1998 — Jan 5-9, Gulf storm system; southern flooding (15); northeast ice storm (21) — 36

lornajarrettblanchard January 5, 1998

–56 U.S. and Canadian fatalities. NCDC. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

–45 “ (Ice Storm only) RMS. The 1998 Ice Storm: 10-Year Retrospective. 2008, p. 2.

–28 Canadian deaths.[1]

–17 U.S. deaths.

–36 Blanchard tally of State breakouts below.

–28 Flooding & Ice Storm total, U.S. NCDC. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

–17 Ice Storm-related, U.S. Lecomte, Eugene L. Ice Storm ’98. ICLR, Dec 1998, p. 1.

Summary of Causes of Death

Southern Flash Flooding and Flooding (Drownings) (15)

— 2 AL

— 1 AR

— 1 KY

— 1 LA

— 2 NC

— 1 SC

— 7 TN

Ice Storm-Related (Northern NY and New England) (21)

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (8) — 3 Maine

— 1 New Hampshire

— 4 New York

Falls (2) — 2 New York

Fire (woodstove) (1) — 1 New York

Heart Attack (1) — 1 New York

Hypothermia (4) — 3 Maine

— 1 New York

Roof Collapse (1) — 1 Maine

Tree/branch fall (2) — 1 Maine

— 1 Vermont

Vehicular (2) –1? New Hampshire

–1 NY (bucket truck holding tree-limb cutter slides

down icy road, throwing him)

Breakout of Fatalities by State

Alabama (2) Flash Flood-Related

— 1 Flood-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

— 2 NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood Search Results all Counties Alabama.

— 1 Okatuppa Creek ~Gilbertown, Jan 7. Male, 32, drowned; vehicle washed into creek.[2]

— 1 Shelby Co., Jan 7. Girl, 5, drowning; sucked into storm drain. NCDC SED.

Arkansas (1) Flash Flood-Related

— 1 St. Paul vic., Jan 5. Madison Co. sheriff drowned; patrol car swept off low-water bridge.[3]

Kentucky (1) Flash Flood-Related

— 1 Flood-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

— 1 Bath, Jan 7. Drowning; female, 62, fell from foot bridge into flooded creek. NCDC SED.

Louisiana (1) Flash Flood-Related

— 1 Natchitoches, LA 120 ~Flora, Jan 7. Male, 72, drove around barricade into high water.[4]

Maine (8)

–8 State. Three direct and five indirect. NWS Eastern Region. The Ice Storm…1998, B17. [5]

–3 Carbon monoxide.

–3 Hypothermia.

–1 Roof collapse.

–1 Tree/branch fall.

–5 Ice storm-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

–1 Newport, Jan 9. Carbon monoxide poisoning; male, 73, generator, unventilated basement.[6]

–2 Waterville, Jan 9. Carbon monoxide poisoning; man & wife, generator, unvented basement.[7]

New Hampshire (2)

— 2 DeGaetano. “Climatic Perspective…Impacts of the 1998…,”[8] Bulletin of the AMS, p. 247.

— 2 Ice storm-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

–1? Auto accident.[9]

–1 Carbon monoxide poisoning. Jensenius. “Remembering the ice storm of 1998.”[10]

New York (10)

–10 Ice storm-related. DeGaetano. “Climatic Perspective…Impacts of the 1998…,” p. 247.[11]

— 4 Carbon monoxide poisoning.

— 2 Falls due to poor lighting.

— 1 Fire started from wood stove after power was lost.

— 1 Heart attack suffered while clearing storm debris.

— 1 Hypothermia.

— 1 Trauma; worker thrown from tree-removal truck bucket during electric restoration.

–10 Ice storm-related. RMS. The 1998 Ice Storm: 10-Year Retrospective. 2008, p. 8.

