20 –119-129

lornajarrettblanchard February 5, 1978

–119-129 Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below.*
— 99 Celebrate Boston. Boston Disasters. “The Blizzard of 1978.”
— 99 NOAA. Northeast Blizzard of ’78 – February 5-7, 1978. September 1978, pp. 1-2.
–73 MA
–26 RI
— 99 Strauss, Neal (NOAA). “…The Great Northeast Blizzard of 1978 Remembered…”
— 78 Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “Troops dig out East.” 2-11-1978, p. 2.
— 56 History.com. “This Day in History, Disaster, February 8, 1978. New England Digs…”
— >56 Snow. Adventures, Blizzards, and Coastal Calamities. 1978, p. 5.
— >56 Snow, Edward Rowe. Tales of Terror and Tragedy. 1980, p. 192.
— >56 UPI. “Federal Disaster Area Declared in Northeast.” Leader-Times, Kittanning, PA. 2-11-1978, 1.
— 54 New England. Mass Moments. “Blizzard Paralyzes Massachusetts, February 7, 1978.”
— 54 Haraden. Storm of the Century: New England’s Great Blizzard of 1978. 2003, p. 53.
— 54 USGS/Gadoury. Coastal Flood of February 7, 1978 in [ME, MA, NH]. 1979, p. 1.
— >24 Heart attacks related to shoveling snow. Bowling. “The Blizzard of ’78.”

*We express some reservation on the number of fatalities reported by the sources we cite. Two examples: Tougias notes 54 deaths and NOAA 73 for MA. We have been able to identify approximately thirty specific deaths. This is a significant difference. For RI, Faich and Rose (citing Medical Examiner’s office) note twenty deaths, whereas NOAA (also generally a reliable source) notes twenty-six.

Summary of State Breakouts Below

Connecticut ( 5 – 9)
Maine ( 1)
Maryland ( 1)
Massachusetts ( 73)
New Hampshire ( 3)
New Jersey ( >7)
New York ( 5)
Pennsylvania ( >4)
Rhode Island (20-26)

Breakout of Winter Weather-Related Mortality by State and Locality (where noted)

Connecticut (5-9)
— 9 UPI. “N.E. digs out of blizzard blitz,” Journal Tribune, Biddeford, ME, 2-9-1978, p. 6.
— 6 UPI. “Federal troops set out to fight New England’s wintry enemy.” Tribune, 2-8-1978, p8.
–>5 Rondinone. “40 Years Ago, Blizzard of ’78 Walloped Connecticut.” Hartford Courant, 2-6-2018.
— 3 Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: On Cape Pubs., 2003, p. 104.
— 3 UPI. “Blizzard Blasts New England…” Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, FL, 2-9-1978, p.1.
— 2 NCC. Feb 6-7. Blizzard, flooding. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 2.
— 2 Waterbury. Exposure. “…a man and a woman…were found dead of exposure on a street…”

Maine ( 1)
–1 Waterville. Heart attack shoveling snow from roof of Waterville Junior Hight School.

Maryland ( 1)
–1 East MD. Kennedy Expy. rest stop, Feb 6. Heart attack pushing snow-stalled car; male, 87.

