# New England Dopers Will Soon Get Historic Blizzard **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2015, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911 "2015-01-26T07:53:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/21 "2015-01-26T16:08:15Z")
The blizzard of 78 was pre-internet, and weather forecasting back then was a lot of guesswork. Most Nor’easters pass through in fairly short order, but that one stalled, catching people out and about, when they should have been at home. At least 100 people died, many of them in their cars from asphyxiation. I think people are much better prepared nowadays, but don’t take chances, Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/22 "2015-01-26T16:50:12Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Include us NY dopers in with the New England folks. Long Island is supposed to be slammed. Correct: I incorrectly titled the post. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/23 "2015-01-26T16:52:18Z")
I was thinking of starting a thread to talk about the media’s role in storm reporting. I may yet, but I’ll start here. I think the media’s treatment of major weather events is a disgrace, and has been getting worse for at least the last ten years. Each time a major storm comes up, the weather reporters all but cheerlead for the storm to be a major disaster, with major destruction, loss of life, dogs, cats, living together, etc. Obviously, the public needs to be informed of upcoming weather events so they can prepare, but it seems to me that the media is panic-mongering rather than informing. Am I completely out to lunch on this? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/24 "2015-01-26T17:02:33Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I was thinking of starting a thread to talk about the media’s role in storm reporting. I may yet, but I’ll start here. > > I think the media’s treatment of major weather events is a disgrace, and has been getting worse for at least the last ten years. Each time a major storm comes up, the weather reporters all but cheerlead for the storm to be a major disaster, with major destruction, loss of life, dogs, cats, living together, etc. > > Obviously, the public needs to be informed of upcoming weather events so they can prepare, but it seems to me that the media is panic-mongering rather than informing. > > Am I completely out to lunch on this? No, you’re not. When it comes to winter storms, there’s so much disaster-mongering that it becomes comical. Really, it’s like one of those movies that’s so bad, it’s good :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/25 "2015-01-26T17:18:36Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Once again, this California expat finds himself amused at how hardy, tough old Nwinglanders can (1) find themselves blindsided and (2) panic stupidly at something (3) I knew about and prepared for a couple of days ago with no particular rush or hassle. > > I went to the grocery store last night for a couple of basics and spent 20 minutes being amused at people stocking bottled water, pressed firelogs and toilet paper as if for end times. > > I need to go dust off the generator and give it a quick maint check. Yes, the whole-house Generac that - according to the neighbors four years ago - “the doctor installed years ago; I think it’s run about fifteen minutes since then _chuckle chuckle_.” Three major storms and over 14 days of power outage later, they aren’t laughing any more and have their own gas-powered beasts to drag out and tend to in the driveways. While I, poor dumb sunshine boy, start counting when the lights got out, to see if I can get to 30 before the 'ac kicks in automatically, restoring complete comfort. > > I’ve come to see FOSONE’s motto of “Land of Steady Habits” as most outsiders seem to: “We’re kinda dumb and stubborn, and we plan to stay that way.” > > See you on the other side. We’ll be watching movies. My personal theory on this is that New Englanders were severely traumatized by the “Blizzard of '78” and that is the reason we react the way we do. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/26 "2015-01-26T17:32:46Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I was thinking of starting a thread to talk about the media’s role in storm reporting. I may yet, but I’ll start here. > > I think the media’s treatment of major weather events is a disgrace, and has been getting worse for at least the last ten years. Each time a major storm comes up, the weather reporters all but cheerlead for the storm to be a major disaster, with major destruction, loss of life, dogs, cats, living together, etc. > > Obviously, the public needs to be informed of upcoming weather events so they can prepare, but it seems to me that the media is panic-mongering rather than informing. > > Am I completely out to lunch on this? Only on this occasion. I completely agree with you in general, but in this case they are doing the right thing. This will end up being a deadly storm, unless something very weird happens in the next 10 hours or so. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/27 "2015-01-26T17:37:58Z")
This storm is apparently serious enough for work to close tomorrow, this is a company that has only closed once in my 5 years here (the “blizzard” of 2012), and I’m a little concerned for a couple of my co-workers, they’re from Thailand and they have no supplemental heat or food preps, and they’re terrified of the storm… If we had room at home, I’d offer them a place to crash, but if our region loses power, my sister, niece, and nephew will crash at our place… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/28 "2015-01-26T17:52:17Z")
They cancelled our shifts here as well (I work in the warehouse for the most famous company out of Freeport, ME). But what really cheeses me is that Tuesday night is band practice night and I just got a new toy that I won’t get to test drive with the boys (got me a used Line 6 Pod HD 300 effects bank … it’s sweet). ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/29 "2015-01-26T17:53:30Z")