— 9 Ice storm-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.[12]

—>1 Clinton County, by Jan 11. Carbon monoxide poisoning.[13]

— 1 Clinton County, Plattsburgh, Jan 12. Joseph Hamilton (noted as 4^th CO poisoning death).[14]

—>1 Franklin County, by Jan 11. Carbon monoxide poisoning.[15]

— 1 Franklin County. Elderly male; from heart attack while clearing storm debris from road.[16]

— 1 Jefferson Co., Clayton, Jan 10. Bucket truck holding tree limb cutter slides down icy road.[17]

— 1 Jefferson County. (No details; notes only there were “Two storm-related fatalities…”)[18]

— 1 St. Lawrence County, Jan 12. Female falls down icy stairs.[19]

— 4 Carbon monoxide poisoning (three of which are noted above).[20]

— 1 Fire started by a woodstove after power was lost; location not noted.[21]

— 1 Hypothermia; location noted only as northern NY.. NWS Burlington, VT Appendix.[22]

North Carolina ( 2) Flash Flood-Related

— 2 Flood-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

–1 Drowning; male, 25, fell from boat into rain-swollen French Broad River.[23]

South Carolina ( 1) Flash Flood-Related

— 1 Flood-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

— 1 Pickens County, Jan 7. Drowning; male, 19; road washed out, car swept into lake. NCDC.

Tennessee ( 7) Flash Flood-Related

— 7 Flood-related. NCDC, NOAA. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 4-12-1999.

— 7 Carter County, Jan 7. Male, 37, in water; males 59, 73; females 12, 33, 49, 65, vehicular.[24]

Vermont (1) Tree Fall

— 1 Milton, Jan 8. Tree falls on truck; man in coma three months before dying on May 22.[25]

Narrative Information

NCDC overview: “During the week of January 5-9, 1998, the eastern U.S. and eastern Canada were severely effected by a storm system with a very deep southerly flow and abundant moisture. This resulted in flooding rains from the lower Mississippi valley through the southeast and into the northeast, several tornadoes, and a severe ice storm in parts of the northeast/New England and into Canada. The death toll for the event:

Flood-related: Tennessee–7
North Carolina–2

South Carolina–1

Kentucky–1
Alabama–1

Ice storm-related: New York–9

Maine–5
New Hampshire–2

“The heaviest rains and most severe flooding occurred in the mountains of North Carolina and northeast Tennessee, where up to 16 inches fell in a 2-day period….Surveys indicate over 500 homes destroyed or with severe damage in North Carolina, and over 200 homes severely damaged or destroyed in Tennessee. Damages exceeded $15 million for western North Carolina and $20 million for eastern Tennessee. Tornado touchdowns produced some damage in Dublin, Georgia and Easley, South Carolina. Flooding also was a problem in parts of the lower Mississippi valley and upstate New York.

“The severe ice storm mainly affected upstate New York, northern New Hampshire and Vermont, much of Maine, and southeast Canada. Some locations received over 3 inches of rain (as freezing rain), with radial ice thickness of one inch or more. Canada reported over 3 million utility customers without power immediately after the storm, while the northeast through New England reported over 500,000 customers without power. 80% of Maine’s population lost electrical service. Overall damages approached $3 billion for Canada and were at least $1.4 billion for the U.S.” (Nat. Climatic Data Ct. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. 12 Apr 1999.)

Flash Flooding Alabama

NCDC, Choctaw County: “Three to five inches of rain caused extensive flooding and road closures throughout the county. Most of the roads that had to be closed were secondary dirt roads. One death was attributed to the flooding. Two persons were driving along a county road six miles east of Gilbertown. Their automobile became stranded near a bridge across Okatuppa Creek. The rapidly rising current flowing across the road washed the automobile into the creek. One of the passengers was able to swim to shore and the other drowned.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Alabama, Choctaw County, Jan 7, 1998.)

NCDC, Shelby County: “A strong low pressure system move over Alabama from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing heavy rain to the state. Rivers, creeks and ditches were all out of their banks. Numerous streets were closed due to water over the road. Bridges were washed out in Cullman, Etowah, and Marshall counties. A five year old girl was killed in Shelby county when she was playing in a storm drain and was sucked in and couldn’t get out. There were numerous traffic accidents due to wet roads and several motorist were stranded on top of there cars while trying to cross flooded roads. The following counties were affected by the flooding. Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Limestone, Lawrence, Morgan, Madison, Jackson, Marshall, DeKalb, Marion, Winston, Cullman, Blount, Etowah, Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Jefferson, St. Clair, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Shelby, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Chilton, Coosa, Marengo, Dallas, Autauga, Lowndes, Montgomery, Cherokee, Calhoun, Cleburne, Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Lee, Elmore, Macon, Russell, Bullock, Barbour, and Pike. Every county received over two inches with several counties receiving over six inches.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Alabama, Shelby County, Jan 7, 1998.)