Massachusetts (73)
–73 NOAA. Northeast Blizzard of ’78 – February 5-7, 1978. September 1978, p. 2.
–73 Strauss/NOAA. “…The Great Northeast Blizzard of 1978 Remembered 30 Years Later.”
–54 Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: On Cape Pubs., 2003, p. 79.
–30 Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.
–29 Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 270.
–29 Mass Moments. “Blizzard Paralyzes Massachusetts, February 7, 1978.”
–27 Glass, O’Hare, Conrad. “Health Consequences of the Snow Disaster in [MA], Feb 6, 1978, 1048.
–6 Heart attacks while shoveling snow (men).
–1 Lack of emergency transportation
–7 Sea-rescue operations
–8 Stranded in vehicles.
–5 Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
–2 Heart attack and cold exposure.
–5 “Various.”
–14 Carbon monoxide poisoning as people “huddled in their snow-trapped vehicles.”
Breakout of winter storm-related fatalities by locality (where noted).
–~3 Boson area. Heart attacks. Pletcher. Massachusetts Disasters. “The Great Whiteout.” 2006, 204.
— 1 Dedham, Route 128. Crushed between two disabled vehicles; Ronald G. Thompson, 33.
— 1 Hanson. Electrocution, Donna Lee Porter, 15, steps on snow-covered 8,000 volt live wire.
— 1 Nahant. Burns; water crashes into home, 61 year-old man lighting basement furnace.
— 2 Norwood. Two Canton women died in their car.
— 1 Revere. Man “drowned in his basement trying to start a pump.” Pletcher 2006, p. 207.
— 5 Salem Sound. Pilot boat Can Do, on mission to assist Global Hope oil tanker.
— 2 Scituate, drownings; Rescue boat capsizes on Jericho Rd.; Amy Lanzikos, 5; Edward Hart.
— 1 Shrewsbury, Millbury man died of asphyxiation, snow-covered car on I-290 exit ramp.
— 1 South Boston. Carbon monoxide poisoning, apartment gas stove, 62-year-old woman.
— 1 Uxbridge. 10-year-old boy missing 20 days found in snowbank with concussion.
— 1 Watertown, 17-year-old dies in car.
— 2 Winchester, carbon monoxide poisoning in car, Matthew Lawton, 11 and John Gangi, 12
— 8 Locales not noted. Carbon monoxide poisoning. (14 reported; we show locales for six.)
–51 Locales/causes of death not noted. (Provided that NOAA data of 73 MA deaths is correct.)

New Hampshire ( 3)
–3 Exertion. National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 4.
–2 UPI. “N.E. digs out of blizzard blitz,” Journal Tribune, Biddeford, ME, 2-9-1978, p. 6.

New Jersey ( >7)
–7 UPI. “Blizzard Blasts New England…” Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, FL, 2-9-1978, p.1.
–7 Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: On Cape Pubs., 2003, p. 104.

New York ( 5)
–5 State? “The New York Medical Examiner’s office said it had recorded five storm-related deaths…”
–1 Glen Cove, East Island, Long Island. Heart attack after abandoning car during snowstorm.
–1 Holbrook, Suffolk County, Long Island. Heart attack, operating snow-blower at home.
–2 New York City. Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. 2003, p. 104.
–1 Port Washington, Nassau Co., Long Island. Heart attack, shoveling snow in front of home.

Pennsylvania ( >4)
–>4 State. Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: 2003, p. 104.
— 4 UPI. “Blizzard Blasts New England…” Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, FL, 2-9-1978, p.1.
— 2 Philadelphia vicinity. Carbon monoxide poisoning, marooned men in disabled snow plow.

Rhode Island (20-26)
–20-26 Blanchard range using Faich and Rose for low-end of range and NOAA for high-end)
–26 NOAA. Northeast Blizzard of ’78 – February 5-7, 1978. September 1978, p. 2.
–26 Strauss/NOAA. “…The Great Northeast Blizzard of 1978 Remembered 30 Years Later.”
–21 Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: On Cape Pubs., 2003, p. 79.
–20 Faich and Rose. “Blizzard Morbidity and Mortality: Rhode Island, 1978.” AJPH, Oct 1979, 1051.
— 2 Carbon monoxide poisoning.
— 1 Locale not noted. Sledding accident.
–17 Locales not noted. “Sudden non-traumatic death occurring out-of-doors.”
–11 UPI. “N.E. digs out of blizzard blitz,” Journal Tribune, Biddeford, ME, 2-9-1978, p. 6.
— 1 Cranston. Stranded and partially buried car.
— 3 Locales not noted. “…found asphyxiated [CO poisoning] in cars stranded in Rhode Island…”
–2 Carbon monoxide poisoning.
— 3 Locales not noted. Heart attack victims who could not be reached by rescue vehicles.
— 1 Locale not noted. Sledding accident.
–17 Locales not noted. “Sudden non-traumatic death occurring out-of-doors.”

