COMMENTARY | Snowfall that began on Saturday, Oct. 29, developed into a huge storm that has gravely affected many states in the Northeast. Northeast states from West Virginia to Maine, were hit with rain, wind and snow. Some received more than 30 inches of snow. The storm trampled many trees, which caused power lines to fall. The storm knocked out power in more than three million residences, and more than two million of them were still without power on Monday.
This disaster is affecting everyone in the Northeast, whether your power has been restored or not. I have been staying in a small city in New Jersey for just a little over a month now. After years of desert winters, I was not prepared for this chaos. Our first snowfall of the season has brought us more than 15 inches of snow. Days after the storm, streets are still littered with power lines and fallen trees. Monday was my son’s very first snow day as schools were declared closed until the mess is cleaned up. Thankfully, we had our power back on by late Sunday, but not all homes have been so lucky. Almost a million homes in Connecticut alone are still without power.
The lack of power is hardly the only problem we are seeing in the Northeast. Many of the grocery stores and gas stations that closed over the weekend have yet to reopen, which means the lines are huge at the ones that are open. I must have waited 20 minutes just to fill up my tank, but I hear it’s even worse elsewhere. On Monday, residents of some cities in Connecticut waited for more than 45 minutes for gas.
Halloween festivities were postponed in my city until the disaster can be fully assessed and cleaned up. The adorable costumes I had specially delivered for my boys may not be used for another week, if not longer. Other cities have even cancelled Halloween activities altogether. Youngsters will have to wait until next year for their Halloween fun.
Northeast power companies say it could be as late as Friday for power to be restored to all residences. With the rate they are going, I think that is a pretty good estimation, so hopefully no one will have to spend a freezing weekend in their home like we had to on Saturday night and Sunday morning. A lot of work was being done on the streets Monday, so I suspect the kids will return to school in no time.