Lessons Learned From Blizzards

Contributed by: Susie Clayton

Lesson from History: The Blizzard of 1978, Boston, MA, USA
This storm was listed as one of the top atmospheric storms of the 20th century by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A very slow moving and powerful low pressure system stalled off the southern coast of New England. As this winter hurricane spun around, it deposited 38 inches of snow in the Metropolitan Boston area in only 24 hours, while a winter storm surge hit and flooded homes and washed away roads along the coast.

The storm hit just as evening rush hour traffic filled the streets and highways around Boston. People were quickly trapped in their cars on Route 128 and other major routes. Plows could not move because of all the abandoned cars. People had to suddenly evacuate their homes into the blizzard because of flooding. Others were trapped miles from their homes in cars or on foot.

Services were quickly unavailable. Power lines went down. Roads to pharmacies were impassible. Trucks could not make deliveries, therefore food store shelves went quickly bare, and heating oil tanks quickly went empty. Suddenly most people in Boston had no access to food, electricity, heat, or medical attention for a week.
 

Lessons learned from the Blizzard:

• People trapped in their homes were cut off from medical services, pharmacies, hardware and food stores.
  • Lesson 1: Have emergency kits prepared at home that contain, extra food, prescriptions, emergency lighting, heating, and cooking capabilities.
• People died in their automobiles from carbon dioxide poisoning because they were trying to stay warm as the snow covered their vehicles. People were trapped for days in their cars on the highway.
  • Lesson 2: Always have extra warm clothing, meds, food, water and emergency equipment in your vehicle.
• People had to suddenly abandon their homes or cars to brave the elements without proper clothing or supplies or services available.
  • Lesson 3: Have a Grab and Run Bag ready that contains, a change of warm clothing, rain gear, emergency shelter, food, water, and medications for several days in your car, place of business, and home.

   

Immediate Objectives in Emergency Situations:

• Obtaining Medical Services: First Aid Kits, Extra Prescriptions.
• Obtaining Proper Shelter: A Backpacking Tent makes a great light weight emergency shelter.
• Obtaining proper Clothing: Keywords to look for are Windproof, Waterproof, Breathable, Insulating layers of clothing for your head, hands, feet, and body.
• Obtaining Food and Water: Several weeks of food and water storage in home, several days of food and water stored in car and grab and run bags.
• Obtaining Lighting, Heating, and Cooking Capabilities: With proper clothing then Flashlights, Lanterns, fuel and Camping stoves are all you will need to worry about.

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