Causes of Death

Asphyxiation ( 1)
–1 MA, Shrewsbury, Millbury man died of asphyxiation, snow-covered car on I-290 exit ramp.
Burns ( 1)
— 1 MA, Nahant. Burns; water crashes into home, 61 year-old man lighting basement furnace.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (14)
–14 Carbon monoxide poisoning as people “huddled in their snow-trapped vehicles.”
–1 MA, South Boston. CO poisoning, apartment gas stove, 62-year-old woman.
–1 MA, Watertown, 17-year-old dies in car. (Either CO poisoning or hypothermia.)
–2 MA, Winchester, CO poisoning in car, Matthew Lawton, 11 and John Gangi, 12
–2 Philadelphia vicinity. CO poisoning, marooned men in disabled snow plow.
–3 RI. Locales not noted. Found asphyxiated [CO poisoning] in cars stranded in R.I.
–1 RI, Cranston. Stranded and partially buried car. [CO or hypothermia.]
Drowning ( 3)
–1 MA, Revere. Man “drowned in his basement trying to start a pump.” Pletcher 2006, p. 207.
–2 MA, Scituate, drownings; Rescue boat capsizes, Jericho Rd.; Amy Lanzikos, 5; Edward Hart.
Electrocution ( 1)
— 1 MA. Hanson. Electrocution, Donna Lee Porter, 15, steps on snow-covered live wire.

Emergency response vehicles ( 6) Inability to respond due to snow-blocked roads.
–>2 CT. “…some of whom could not be saved by ambulances stranded in snow.”
— 1 MA. Lack of emergency transportation.
— 3 RI, locales not noted. Heart attack victims who could not be reached by rescue vehicles.

Exposure ( 4)
— 2 CT, Waterbury. Exposure. “…a man and a woman…were found dead of exposure on a street…”
— 2 MA, Norwood. Two Canton women in their car. (Either hypothermia or CO poisoning.)

Falls ( 1)
— 1 MA, Uxbridge. 10-year-old boy missing 20 days found in snowbank with concussion.

Heart Attacks (24) Primarily related to snow removal.
–>24 Heart attacks related to shoveling snow. Bowling. “The Blizzard of ’78.”
–1 Waterville, ME. Heart attack shoveling snow from roof of Junior Hight School.
–1 East MD. Kennedy Expy. rest stop, Feb 6. Pushing snow-stalled car; male, 87.
–6 MA. Heart attacks while shoveling snow (men).
–~3 Boson area. Heart attacks. Pletcher. Massachusetts Disasters. 2006, 204.
–3 NH. Exertion. National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 4.
–1 NY, Glen Cove, East Isl., Long Island. Heart attack after abandoning car during snowstorm.
–1 NY, Holbrook, Suffolk Co., Long Island. Heart attack operating home snow-blower.
–1 NY, Port Washington, Nassau Co., L.I. Heart attack, shoveling snow at home.

Maritime ( 7)
–7 MA. Sea-rescue operations.
–5 MA, Salem Sound. Pilot boat Can Do, on mission to assist Global Hope oil tanker.

Vehicular ( 1)
— 1 MA, Dedham, Rt. 128. Crushed between two disabled vehicles; Ronald G. Thompson, 33.

Cause not noted (65)
— 3 Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: On Cape Pubs., 2003, p. 104.
–51 MA.
— 7 NJ. Tougias. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: On Cape Pubs., 2003, p. 104.
— 2 New York City. Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. 2003, p. 104.
— 2 PA.

Narrative Information

Celebrate Boston: “On February 6th and 7th 1978, 27.1 inches of snow fell in Boston. The storm quickly became known as The Blizzard of 78. Along the coast, the tides were devastating. At the height of the blizzard, the ocean storm surge rose 15.2 feet above the normal low tide mark. Many homes in coastal communities in Massachusetts Bay were completely destroyed. Severe flooding occurred in many low-lying towns. The storm strengthened during afternoon rush hour, and people were buried in their cars on the highways surrounding Boston. 99 people tragically lost their lives due to the Blizzard. The value of all property destroyed was about $1.3 billion [or $2.8 billion current dollars].” (Celebrate Boston. Boston Disasters. “The Blizzard of 1978.”)

History.com: “A classic “Nor’easter” storm that brought a severe blizzard to New England finally subsides on this day [Feb 8] in 1978, and the region begins to dig out from under several feet of snow. Over the previous 72 hours, some areas of Rhode Island and Massachusetts had received as many as 55 inches of snow.

“Three major weather systems all converged near the Atlantic Coast on February 5, and New York City was the first to be hit with a snowstorm. As the storm moved northeast, it stalled over Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, catching many of the region’s residents by surprise. It is estimated that 3,500 cars were abandoned on Massachusetts streets and highways and several people died in their vehicles on Interstate 93 when they became trapped. A college hockey playoff was played at the Boston Garden despite the weather, and many of the spectators were unable to return home.

