12, DC –53-56

lornajarrettblanchard February 20, 1947

–56 Blanchard tally based on State and District of Columbia breakouts below.
–53 AP. “53 Deaths Result of 3-Day Storm.” Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 2-24-1947, p. 1.
–51 AP. “51 Dead in Eastern Storm; Hits Maine.” Council Bluffs Nonpareil, IA. 2-23-1947, p1.
–51 UP. “Eastern Storm Leaves 51 Dead!” Bakersfield Californian, 2-22-1947, p. 1.
— 1 Delaware
–12 New England.
— 2 New Jersey, southern.
–20 New York metropolitan area (apparently including northeast NJ).
–16 PA, eastern.

Connecticut ( 8)
–8 AP. “8 Persons Die In New England During Storm.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA, 2-22-1947, p6.
–5 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.
–2 AP. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East…” Kingston Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1.

Delaware ( 1)
–1 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.

District of Columbia ( 3)
–3 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.
–1 AP. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East…” Kingston Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1.

Illinois ( 2)
–2 AP. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East…” Kingston Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1.

Maine ( 1)
–1 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.

Massachusetts ( 2)
–2 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.
–2 Winchendon. Apparent heart attacks shoveling snow.

New Jersey (13)
–13 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.
–11 AP. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East…” Kingston Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1.
— 2 So. NJ. UP. “Eastern Storm Leaves 51 Dead!” Bakersfield Californian, 2-22-1947, p1.

New York ( 3)
–20 NYC Metropolitan area (probably includes NJ in that UP piece does not note NJ deaths).
— 3 AP. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East…” Kingston Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1.
— 1 New York City. AP. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East…” 2-21-1947.

Pennsylvania (23)
–23 AP. “23 Deaths In Penna. Due To Weather.” Somerset Daily American, PA, 2-24-1947, p.1.
— 5 Traffic accidents
–~3 Heart attacks shoveling snow.
–1 Philadelphia. Paul Fasbender, 60.
— 1 Braddock. Snow-sledding; Paul Burns, 19. Sled his parked car.
— 2 Eastern PA. Exposure.
–17 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.
–16 Eastern PA. UP. “Eastern Storm Leaves 51 Dead!” Bakersfield Californian, 2-22-1947, p1.
–14 Eastern PA. UP. “47 Dead Following Eastern Storm.” Dunkirk Observer, NY. 2-22-1947, 1.
— 7 AP. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East…” Kingston Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1.
–2 Highway accidents.

Narrative Information

Feb 21: “By the Associated Press) The heaviest snowstorm in recent years brought death to at least 27 persons today as the east struggled to maintain business as usual through falling snow that reached a depth of 27 inches in Virginia – and kept on falling.

“Over-exertion with snow shovels and traffic accidents were the chief causes of death as schools closed, highways were snowbound and business and industry slowed down.

“Deaths by states were New Jersey, 11; Pennsylvania, 7; Connecticut, 2; New York, 3; District of Columbia, 1; Illinois, 2; Massachusetts, 1.

“Sessions of the United Nations at Lake Success, N.Y., were postponed today as the snow disrupted communications. It was the first time the U.N. postponed a Security Council meeting….

“The snowfall was part of a huge storm that broke over the eastern sector of the country late Thursday afternoon [20th] and was expected to continue until this afternoon when it will blow out over the Atlantic ocean….

“The storm extended from Maine into North Carolina, but hope of abatement for the Middle Atlantic states came with reports that the storm was reduced to flurries in western Pennsylvania.

“New York city was an icy fingertip in the grip of the storm with snow still swirling. The weather bureau said it was expected to be a foot deep by noon after piling up a two-year record of 10 inches by 9 a.m. (E.S.T.). Worst previous storm occurred March 7-9, 1941, when 12.1 inches of snow fell. A task force of 8,000 workers struggled to clear New York streets, working in 35-mile-hour winds that whipped among the skyscrapers.

“The experience of those who wandered outside was dramatically highlighted in Nottingham, N.H., where two boys, three and four years ole, were found sound asleep last night in deep woods by 250 frantic searchers after they had wandered from their home.

