One year ago, the Great Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011

It was actually a two-day storm, beginning on February 1 and ending on February 2, but most of us will remember it as the Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011.

This was a real-time exercise in preparedness.  There was ample warning about this storm and many folks did things right and had little problem.  Others didn’t manage it well at all and more than a few souls perished inside their cars while waiting for help that just could not get through to them.  Most who spent the night stranded in their vehicles did survive but were ill prepared and very uncomfortable.   Many people were on the road through no fault of their own; they had bosses who did not heed the storm warnings and the employees were not allowed to leave work until it was far too late.  Complicating matters further, there were no provisions or policies at most companies for allowing employees to “overnight” where they worked during such an emergency.  The old rule of “no less than ½ tank of gasoline” proved to be not good enough for many motorists. 

Wherever we may be, at work, home, or on the road, it never hurts to have kits, provisions, and plans for dealing with emergency events.  Those of us who suffered through this storm now have experience that makes us better able to handle the next. 

Stay safe.