As northeast coast residents brace for what many are predicting to be the biggest blizzard of all time, last-minute shoppers rushed grocery stores leaving empty shelves as they made preparations for a snow in of possibly epic proportions.
Tens of millions stand in the path of a massive blizzard expected to impact a 250-mile swath of the east coast, which some are anticipating will blanket parts of New England in up to three feet of snow.
Several major airports have canceled hundreds of flights, and Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has ordered traffic off of roads starting at 9PM, also warning residents to expect rolling power outages.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has urged residents to stay home if possible, and yesterday New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio put out an urgent warning telling residents to “prepare for the worst.”
“We are facing most likely one of the largest snowstorms in the history of this city,” de Blasio stated. “New Yorkers should not underestimate this storm… Assume conditions will be unsafe.”
“Make other plans. Change your plans now in advance of this storm. Even walking should be kept to a minimum.”
Ill-prepared New Yorkers apparently heeded no lessons from the “Snowpocalypse” that hit the east coast last year, which left miles of motorists stranded on the highway and stirred Atlanta residents into a grocery-buying panic, despite only bringing about three inches of snow.
Here are some scenes out of New York, courtesy of Twitter:
@TamronHall getting ready for blizzard upper west side. Line at grocery store. pic.twitter.com/4MXUpXB1gM
— Harry Smith (@HarrySmith) January 26, 2015
@TamronHall getting ready for blizzard upper west side. Line at grocery store. pic.twitter.com/4MXUpXB1gM
— Harry Smith (@HarrySmith) January 26, 2015
Be warned: @foodcoop is at defcon 10 (in a groovy way). pic.twitter.com/DGoWdFqHst
— sugarpond (@sugarpond) January 25, 2015
The situation at the @foodcoop has now been elevated to defcon 11 (politely) forming a line down the block. pic.twitter.com/sDyFhvXzeB
— sugarpond (@sugarpond) January 25, 2015
Biggest snowstorm since 1996 = panic in park slope. Check out this line of ppl looking to get into @foodcoop pic.twitter.com/jfS82tFfC6
— kimlast (@kimlast) January 25, 2015
@foodcoop is at capacity making it the hottest club in the Slope pic.twitter.com/fwzsL3mopd
— Lauren Hudson (@blactivist) January 25, 2015
Annnnnnd there's a line of people wrapped around the corner waiting to get into Trader Joe's. pic.twitter.com/xMxlISBpw0
— Evan Dunn (@evndunn) January 26, 2015
This is the line to get into Trader Joe's on the Upper West Side, up Broadway and around the corner onto 72nd. pic.twitter.com/Lyc8c2RcnP
— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) January 25, 2015
This is the line to get *in* to Trader Joe's on 21st and 6th in #NYC. #Snowmageddon2015 is causing 30 minute lines. pic.twitter.com/r5KrP0Cr9N
— John Fernandez (@jfernandez) January 25, 2015
This about sums up my trip to the grocery store today #Blizzard2015 #StockingUp #WCVB pic.twitter.com/yRVr95mWWm
— antoinette antonio (@antoinetteA) January 26, 2015
Line at Trader Joe's right now. I got in and out fast, though. pic.twitter.com/uk1UYUdMCh
— Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) January 26, 2015
So I'm thinking I should have gone to the grocery store yesterday! #blizzardof2015 @FoxFriendsFirst pic.twitter.com/DRzStlyaix
— Heather Childers (@HeatherChilders) January 26, 2015
Lines at Fairway on 86th out the door #PIXBLIZZARD #Blizzard2015 pic.twitter.com/Ez4xaIwUwd
— Mitch Merman (@MitchMerman) January 26, 2015
Line at @wholefoodsnyc right now is out of control #Snowmageddon2015 pic.twitter.com/vqCgvurAAY
— Katen (@k10manion) January 26, 2015
Wholefoods Bowery out of carts. It's a mad house in here. @evgrieve @LoDownNY #snowpocalypse pic.twitter.com/ImyR8pUOSJ
— Mercedes Sanchez (@BeChicMag) January 26, 2015
Pre-blizzard line at the #parkslope @foodcoop right now #coopocalypse pic.twitter.com/D7BMwXi6Km
— Marjorie Sweeney (@mmesand) January 26, 2015
The great pre-storm Kale Panic of '15. (Yes of course, this is the Gowanus Whole Foods) pic.twitter.com/OS50ntIatK
— Kat Kinsman (@kittenwithawhip) January 26, 2015
Despite the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to cast so-called “preppers” as conspiracy theorists, the Federal Emergency Management Agency actually encourages Americans to prepare for disasters by stocking up on a few days worth of essentials.
From Ready.gov:
Try to assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency. You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.
You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days.
H/T: Gothamist
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