Discover Top Posts Tagged with #blizzard of 2011

"Snow-My-God!" Blizzard of 2011 Takes On the Windy City

For a city that regularly experiences bipolar weather, Chicago’s 2011 “snowpocalypse” overwhelmed even the most prepared residents and officials. Across the city, citizens were both thrilled and dismayed at news of the coming onslaught that would later reach records and mark its place in Chicago history. The National Weather Service ranked the blizzard as the third-largest storm to hit the Windy City since snow records began in 1886.

For the younger, college-age population of the city, the blizzard was more of an adventure to be had instead of groaning about the dropping temperatures and the rising levels of snowdrifts. Many of the colleges had closed their doors Tuesday and Wednesday due to the extreme conditions, giving their students a complete snow-filled field day, and for many, an extended weekend. Danielle Smith, a Roosevelt University (RU) student, enjoyed her time indoors with her boyfriend and movies, declaring the snow days as “lazy days.” She said, “Going out just seemed like a stupid idea. Why would I leave my comfortable post to go out in a storm that could get me killed?

The downtown University Center, home to Columbia, Roosevelt, DePaul, and Robert Morris students, reported several students bravely venturing out into the freak snowstorm to make snow angels in unplowed streets and hold snowball fights in the deserted downtown, turning the blizzard into a winter wonderland never to be forgotten.

For the older generations of citizens that live and work in the city, the Windy City’s copycat of “The Day After Tomorrow,” was less than thrilled at the blizzard’s effects on their city. Commuters were hard-pressed for ways home, frightened they may end up stranded in downtown or at their place of employment. City officials cancelled parking meter charges in the inner city for the entire week, due to the amount of cars snowed in. CTA trains had 45-plus minute waiting periods just to board, leaving many stranded downtown. Metra and Amtrak trains were delayed and overcrowded as people tried to make the commute home to their families, friends, and warm houses or apartments.

Lake Shore Drive was estimated to have had hundreds, if not thousands, of stranded cars abandoned as the snow piled higher and higher, making driving impossible. Some report that city officials didn’t do all within their power to prevent—if not, at least decrease—the amount of stranded drivers, or could have prepped the busy route before the storm hit with salt or stationed plows to continuously clear the pavement.

Grocery stores were ransacked with frantic shoppers, stocking up on the usual emergency supplies—batteries, generators, blankets, bread, milk, water, canned goods, and cold weather gear—leaving many stores’ shelves barren. Britney Jarrett, RU, admitted she and her boyfriend, James, felt out of place in a Target check-out line, holding only cookies and frozen pizzas. A DePaul University student, Valen Sparks reported a similar scene at a Dominick’s near her dorm. “Dominick’s was crazy! The line extended all the way to Starbucks and shelves were starting to clear out!”

On top of all this chaos and worry, the Exelon Company (ComEd) reported an estimate of 123,000 of their customers were without power during the blizzard. Most of these outages were due to downed power lines and damaged transformers and other equipment from the heavy snowfall. The company even put together a total of 100 crews on stand-by for restoration of power outages to be done as quickly as possible.

With the city on the mend and classes back in session, it seems Chicago will soon be back into the regular routine that all its citizens follow daily, even with freezing—and sometimes single-digit—temperatures. Many are hoping that should there be another “snowpocalypse,” Chicago officials will be even more prepared than this historical blizzard of 2011.

#Blizzard of 2011 #Snowpocalypse #Chicago #Roosevelt University

SNOW-SHREDA-MAGEDDON (by RUBBISH)

#Rubbish #rubbish films #urban snowboarding #chicago #blizzard of 2011 #snowpocalypse #jake zalutsky

Snow from blizzard of 2011.

02 February 2011. Chicago, IL.

#blizzard of 2011 #snow #chicago

Ek's Snow Report

So far we've a drift blocking our front door up to my shoulders, so we'll have to go out the back door which has a lovely clear path with barely any snow on it to our gate, which does have a big drift up against it.

That's the biggest drift we have though, judging from the level against the cars I think the rest of the snow goes up over my knees, possibly to the top of my thighs, maybe my waist in a couple areas.

Our game plan is to shovel for a hour or so, take a break, then shovel again. I'll take pics when we go out there the first time. :D

Oh, we've got power, too [obviously] But my mom's friend, who she's going to Seattle with tonite if the flights don't get canceled, has lost power, so some parts in the city have lost it.

#blizzard of 2011