“On February 6, the blizzard whipped up powerful sustained winds of up to 50 miles per hour with gusts of nearly 100 mph. Fifty-foot waves on the Massachusetts coast wiped out seaside homes, while further north, in Maine, waves destroyed three lighthouses and an amusement pier.
One of the hardest-hit communities in New England was Providence, Rhode Island, where travel became nearly impossible and Governor Joseph Garrahy ordered all businesses except grocery stores closed. Few of these stores had any food in stock, and eventually, supplies had to be airlifted in to Providence College. Similar conditions were found in areas of Boston, and looting broke out in some spots. Governor Michael Dukakis banned all cars from the roads because stuck vehicles were making it impossible for snow plows to clear the streets.

“In the end, 56 deaths between February 5 and February 8 were attributed to the blizzard. Thousands more people were left homeless. In one tragic incident, a young child died after becoming lost in the snow–although he was only yards from his home, he could not be located. This was the worst blizzard to hit New England since 1888.” (History.com. This Day in History, February 8, 1978. “New England Digs Out After Blizzard.”)

Mass Moments: “…in 1978, the storm of the century paralyzed the entire state of Massachusetts. The Blizzard of ’78 dropped between two and four feet of snow on the Bay State in the space of 32 hours. Ferocious winds created drifts as high as 15 feet. Along the coast, flood tides forced 10,000 people into emergency shelters. Inland, over 3,000 cars and 500 trucks were immobilized along an eight-mile stretch of Route 128. By the time it subsided, the storm had taken 29 Massachusetts lives, destroyed 11,000 homes, and caused more than one billion dollars in damage. The Blizzard of ’78 is also remembered for many acts of kindness, cooperation, and courage….

“As the blizzard moved up the eastern seaboard, it slowed down and gained strength. By midday on the 6th, it had reached New England, where the storm would break every record on the books. Winds gusts officially peaked at 83 mph in Boston and 92 mph on Cape Cod; scattered gusts exceeded 100 mph. Between two and four feet of snow fell in Massachusetts; some South Shore communities received as much as 54″.

“In coastal communities, flooding caused the greatest devastation. Most hurricanes and Nor’easters bring one tidal storm surge and then recede; during the Blizzard of ’78 there were four successive flooding high tides. One ran into the next, so that for two whole days it seemed to one observer “as if the tide never went out.” With flood tides cresting over 15.2 feet, waves surged over, across, and through seawalls. One Revere woman remembered, “I was sitting in my living room when the waves and the wind were rocking the house. Then, this one wave hit. It was a sound like no other. It roared and whined like a siren. The house groaned and I knew it was time to get out.” Her home, like 2,000 others, was destroyed.

“Away from the coast, the biggest problem was the sheer amount of snow that fell. When dawn broke on Tuesday, February 7th, snow had been falling throughout the night; it continued all day, accumulating an average of one inch every hour. The intensity of the storm caught many meteorologists, and thus many motorists, by surprise. Major arteries around Boston were soon clogged with stranded vehicles and jackknifed tractor-trailer trucks. Tuesday morning, an eight-mile stretch of Route 128 turned into a snow covered parking lot. People were trapped in their vehicles as snow piled up to wheel wells, doors, hoods, even roofs. Many people spent the entire night in their cars. “The snow was so high around the car, I could only see the [state] trooper’s boots outside my window,” one man remembered. “We were so grateful to be alive, to be saved.”

“Not everyone was so lucky. The Blizzard of ’78 claimed 54 lives in New England, 29 of those in Massachusetts. Seventeen thousand Massachusetts residents sought cover in shelters, while emergency workers evacuated another 10,000 people. By the time the storm ended on February 8th, over 11,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Several historical treasures were lost to the sea — the Outermost House on Cape Cod, Motif #1 in Rockport, and the Peter Stuyvesant long moored next to Anthony’s Pier 4 restaurant in Boston.

“The storm did have an a positive side. Neighbors came together to help each other — and stranded strangers. The governor ordered all non-emergency vehicles off the roads. With schools, businesses, and roads closed for six days, people got around on skis, snowshoes and sleds. Bostonians remember the quiet and the clean air of their suddenly car-free city. Along the coast, the churning sea threw frozen lobsters and shellfish up on the beach, providing a welcome addition to residents’ dwindling provisions.