“In New England the storm gained in fury during the night, locking highways in drifts that brought out all road-clearing equipment…..

“In New Jersey two mail highways were blocked. Nearly all trains throughout the northeast were running behind schedule….

“In Pennsylvania two deaths were attributed to highway accidents.

“There was one storm death in New York city….” (Associated Press. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East Covered.” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1-2.)

Feb 22: “Freezing winds and falling temperatures gripped the east today, moving in the wake of a snowstorm which blew out to sea Friday [21st] after causing at least 45 deaths and burying the eastern seaboard from the Carolinas north to Maine under a thick coating of white. The storm raged in many sections for almost 24 hours, snarling air and surface transportation and retarding industrial activities. It blew a few final flurries in Manhattan Friday afternoon, then headed northward toward Newfoundland and the sea….

“New York City continued its efforts today to dig itself out from under an 11½-inch blanket of snow. An army of 10,000 sanitation workers, manning 2,000 pieces of equipment, worked around the clock in shifts keeping primary arteries open in a battle to keep traffic moving. Buses ran behind schedule. Three deaths were reported.

“On Long Island, in Westchester County and in nearby New Jersey, motor trucks, especially trailer-trucks, were far behind schedule but vital supplies, including milk, came into the city in ample volume….

“Gusty winds kept planes grounded. In New York harbor, scores of longshoremen failed to appear for work and many ships were idle at piers.

“Traffic accidents on drift-choked highways and over exertion from snow shoveling accounted for most of the deaths. The toll by states: New Jersey 13, District of Columbia 3, Pennsylvania 17, New York 3, Connecticut 5, Massachusetts 2, Delaware 1, Maine 1.

“A record fall of 27 inches was reported at Dickenson County, Virginia.

“Many schools were closed in a dozen states. The storm closed down eastern seaboard airports, including La Guardia, Newark, N.M., and Washington terminals which were buried under two feet of snow until snowplows were loosed on them Friday night.

“Washington wallowed in seven inches of snow, hampering operations in Federal buildings and forcing President Truman to cancel his regular early morning walk….

“Sections of Pennsylvania were buried under four feet of snow. Connecticut was deeply drifted also, but the northern New England states generally reported lighter falls than lower New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.” (Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2.)

Sources

Associated Press. “23 Deaths In Penna. Due To Weather.” Somerset Daily American, PA, 2-24-1947, p. 1. Accessed 5-18-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-feb-24-1947-p-1/

Associated Press. “51 Dead in Eastern Storm; Hits Maine.” Council Bluffs Nonpareil, IA. 2-23-1947, p.1. Accessed 5-18-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/council-bluffs-nonpareil-feb-23-1947-p-1/

Associated Press. “53 Deaths Result of 3-Day Storm.” Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 2-24-1947, p. 1. Accessed 5-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-daily-mail-feb-24-1947-p-1/

Associated Press. “Snowstorm Closes Schools; Big Area of East Covered.” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY, 2-21-1947, p. 1. Accessed 5-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kingston-daily-freeman-feb-21-1947-p-1/

Associated Press. “8 Persons Die In New England During Storm.” Fitchburg Sentinel, MA, 2-22-1947, p. 6. Accessed 5-18-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-feb-22-1947-p-6/

Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “Two Die in Northeaster; 12-In. Fall Buries N.E.” 2-22-1947, p. 1. Accessed 5-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fitchburg-sentinel-feb-22-1947-p-1/

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Freeze Bites Snow-Gripped East; 45 Dead.” 2-22-1947, pp. 1-2. Accessed 5-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-herald-journal-feb-22-1947-p-1/

United Press. “47 Dead Following Eastern Storm.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 2-22-1947, p.1. Accessed 5-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dunkirk-evening-observer-feb-22-1947-p-1/

United Press. “Eastern Storm Leaves 51 Dead!” The Bakersfield Californian, 2-22-1947, p. 1. Accessed 5-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-feb-22-1947-p-1/

United Press. “Snow Storm Leave 49 Dead; State Roads Nearing Normal.” Chester Times, PA, 2-22-1947, p. 2. Accessed 5-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chester-times-feb-22-1947-p-2/