Flash Flooding — Kentucky

NCDC: “Heavy rain of up to 6 inches resulted in flash flooding in areas from Somerset to Flemingsburg. In many areas streams were out of their banks and numerous roads were flooded. In Pulaski County, near Bronston, a car was swept away by flood waters and several houses were surrounded by water. In Bath County, a 62 year old woman fell from a foot bridge, and was drowned in a flooded creek.” NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, KY, Bath, 1-7-1998.

Flash Flooding – South Carolina

NCDC: “A powerful winter storm brought flooding rain, high winds, and a tornado to the Upstate from the evening of the 7th into the early morning of the 8th. Rainfall between 4 and 7 inches during a 2-day period across the mountains and foothills resulted in significant flooding. Many roads and bridges were covered or washed out. A wash out in Pickens county resulted in one fatality. Thunderstorms raced north through the area adding to the deluge as well as creating or enhancing strong to damaging winds. An F2 tornado touched down near Easley. Meso-scale high winds behind the complex of thunderstorms moved across the northern half of Greenville county and blew down trees and power lines. Severe thunderstorm winds combined with strong gradient winds to down trees and power lines in York county as well. Excessive rain fell just north of Pickens causing raging water flowing into a lake to wash out a road. Two cars drove into this washout around 2300 EST and then were swept into the lake, killing one young man and injuring three…” NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, SC, Pickens, 1-7- 1998.)

Flash Flooding — Tennessee

NCDC: “Heavy rain over several hours triggered flash flooding. The heaviest rain fell between 1900 EST, January 7 and 0100 EST, January 8, where two to five inches fell during the period. Nearly 8 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in a rain gage in the headwaters of the Doe River, enabling the Doe River at Elizabethton, TN to reach its record flood stage of 10.92 feet. Approximately one foot of snow in the mountains had melted the previous day, adding to runoff problems. Several tributaries of the Doe River flooded and caused damage. The water system in Roan Mountain was heavily damaged. Twelve bridges along with several sections of roadway were rendered unusable. Over two hundred mobile homes and more than a dozen houses were destroyed. Nearly two hundred other houses and buildings, and six businesses were severely damaged.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, TN, Carter Co., Jan 7, 1998.)

Flooding — Louisiana

NCDC: “LA 120 near Flora was barricaded due to flooding. A 72 year old male ran the barricades and continued for approximately one mile before his vehicle stalled in high water. He then left his vehicle and continued on foot until he disappeared according to witnesses. A rescue team with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office found the man drowned. It is not know if he stepped into a hole or was swept off the road by the current.” (NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flood, Louisiana, Natchitoches Parish. Jan 7, 1998.)

Ice Storm, New England and Northern New York

NWS Eastern Region (Bohemia, NY): “Executive Summary, Event Overview. A catastrophic ice storm and flood event struck northern New England and northern New York during the first two weeks of January 1998. Heavy rain associated with a warm moist airmass overspread a shallow but dense layer of cold air producing ice accumulations in excess of three inches. The heavy rainfall, exceeding four inches in some areas, combined with significant runoff from the melting snowpack to produce record flooding. The ice coated all outdoor surfaces, destroying the electric power infrastructure, toppling trees, collapsing outdoor structures, and threatening the lives of a large, distributed population. The flooding exacerbated the icing problems by forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 homes and forcing the closure of numerous roads. A record crest was observed on the Black River at Watertown, NY, where the river crested two feet above the previous flood of record.

“Conservative damage estimates approach one-half billion dollars. More than three million people in four states and two Canadian provinces were without electricity. In Maine, 80% of the state’s population lost electrical service, some for more than two weeks. Residents were forced to find alternative means of heating their homes, pumping water, traveling, and communicating. Tens of thousands of trees were downed or severely damaged. Agricultural losses exceeded one million dollars as farmers were unable to milk their cows without electricity. National Guard units were activated and many counties in Maine (16), New York (6), Vermont (6), and New Hampshire (9) were declared federal disaster areas. Despite its severity, duration, and scope, only seven fatalities were directly attributed to the event….”[26] (NWS Eastern Region. The Ice Storm and Flood of January 1998 (Service Assessment). June 1998, p. 1.)

