used them to stretch lines from rigs to a hydrant or to remove sick or injured people towing a skid with the person in it to a waiting ambulance. Firefighters, Police officers, 911 dispatchers, public works employees, doctors, nurses, CNAs, etc were all held over at their jobs. In some cases from Feb 5th for 2-3 days straight. In many cases, even if they were able to go home, they couldn't get home.
For those workers who needed to report to work, usually the police brought them in. Also many citizens offered to drive these people to work in their 4 wheel drive vehicles.
Here is a little reminder of those days, just about 40 years ago. Meantime, for those who have to be out there, PLEASE just be careful okay.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzGG1eOBvvE