I got a library full of books, a ton of firewood, toe days off and my family at home safe. I’m all set. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/30 "2015-01-26T17:54:27Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > This storm is apparently serious enough for work to close tomorrow, this is a company that has only closed once in my 5 years here (the “blizzard” of 2012), and I’m a little concerned for a couple of my co-workers, they’re from Thailand and they have no supplemental heat or food preps, and they’re terrified of the storm… > > If we had room at home, I’d offer them a place to crash, but if our region loses power, my sister, niece, and nephew will crash at our place… You should help them figure out options. There have to be shelters being set up. It’s not going to get above freezing in Boston until Friday. That would be an awfully cold house by then if they lose power. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/31 "2015-01-26T17:58:40Z")
They cancelled school tomorrow here in northern NJ. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/32 "2015-01-26T18:35:26Z")
You know what’s weird about this? CNN, The Weather Channel, and MSNBC are covering this storm almost exclusively, but when I pass by Fox News, they have nothing. It’s all terrorism and terrorism and a drone landing at the White House, and terrorism. I worry about all the old people who watch Fox 24/7. Unless they read the crawl at the bottom of the screen, they may not even know what is coming. This is not a political statement. I’m serious. It is the biggest story in the country and they are just not reporting it. I just watched them for a half hour straight and there wasn’t one word about the storm. The other three channels were switching between press conferences by the New York and Boston mayors, and Fox was talking about some bomb threats to airlines over the weekend that amounted to nothing. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/33 "2015-01-26T18:36:52Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > You should help them figure out options. There have to be shelters being set up. It’s not going to get above freezing in Boston until Friday. That would be an awfully cold house by then if they lose power. That’s what I’m doing, I’m also going to give them my phone number in case they encounter an emergency situation and need an assist ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/34 "2015-01-26T18:41:29Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Here in the civilized world we put our power lines underground. Here in Nwingland we put rocks underground. Lots of them. When you clear them, more grow. Given that and the spread-out population, buried lines are pretty much on a par with a door-to-door subway system. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/35 "2015-01-26T18:49:59Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > So, what are they calling this one? Snowpocalypse 2015? Snowmageddon? I’m calling it the Blizzard of Doom. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/36 "2015-01-26T18:54:08Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > So, what are they calling this one? Snowpocalypse 2015? Snowmageddon? Silly New Englanders. A few years ago we got 6+ feet of snow in Maryland and no one panicked… ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/37 "2015-01-26T18:57:47Z")
Maryland… where is that again? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/38 "2015-01-26T19:01:16Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I was thinking of starting a thread to talk about the media’s role in storm reporting. I may yet, but I’ll start here. > > I think the media’s treatment of major weather events is a disgrace, and has been getting worse for at least the last ten years. Each time a major storm comes up, the weather reporters all but cheerlead for the storm to be a major disaster, with major destruction, loss of life, dogs, cats, living together, etc. > > Obviously, the public needs to be informed of upcoming weather events so they can prepare, but it seems to me that the media is panic-mongering rather than informing. > > Am I completely out to lunch on this? Reporting from the Gulf Coast–where no blizzards are expected. But where we get various tropical systems from time to time. Yes, some TV reporters do get all het up about possible disasters. (Always remembering that Dan Rather got national notice, standing outside in Hurricane Carla.) But there are people who really need to do something. Down here, anybody within reach of storm surge _does_ need to head inland before the storm hits land; escape routes can get washed out very early. The media need to ensure that everybody gets the word to prepare for the impending situation. But most of us get tired of the constant hysteria. So we should switch to TCM or something & only check back occasionally to see if things have changed. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/39 "2015-01-26T19:03:29Z")
Woo! It’s pretty light right now, but it’s going to pick up the pace in a couple hours. I’ve already slipped on ice and landed directly on my back once today, so I’m going to try to keep my clumsiness inside as much as possible. Bring it on! I recommend using [weather.gov](http://weather.gov) instead of weather. com. Weather. com is much, much worse in terms of fear-mongering (you’ll NEVER guess what happened to these two girls!!!). ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911/40 "2015-01-26T19:06:12Z")
Here in the Adirondacks we are only expecting 8-14 inches. Just a dusting really. I remember several years ago opening my front door, which was level with the ground, and looking at a solid wall of snow. My wonderful neighbors came to dig me out. What’s bugging me most about TWC coverage is that their graphic says “A historic blizzard”. That just sounds wrong to my ears, when I read it out loud. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-england-dopers-will-soon-get-historic-blizzard/710911.md?page=3)