“Almost 30 years later, the Blizzard of ’78 still sets the standard for winter storms. People who lived through it can still tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when it hit. Some remember the terror of having their homes flooded by the sea or their cars buried in snow. But most recall the spirit of cooperation — even heroism — that prevailed. An occasional seaside home still displays one of the bumper stickers that once adorned nearly every Massachusetts car: “I survived the Blizzard of ’78.”” (Mass Moments. “Blizzard Paralyzes Massachusetts, February 7, 1978.” Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities.)

NOAA: “The Northeast Blizzard of ’78 was one of the worst of the century. From February 5 to 7, it created havoc along the Eastern seaboard. In New York City, the 17.7-inch snowfall was the sixth largest since records began in 1869. Boston, MA, had over 2 feet, as did Providence, RI. Winds of over 55 miles per hour caused massive snowdrifts, drove seas through seawalls, undermined homes, destroyed beached (including both Rockaway Beaches on Long Island), breached protective dunes, and left many areas from Cape May, NJ, northward open to further damage from spring coastal storms.

“The American Red Cross reported 99 deaths and 4,587 injuries or illnesses attributable to the storm. More than 1,700 single-family dwellings were destroyed or suffered major damage. The Red Cross provided shelter for more than 39,000 persons stranded or forced from their homes by the storm….The State of Massachusetts estimated losses from the storm at $500 million. Maine had an estimated $50 million loss, while total storm damage in New Hampshire was estimated at $14 million, including $1.5 million to highways. Property damage resulting from tidal flooding and beach erosion reportedly reached $44 million in New Jersey and over $40 million in New York. Total Federal assistance for the area affected by the storm, as reported by the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, was $202 million.

“On Friday, February 3, the Eastern portion of the United States was dominated by a high-pressure system with generally fair winter weather. The only indication of a storm was a weak frontal system in the far West near the Canadian border. East Coast conditions changed little until late Saturday night when a weak low-pressure center began moving through the Great Lakes with typical, although significant, snow on the southern shores. The weak front from that low moved slowly through the Mid-Atlantic States during the day on Sunday, February 5. Snowfalls of several inches were recorded in the Appalachians, but it was not a particularly severe storm.

“Late Sunday night…the low which was to create the blizzard was about 150 miles due south of Cape Hatteras. This was first noted by data received via satellite from a NOAA weather buoy near that area. The storm moved rapidly northeastward and was 180 miles due east of the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia Peninsula at noon on Monday, February 6. Major intensification occurred; winds increased to near-hurricane velocity; and the storm center slowed and moved to within 75 miles of the New Jersey coast by 6 p.m. on Monday.

“For the next 24 hours the storm intensified and moved parallel to the Coasts of New Jersey, Long Island, NY, and Rhode Island. At 6 p.m., on Tuesday, February 7, it was about 75 miles due south of Nantucket. The speed increased rapidly, and the storm moved due east away from the coast Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.” (NOAA. Northeast Blizzard of ’78 – February 5-7, 1978. September 1978, p. 1.)

Strauss: “The Great Northeast Blizzard of February 5-7, 1978 occurred 25 years ago this week. This historic Nor’easter was described by the local media as ‘the week the State stood still: February 6-13 1978’ in Rhode Island and ‘awesome’ after Massachusetts State Governor Michael S. Dukakis returned from his helicopter survey.

“Only a few snowstorms over the past century might compare to the February 1978 Great Northeast Blizzard….

“Storm track: The storm formed as a weak extratropical cyclone off the South Carolina Coast Sunday afternoon February 5th. Meanwhile a vigorous upper air disturbance and associated arctic cold front were moving across the Appalachians. These systems ‘phased’ together off the Virginia Capes providing the ingredients for a rapidly intensifying low pressure system Sunday night February 5th into Monday morning February 6th. This low pressure system slowed as it intensified and approached the Southern New England coastal waters Monday night February 6th and Tuesday morning February 7th.

“The combination of strong northeast winds and a slow moving storm system along with astronomically high tides brought in a large fetch of water along coastal communities. This caused serious coastal flooding and beach erosion problems resulting in broken seawalls and massive property loss.

