Blizzard 2016

Current Events –
Blizzard 2016 Punches East Coast

Blizzard 2016 was predicted to be powerful — but when it hit the northeast United States late Friday into early Saturday, it punched the east coast with incredible brute force, then left 2 to 4 feet of snow as its calling card.

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Current Events
The deadly winter storm, nicknamed “Jonas,” prompted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to declare a State of Emergency and initiate a travel ban, effectively shutting down New York City for one of the few rare times in history.  All non-emergency vehicles were ordered off the roads by mid-Saturday afternoon, while above ground Subway service was halted soon after. Long Island Railroad, Metro North and New Jersey Transit trains were also halted, as trains were unable to maneuver tracks buried beneath several feet of snow. Bridges and tunnels into and out of Manhattan were closed, turning the usually bustling streets of New York City into a virtual ghost town.

Tourists and theater-goers who purchased tickets months in advance to the runaway Broadway hit “Hamilton” received a rude awakening, when they learned both performances of the show were canceled for Saturday. In fact, all Broadway shows completely shut down on what is considered the theatre industry’s busiest and most lucrative day. Interestingly, NBC’s Saturday Night Live, which is broadcast from New York City, was the only show to go on.

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In New Jersey, massive amounts of snow from Blizzard 2016 combined with rising tides from the full moon, caused flooding along Atlantic Ocean beach areas, including parts of Atlantic City.  The streets of Margate, NJ appeared more like a raging river than a road for vehicular travel.  Damage is said to be in the millions.

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In Washington, DC, national monuments were completely shuttered from the storm. Power outages throughout the region had the public utility company working overtime to return full service to the area. The city was so hammered by Blizzard 2016 that Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the assistance of the National Guard.

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Current Events
All northeast area airports, bus depots and rail stations were closed, causing travel gridlock so intense, it will take most of the week to clear.  Passengers whose flights were canceled Saturday are being told their travel plans can’t be rescheduled until Tuesday at the absolute earliest.

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After spending most of Saturday locked indoors and succumbing to cabin fever, most of the northeast spent Sunday trying to dig their way out of the snowy mess.  More than 15 deaths have been attributed to the Blizzard of 2016, many coming from heart attacks suffered by residents attempting to shovel near their homes. Parked cars were buried under natural snow, as well as mounds of the powdery substance city trucks created from plowing the streets. Everyone needed to dig their way out of their front doors and their cars out of packed snow, in time for the morning rush to work on Monday.

With temperatures still below freezing in most areas, authorities are cautioning drivers and pedestrians to be on the look out for slick and nearly invisible patches of black ice, which can make driving and walking extremely hazardous.

Blizzard 2016 may have come and gone, but its magnitude and memory will be around for days to come.

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OK WASSUP! covers current events.  Today’s article:
Blizzard of 2016 punches East Coast.