Maine (with references to NH)

Hampson: “On January 7, 1998, a severe ice storm struck the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Over 600,000 Maine residents lost electrical power, some for up to 2 weeks. Hospitals across the state evaluated 400 cases of CO poisoning. Analysis of data from 4 hospitals identified 100 total cases, 5 treated with HBO 2 , and 1 fatality. Patients presented to the ED [Emergency Department] for 13 days after the storm struck. Of the total group, 70% presented on days 2 thorough 5… Individuals were poisoned in 42 incidents, 6 of which involved two sources of CO. The most common sources included generators (71% of incidents), space heaters (26%), and charcoal briquettes (5%).” (Hampson, N. B., Stock, A. L. “Storm Related Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Lessons Learned from Recent Epidemics.” Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine, Vol. 33, No. 4, 2006, pp. 258-259.)

Jensenius: “….Auto accidents were responsible for both deaths and injuries during the event. In addition, carbon monoxide poisoning, falling debris, hypothermia, and structural failures also contributed to the death toll.

“At least two people in Maine and one from New Hampshire died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many more were treated at hospitals for the poisoning.

“The Maine State Health Bureau estimated that between 300 and 400 people statewide suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. In New Hampshire, one utility worker was partially paralyzed when he was struck by a falling tree while making repairs to a line. Another person was killed while cleaning up fallen debris when he was struck by a tree. Three people died from hypothermia. An elderly man died in his unheated home after falling down a flight of stairs in his home at night in the dark. An elderly couple died of hypothermia when they drove to get their mail and their car got stuck on their driveway about 100 yards from their garage. They apparently were unable to return to their home safely due to the icy conditions. Finally, one person was killed when the roof over a gas station island collapsed under the weight of snow and ice….” (Jensenius, John. “Remembering the ice storm of 1998.” Scarborough Leader, ME, 1-18-2013.)

NOAA: “By Wednesday morning, areas of central interior Maine were reporting generally 1/8 to 1/4 inch of ice accretion with some localized areas with up to ½ inch of ice accretion. Steadier and heavier freezing rain and freezing drizzle developed over portions of central and southern Maine during Wednesday afternoon and evening, January 7, 1998 and continued through Friday, January 9th, as a quasi-stationary front remained south of the state. To the north of the front, cold air remained entrenched near the ground as warm moist air moved northward from the mid-Atlantic states over the wedge of colder air. Severe icing occurred over most of southern and central Maine. By Saturday morning, January 10, the precipitation had ended over Maine with 1 to 3 inches of ice accretion to wires, poles, branches, etc., over most of central and southern Maine.” (NOAA 5 Jan 98).

New Hampshire

PSR: “From January 7 to 16, 1998, a series of freezing rainstorms brought much of New Hampshire to a halt, as well as Vermont, Maine, New York, and three Canadian provinces. The ice storm of 1998 is the worst storm on record for New Hampshire and meteorologists have compared it to the great hurricane of 1938. Natural resource losses are estimated at over $1 billion. The ice developed when warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico flowed over cold, dense Arctic air, cooling and freezing as it fell. Up to three inches of ice fell, damaging 700,000 acres in New Hampshire, including parts of the White Mountain National Forest.

“Seventeen deaths were reported in New York and New England, many due to carbon monoxide poisoning and asphyxiation from improper ventilation of power generators.[27]

“Damage estimates in New Hampshire run about $20 million for public property alone.[28] The federal government appropriated $6 million in emergency funds in May 1998. Nine counties including 140 towns in New Hampshire sustained enough damage to require disaster assistance.[29] Over the four-state region affected, approximately 1.5 million people were without electricity for up to three weeks.[30]….

“In three hospitals surveyed [apparently in Maine]…carbon monoxide poisonings increased from zero to 101 cases. Other increases reported were associated with cold exposure, burns, lower respiratory tract disease, and cardiac complaints.” (Dupigny-Giroux. “Impacts and consequences of the ice storm of 1998 for the North American north-east.” Weather, 55/1, Jan 2000, pp. 6-7 sidebar.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Ice melting, but power still out across Northeast.” Amarillo Sunday News Globe, TX. 1-11-1998, 7B. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=255425180&sterm=ice+storm

CNN. “Ice storm devastates parts of Canada, U.S. Northeast.” 1-10-1998. Accessed 1-19-2016: http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/9801/09/weather.wrap/