“The strong winds and heavy precipitation also reduced visibilities to near zero and caused travel to become nearly impossible. Major power outages were also the result of the strong winds and heavy precipitation. Eventually the precipitation changed to rain on Cape Cod and the Islands reducing snow totals as the storm’s proximity and strength brought warmer air into coastal sections. The storm finally moved northeast into the Canadian Maritimes Tuesday night and Wednesday but its effects were felt long after its departure. Thousands of people were either stranded or homeless as a result of this storm.

“Storm Statistics: President Carter declared portions of Rhode Island and Coastal Massachusetts Federal Disaster Areas. The National Guard was brought in to help with the cleanup.

“Deaths and injuries reported by the American Red Cross:

“Massachusetts: 73 deaths and 4324 injuries/illnesses
“Rhode Island: 26 deaths and 232 injuries/illnesses.

Vehicles Stranded: 3000 cars and 500 trucks on Rte. 128 in Massachusetts….” (Strauss, Neal. “…The Great Northeast Blizzard of 1978 Remembered 30 Years Later in Southern New England.” NOAA, Eastern Region Headquarters.)

Tougias: “Destruction & Casualties….Medical emergencies were handled by snowmobiles, four-wheel-drive trucks and National Guard helicopters. These same helicopters were also used to ferry food to delivery points, where it would then be distributed to stores and restaurants. The storm revealed just how dependent New England was on trucking as its main means of transporting essential goods.

“Hundreds of houses were destroyed, and almost 6,000 residences were damaged. A handful of homes were consumed by fire because firemen simply couldn’t get to the scene to fight the blaze….

“Although largely forgotten, looting did occur during the storm when thieves took advantage of the abandoned stores. In the first three days of the storm, 125 people were arrested in Boston, most of them on Tuesday night.” (Tougias, Michael. The Blizzard of ’78. Yarmouth Port, MA: On Cape Pubs., 2003, p. 79.

USGS: “The first significant flood of 1978 resulted from the February 6 and 7 “Blizzard of 1978.” This storm formed in the Carolinas and moved northward along the Atlantic seaboard. The storm produced record amounts of snow and hurricane-force winds. Record tidal flooding occurred from Boston, Massachusetts, northward to Portland, Maine… Total economic losses from the storm, including damages directly caused by the storm and costs of snow removal, approached $1 billion (Platt and McMullen, 1978 ).” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.)

Connecticut

NCC Storm Data: “Statewide [Feb] 6-7…2 [killed]…Blizzard, flooding. About two feet of snow covered the state as a ‘granddaddy’ northeast coastal storm gusted to 70 miles per hour. Tides 3 to 4 feet above normal caused extensive coastal flooding and wave battery. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Norwalk.

“In old Saybrook, several marinas were seriously damaged. Many roofs collapsed including a large factory in Trumbull and a barn in Oxford. The blowing snow shut down most forms of transportation but trains kept moving. For the first time in 30 years the mail did not get through. In the eastern portions of the state this blizzard is being called the greatest of the century.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 2.)

Delaware

NCC Storm Data: “Storm moved slowly up the coast and brought what was called by many the worst snowstorm in 20 years. Winds gusting to over 50 mph caused 10-foot drifts and virtually paralyzed the state for two days…beginning early on the 6th through the morning of the 7th. Hundreds of motorists were stranded as main highways were drifted over as soon as they were plowed. Due to drifting, measurements were difficult; however, amounts from around one foot, up to as much as 17 inches of snow, were prevalent over he state.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 2.)

Maine

NCC Storm Data: “Coastal [Feb] 6-7…Northeast Blizzard. One of the monster storms of the century smashed into the New England coast the night of the 6th with the maximum period of damaging surf battery and coastal flooding on the 7th. Coastal points from Kittery to Eastport experienced severe damage with the heaviest concentration from York to Knox Counties. Several offshore lighthouses had to be evacuated and offshore islands such as Matinicus and Mohegan reported damages to wharves and buildings that had weathered a century or more of storms. Winds were reported 40-60 knots along the coast with higher winds offshore. The coastal battering and flooding was awesome, affecting areas that had withstood several decades of storms. Damages reached the 25 to 30 million dollar range. Miraculously there was no loss of life. The storm was accompanied by heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and huge drifts. Snowfall ranged from 7 inches along the coast to 1½ feet in the western mountains. Tides at Portland on the 7th reached 14.3 feet, probably the highest in nearly a century, while unofficial tides of 16 to 18 feet were reported along York County shores.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 3.)

