| We (Snooky, baby Mary and our 2 golden retrievers) were still living in Baltimore for the 1995/6 season; I ended up working a 3 day shift at the hospital because none of my coworkers could get into the city. Knew it was a possibility, so had taken the bus in from Patterson Park with a huge LL Bean backpack full of clean clothes etc.
Imagine someone could get on a large city bus like that without comment- or police escort off of said bus- NOW?
 For the record, sleeping curled up in a blood drawing chair is virtually impossible... by day #2, maintenance found me a cot.
Having lived for years on a 31' wooden sailboat together, Snooky and I knew how to deal with "no water, no heat, no power" situations and were braced. I knew that leaving him in charge of our 2 big fluffballs and 6 month old baby would provide for some interesting stories later, but that all would be fine at home. He, a native New Englander, was also raised in the land of snow.
But here's the thing: for having been born and raised in Maine, I thought everyone ELSE knew what to do in a major snowstorm. Especially the local governments' public works/maintenance department.
What I didn't realize was the incredible mess that happens when trying to organize the better part of 750,000 citizens, all experiencing a record-settling event together.
That co-operation and working together for a common goal are not natural human instincts. It was an eye-opening moment for me personally.
And certainly it wasn't just our one city; the storm stretched from DC to north of Philadelphia to NYC. Same as this one, which appears to be a far larger event.
But back to the local Baltimore observations...
It was a higgledy-piggledy mess. For WEEKS. Rather than coordinated efforts, the few people who had shovels were only clearing enough spot for their one car (and not one extra flake!), then putting a lawn chair or board to block it when they left. And the screaming, when someone came back to find their spot taken! I'm surprised no one was shot.
 Supermarkets were picked clean; the TV stations had a field day showing shots of huge lines, mangled shelves and general chaos. TV crews really focused on the misery quite well.
I do so hope, as the television coverage now is showing the effects of this blizzard hitting New Jersey, that the various municipalities are better braced that 15 years ago and can get everyone through this safely. |