DeGaetano, Arthur T. “Climatic Perspective and Impacts of the 1998 Northern New York and New England Ice Storm.” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Vol. 81, No. 2, Feb 2000, pp. 237-254. Accessed 1-20-2016 at: http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0477%282000%29081%3C0237%3ACPAIOT%3E2.3.CO%3B2

Dupigny-Giroux, Lesley-Ann. “Impacts and consequences of the ice storm of 1998 for the North American north-east.” Weather, Vol. 55, Issue 1, Jan 2000, pp. 7-15. Accessed 1-20-2016 at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1477-8696.2000.tb04012.x/pdf

Hampson, N. B., Stock, A. L. “Storm Related Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Lessons Learned from Recent Epidemics.” Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine, Vol. 33 No. 4, 2006. 257-263. At: http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/dspace/bitstream/123456789/5054/1/17004412.pdf

Jensenius, John. “Remembering the ice storm of 1998.” Scarborough Leader, ME, 1-18-2013. Accessed 1-20-2015 at: http://ml.mainelymediallc.com/news/2013-01-18/In_the_Know/Remembering_the_ice_storm_of_1998.html#.Vp_Fa1Igh14

Lecomte, Eugene L. with Alan W. Pang and James W. Russell. Ice Storm ’98. Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), Institute for Business & Home Safety, December 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www.meteo.mcgill.ca/extreme/Research_Paper_No_1.pdf

National Climatic Data Center. Eastern U.S. Flooding and Ice Storm. NCDC, National Weather Service, NOAA, 4-12-1999 Update. At: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/janstorm/janstorm.html

National Climatic Data Center. NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Alabama, Choctaw County, Jan 7, 1998. Accessed 1-18-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5628372

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Alabama, Shelby County, Jan 7, 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5628562

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Arkansas, Madison County, Jan 5, 1998. Accessed 1-18-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5631439

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Kentucky, Bath County, Jan 7, 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5629359

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, South Carolina, Pickens County, Jan 7, 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5627426

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Tennessee, Carter County, Jan 7, 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5627163

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Louisiana, Natchitoches Parish. Jan 7, 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5627226

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. The El Nino Winter of ’97-’98 (Technical Report 98-02). Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, April 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/techrpts/tr9802/tr9802.pdf

National Weather Service Eastern Region. The Ice Storm and Flood of January 1998 (Service Assessment). Bohemia, NY: NWS Eastern Region, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, June 1998. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/assessments/pdfs/iceflood.pdf

RMS (Risk Management Solutions, Inc.). The 1998 Ice Storm: 10-Year Retrospective. 2008. Accessed 1-20-2016: http://forms2.rms.com/rs/729-DJX-565/images/wtr_1998_ice_storm_10_retrospective.pdf

Rowley, Dale D. The State of Maine Endures Ice Storm 1998. Accessed 1-18-2016 at: http://www.uninets.net/~dsrowley/Ice%20Storm%2098.pdf

Syracuse Herald-Journal (Scott Scanlon), NY. “Bitter cold hits North as recovery continues. 92,400 without power, storm claims seventh [NY] victim.” 1-14-1998, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=29461466&sterm=ice+storm

Syracuse Herald-Journal (Frederic Pierce), NY. “Blackouts may last a month.” 1-12-1998, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=29460561&sterm

Syracuse Herald-Journal (Mark Weiner), NY. “Much of North remains powerless.” 1-13-1998, p. 1. Accessed 1-19-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=29460840&sterm

[1] “Southeastern Ontario and southern Québec provinces suffered the most extensive damage and disruption from the 1998 storm, including 28 deaths linked to the event, primarily due to trauma or hypothermia associated with the loss of electrical power. Over 100 people were treated in emergency rooms for the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor generator use and improper ventilation.”

[2] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Alabama, Choctaw County, Jan 7, 1998. Vehicle stranded near a bridge across Okatuppa Creek. “The rapidly rising current flowing across the road washed the automobile into the creek. One of the passengers was able to swim to shore and the other drowned.”

[3] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Arkansas, Madison County, Jan 5, 1998. Sheriff, aged 58, drowned in the White River. The bridge was on County Road 112. Over 3 inches of rain in 24 hours.

[4] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Louisiana, Natchitoches Parish. Jan 7, 1998.

[5] NWS Forecast Office, Gray (Portland), Maine, County Warning Area, appendix.

[6] Associated Press. “Ice melting, but power still out across Northeast.” Amarillo Sunday News, TX, 1-11-1998, 7B.

