All down the East Coast and throughout the mid-Atlantic region, people heard the consistent barrage of foreboding news this week. A massive winter storm – a real crippler – will strike the East Coast on Friday and Saturday. By the end of the week, flights were cancelled, people stocked up on food and the federal government even closed early as Washington, D.C. prepared for nearly two feet of snow.
Such a storm called for intense preparation from the predicted 85 million people affected. The snowfall has far-reaching effects on high-profile people and everyday citizens alike. Wednesday evening, President Obama’s motorcade struggled to get back to the White House on the way back from Andrews Air Force Base. Obama’s vehicle inched along at a snail’s pace, taking the President and company over an hour to cover a 15-mile stretch of road. The storm is also likely to influence the much-anticipated playoff weekend in the NFL. Although the Arizona Cardinals have no plans to adjust their Saturday morning departure schedule from Phoenix, the storm in Charlotte is expected to last through the day on Saturday.
Along with the two feet of expected snowfall in Washington, Southern states, often ill equipped for snow accumulation, have been affected the most. Over half of all flights from Charlotte International Airport were called off early Thursday. Road crews turned out in full force in states from Tennessee to North Carolina, as consumers made last-minute runs to the supermarket. Further north, the preparation was no less intense. Governors in Pennsylvania and Maryland announced states of emergency, while Philadelphia and New York City prepared for over a foot of snow each. New York City transit officials have equipped some trains with scraper shoes as they plan to keep the subway system running.
The snowfall has record-breaking implications, especially in Washington. Note that the current record for snowfall in the nation’s capital is 28 inches. Routine commutes often took hours even with the light dusting Washington received on Wednesday, forcing some to abandon their cars. To prepare, people rushed to the stores to buy salt for their walkways and driveways. Unlike New York City, D.C.’s whole transit system was shut down in advance of the storm, which may deliver 50 mph winds. Mayor Muriel Bowser even mentioned the possibility of a rare weather phenomenon: thunder snow.
Want to share any tips for making it through the inclement weather? Leave a comment below!
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Sam Bojarski is an Associate at WordWrite Communications. He can be reached at sam.bojarski@wordwritepr.com