Maryland & D.C.

NCC Storm Data: “Eastern Two-thirds [Feb 6]…Snow, Wind. Coastal storm brought from 5 to 10 inches of snow over the west portion of the area and a foot or more over the east portion, with 18 inches of snow at Havre de Grace – necessitating the calling in of National Guard units in that city. Storm said to be worst in a dozen years as near-blizzard conditions blocked roads as fast as they were plowed. Poor visibility responsible for a 23-car pileup near Frederick, in which 10 persons had to be treated for minor injuries. At a rest stop on the Kennedy Expressway, an 87-year-old man suffered a fatal heart attack after attempting to push a car stalled in snow. Poor weather and runway conditions at Baltimore-Washington International Airport forced major airlines to cancel flights.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 3.)

Massachusetts

NCC Storm Data: “Statewide [Feb 6-7…Blizzard. After just being hit by the January blizzard, the state was struck by one of the three most intense, persistent, severe winter storms in the history of records. Before snow began winds were already gusting to 65 MPA. As snow began it stung like lead pellets. Visibility fell to near zero as 2 inches per hour added up. Logan Airport in Boston was closed for the longest period on record as it took nearly a week to clear its areas. All travel was halted as major roads became snow filled. Boston’s outer circumferential artery was jammed with three thousand cars most covered to windshield heights. It took an army of National Guard snow fighting troops three days to open this freeway. People were plucked from their cars by helicopters or rescued by snowmobile.

“The storm moved slowly eastward just south of New England as a circular upper atmospheric low moved over the surface circulation. This persistence coupled with a rather high astronomical tide brought one of the several highest tides of record. Houses in Scituate, Plymouth, Hull, Nantasket, Revere, Nahant, Gloucester and Rockport took a severe beating. Many were completely smashed as tides 3 to 5 feet above normal and waves to 10 feet high broke ashore. In Nahant a man was drowned in his cellar and in Scituate an old man and 5 year old girl drowned as floodwaters swept them from their rowboat as they were being evacuated. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes and spend up to 5 days in emergency storm centers. Most people waited in their homes to the last minute hoping that the rising seas would stop. It only became apparent that this storm was an extraordinary occurrence as their windows and doors began breaking in.

“At sea, the drama was even more intense. A 600 foot oil tanker was blown aground off Salem and four brave men [five] in the pilot boat ‘Can Do’ went out to investigate. Zero visibility and 30 foot seas smashed the boat’s radar and windows and finally sunk the boat killing all four aboard. Wind gusts to 79 MPH were recorded at Boston and 92 MPH in Chatham.

“After nearly a week of shoveling, people began returning to normal as the driving ban was lifted. It was enforced for 5 days. Large roofs continued to collapse. A notable failure was a skating rink in Westboro. No injuries occurred. In Winchester, two young boys died of carbon monoxide poisoning as they ran their automobile engine to keep warm.

“The storm finally abated after about 48 hours leaving 2100 houses destroyed and 10,000 damaged.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 4.)

Feb 9: “Looting was a worry for many officials, as many waterfront homes, were stripped of their doors, windows and walls by the force of the storm. Some arrests were reported in Revere, but police at other shore-front communities reported no arrests.” (The Transcript, North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, MA. “NE struggles to regain footing in wake of record blizzard.” 2-9-1978, p. 3.)
New Hampshire

NCC Storm Data: “Statewide [Feb] 6-7…Northeast Blizzard. One of the monster storms of the century smashed into the New England coast the night of the 6th with the maximum period of coastal battery and flooding on the 7th. Hurricane force winds caused tides 3 to 5 feet above normal with widespread destruction of seawalls, homes, and businesses. The greatest destruction was centered around Hampton Beach but affected the entire coast. Route 1A was under four feet of water. Highway damage estimated at 1.5 million. 600-800 people were evacuated from homes. About 270 residences destroyed, another 1500 damaged. Also, 238 businesses were affected. Total storm damage estimated 14 million. Heavy snow with blizzard conditions caused mountainous drifts and paralyzed traffic. 13-20 inches of snow measured along the coast and 24-36 inches in the mountains. Three persons lost their lives related to the storm from exertion and countless injured.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 4.)