[7] Associated Press. “Ice melting, but power still out across Northeast.” Amarillo Sunday News, TX, 1-11-1998, 7B.

[8] AMS editor notes that Arthur T. DeGaetano was with the Northeast Regional Climate Center, Cornell U., Ithaca.

[9] Warning coordination meteorologist John Jensenius writes in his Scarborough Leader, ME, article, “Remembering the ice storm of 1998,” concerning deaths in Maine and New Hampshire, that “Auto accidents were responsible for both deaths and injuries during the event.” In that we have seen no reference to an auto accident fatality in Maine, and in that we have seen references to two ice storm-related deaths in NH, only one of which we have been able to identify (a carbon monoxide poisoning death), we assume that the second NH death was probably an auto accident.

[10] Scarborough Leader editor notes that John Jensenius is a warning coordination meteorologist.

[11] AMS editor notes that Arthur T. DeGaetano was with the Northeast Regional Climate Center, Cornell U., Ithaca. DeGaetano writes that “Based on newspaper accounts, the loss of electric power was indirectly responsible for all but one death in New York.”

[12] Also: Dupigny-Giroux. “Impacts and consequences of the ice storm of 1998 for the North American north-east.” Weather, Vol. 55, Issue 1, Jan 2000, p. 10.

[13] Syracuse Herald-Journal (Frederic Pierce), NY. “Blackouts may last a month.” 1-12-1998, Suburban Edition, p. 1. Article notes “Three people died in Franklin and Clinton counties from carbon monoxide fumes leaking from improperly used electric generators, state emergency management officials said Sunday [Jan 11].”

[14] Syracuse Herald-Journal (Scott Scanlon), NY. “Bitter cold hits North as recovery continues.” 1-14-1998, p. 1. Writes that the CO poisoning death was from an improperly used portable generator.

[15] Syracuse Herald-Journal (Frederic Pierce), NY. “Blackouts may last a month.” 1-12-1998, Suburban Edition, p.1. Article notes “Three people died in Franklin and Clinton counties from carbon monoxide fumes leaking from improperly used electric generators, state emergency management officials said Sunday [Jan 11].”

[16] Syracuse Herald-Journal (Frederic Pierce), NY. “Blackouts may last a month.” 1-12-1998, Suburban Edition, p.1.

[17] Victim identified as Delraine R. Reed, 45, professional tree trimmer from PA. When the truck slid down the road he was the truck’s bucket, 40 feet in the air, and was thrown to the ground. (Syracuse Herald-Journal (Frederic Pierce), NY. “Blackouts may last a month.” 1-12-1998, Suburban Edition, p. 1.)

[18] NWS WFO, Buffalo, NY County Warning Area Appendix in: NWS Eastern Region. The Ice Storm and Flood of January 1998 (Service Assessment). Bohemia, NY, 1998, B8.

[19] Syracuse Herald-Journal (Mark Weiner), NY. “Much of North remains powerless.” 1-13-1998, p. 1.

[20] NWS Eastern Region. The Ice Storm and Flood of January 1998 (Service Assessment). Bohemia, NY, 1998, B12.

[21] DeGaetano. “Climatic Perspective…Impacts of the 1998…,” Bulletin of the AMS, p. 247

[22] NWS Eastern Region. The Ice Storm and Flood of January 1998 (Service Assessment). Bohemia, NY, 1998, B12.

[23] CNN. “Ice storm devastates parts of Canada, U.S. Northeast.” 1-10-1998. Notes this was “the second death in North Carolina attributed to the flooding.”

[24] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Tennessee, Carter County, Jan 7, 1998.

[25] Dupigny-Giroux, Lesley-Ann. “Impacts and consequences of the ice storm of 1998 for the North American north-east.” Weather, Vol. 55, Issue 1, Jan 2000,

[26] Carbon monoxide poisoning, for example, is not considered a direct death by the National Weather Service.

[27] Preliminary summary of 1999 workshops. New England Regional Assessment, courtesy of Barrett Rock, University of New Hampshire.

[28] Conversation with Jim Van Dungen, public information officer, New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management, October 28, 1999.

[29] New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Do’s and don’ts for storm damage cleanup. Environmental News, May-June 1998.

[30] Preliminary summary of 1999 workshops. New England Regional Assessment, op. cit.