Emergency responders in New York were racing against time to rescue stranded residents from the devastating blizzard that had left a trail of destruction across the state. The blizzard, dubbed the “blizzard of the century,” had already claimed 27 lives in New York and at least 60 nationwide, with the full extent of the damage yet to be assessed. In Buffalo, the storm had brought conditions so treacherous that hours-long whiteouts, bodies discovered in vehicles, and emergency personnel searching for more motorists had become a grim reality.
As Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, toured the city, she described a scene of utter devastation. “It’s like going to a war zone,” she said, surveying the eight-foot drifts against homes and snow plows and rescue vehicles buried in snow. “This is a war with mother nature,” she added, reflecting the magnitude of human suffering and loss.
The perfect storm of fierce snow squalls, howling wind, and sub-zero temperatures had forced the cancellation of over 15,000 US flights, disrupting travel plans and straining emergency services. The National Weather Service forecast up to 14 more inches of snow, further complicating rescue efforts and leaving officials struggling to get services back online.
Blizzard of the Century Hits New YorkErie County Executive Mark Poloncarz painted a bleak picture of the county’s death toll, which was likely to surpass that of the Buffalo blizzard of 1977. “We do expect that there will be more” deaths from the ongoing storm, he said, underscoring the devastating human cost of the disaster.
Meanwhile, the extreme weather had sent temperatures plummeting to below freezing across all 48 contiguous US states, causing water lines to freeze and burst in Jackson, Mississippi, where residents were forced to boil their drinking water. The storm had also left nearly 1.7 million customers without electricity, a number that had since dropped to around 50,000. Road ice and whiteout conditions had led to the temporary closure of major highways, including parts of Interstate 70, and motorists were warned not to venture onto the roads, even as the nation approached its usual busiest time of year for travel.
As the state struggled to recover from the storm’s relentless onslaught, Governor Hochul warned residents to stay off the roads and indoors, emphasizing the importance of caution in the face of such treacherous conditions. Her words were echoed by officials across the affected regions, who were working tirelessly to restore vital services and rescue those in need. The storm’s devastating impact would be felt for weeks to come, but for now, emergency responders were focused on putting out the flames of devastation and bringing hope to those affected.