New Jersey

NCC Storm Data: “State [Feb] 5-7…Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Tidal Flooding. A weak low moved into Pennsylvania on the 5th causing light snow. A secondary storm developed off the Carolina Coast early on the 6th, intensified rapidly, moved northward to about 60 miles south of eastern Long Island and remained almost stationary for about 12 hours before developing farther eastward on the morning of the 7th. Northeast winds gusted to 50 m.p.h. or more and heavy snow of over one foot up to almost 2 feet covered the state.

“Temperatures were mostly in the 20’s with considerable drifting. Property damage resulted from tidal flooding and beach erosion reached a total of 44 million dollars. The total economic impact will doubtless total in the hundreds of missions.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 5.)

New York

NCC Storm Data: “Coastal (Extreme Southeast) Entire Area [Feb] 6-7…Blizzard, Heavy Snow, Tidal Flooding….Light snow began near midnight on the 6th and became heavy during the day finally tapering off and ending the afternoon of the 7th. Temperatures were in the 20’s and winds gusted to over 50 m.p.h. with blizzard conditions most of the 6th into the morning of the 7th. Snowfall ranged from 14 to 26 inches with considerable drifting. Property damage from tidal flooding and beach erosion reached a total of over 40 million dollars. Metropolitan New York Airports were closed for almost 48 hours and the area was almost totally paralyzed. Economic impact will total in the hundreds of millions.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 5.)

Pennsylvania

NCC Storm Data: “Eastern Penna. [Feb] 5, 6PM EST to [Feb] 7 10 AM EST…Heavy Snow, Wind. One of the worst snowstorms on record hit Eastern Pennsylvania on these days. The snow was accompanied by near blizzard conditions caused by winds gusting to 40 to 50 MPH. The winds reduced visibility to near zero and caused considerable drifting with some drifts as high as 15 to 20 feet. Except for a few locations, all of Eastern Pennsylvania received a foot or more of snow. In Chester and Lancaster Counties some sections had 18 to 21 inches and the higher elevations of the northeast had 20 inches or more in many locations. The highest amount reported was 30 inches at Tobyhanna. Thousands of vehicles were stalled on the highways and combined with the drifting snow to close many roads. Except for a few major highways and some city streets roadways were closed for a period of time during the storm.

“Secondary roads were closed for a considerable period of time. Many motorists had to be rescued from stalled vehicles and taken to shelter until the roads could be opened. Snowmobiles, plows and four wheel drive vehicles were used to reach people with medical or other types of emergencies. Police, National Guard and volunteers carried out these missions as well as transporting essential personnel to work. Many accidents occurred on the snow-covered roads resulting in numerous injuries; one accident involved a buss full of students. A number of roofs collapsed under the weight of snow. One collapse was a portion of the roof on a supermarket. Some roofs did not collapse until a few days after the snow ended. There were also some power outages caused by the snowfall.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, V20/N2, Feb 1978, p. 5.)

Rhode Island

NCC Storm Data: “Statewide [Feb] 6-7…3 [killed]…Blizzard. Two to three feet of heavy wet snow fell during a 30 hour period. The state was immobilized as even snowplows became stuck. A state of emergency was declared and a driving ban was issued for several days. Hundreds of vehicles were abandoned on Interstate 95, the state’s major road. The National Guard and Army flew in men and equipment to fight the snow. Three people died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Several roofs collapsed, the most notable being at a boat company in Bristol, a factory and a club in Woonsocket. Significant beach erosion and pier damage occurred along the entire shoreline.” (National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb 1978, p. 6.)

Feb 9: “….In Rhode Island, the state of emergency continued, with scattered looting reported in Providence. Some 4,500 people were still stranded in shelters around the state, where the blizzard dumped up to 40 inches of snow.” (The Transcript, North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, MA. “NE struggles to regain footing in wake of record blizzard.” 2-9-1978, p. 3.)

Sources

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United Press International. “New England struggles in history-maker’s wake.” Journal-Tribune, Biddeford, ME. 2-10-1978, p. 5. Accessed 5-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biddeford-journal-tribune-feb-10-1978-p-5/

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United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. Accessed 11-12-2016 at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1

Additional Reading

Platt, Rutherford H., and George M. McMullen. Post-flood Recovery and Hazard Mitigation: Lessons from the Massachusetts Coast (Publication No. 115). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Water Resources Research Center, May 1980.