— ~67 Blanchard tally of State and DC breakouts below.
— 16 UPI. “Tractors Buck Capital Drifts.” Post-Standard, Syracuse NY, Feb 21, 1979, p. 1.
Summary of State Fatality Breakouts Below
District of Columbia ( 2)
Georgia ( ~5)
Louisiana ( 2)
Maryland ( 16)
Mississippi ( 2)
New York ( 1)
North Carolina ( 8)
Ohio ( 3)
Pennsylvania (~19)
South Carolina ( 4)
Tennessee ( 1)
Virginia ( 4)
Breakout of Winter Snow/Ice Storms and Extreme Cold Fatalities by State
District of Columbia ( 2)
— 2 UPI. “Tractors Buck Capital Drifts.” Post-Standard, Syracuse NY, Feb 21, 1979, p. 1.
Georgia (~5)
–~5 Feb 17-18. National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 3.
–1 Atlanta, Feb 17-18. Exposure. –1 Coweta County, Feb 17-18. Exposure.
–3 “A few others were killed in weather-related auto accidents.” (We convert to “3”.)
Louisiana ( 2)
–2 Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC. “14 Deaths Weather Related.” 2-20-1979, p. 8.
Maryland (16)
–16 Feb 18-19. National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 5.[1]
–13 Heart attacks (presumably shoveling snow related).
–1 Annapolis, Feb 19. Male, 72, collapsed after shoveling driveway snow.[2]
— 1 Exposure.
— 3 Auto-related.
–1 Rockville, Feb 21. Weather-related triple vehicle accident; male, 23.[3]
— 1 Fire, in which emergency vehicle access was impeded.[4]
Mississippi ( 2)
–2 Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC. “14 Deaths Weather Related.” 2-20-1979, p. 8.
New York ( 1)
— 1 Windsor, Broom County, Feb 18. Exposure; male, 42, after falling in an alley. Storm Data.[5]
North Carolina ( 8)
–8 Feb 17-19. National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 6.
–4 Exposure after becoming lost in the snow.
–1 La Grange, Lenoir Co. Exposure; female, 49, found ~200 yards from home.[6]
–2 Morganton, Burke County, Feb 18. Heart attacks; men, while shoveling snow.[7]
–2 Rockingham, Richmond Co., Feb 19. Brothers, 10 and 12, crushed by snow plow.[8]
–11 Feb 16-18. Traffic fatalities on NC roads (though not described as weather-related).[9]
Ohio ( 3)
–3 UPI. “Winter of ’79 Leaving…Good Impression.” The Progress, Clearfield PA, 2-20-1979, 6.
–2 State, Feb 17-18. National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, V. 21, N. 2, Feb 1979, p. 7.
–1 Butler County. Exposure; male found frozen to death beside his car.
–1 Butler County. Exposure; female slipped on ice outside her home and froze to death.
Pennsylvania (~19)
–~19 Blanchard tally based on breakouts below.
— ~3 Eastern, Feb 18-19. Heart attacks while shoveling snow. NCC. Storm Data, 21/2, p. 10.[10]
— 1 Abbottstown, Adams Co. (south-central PA), Feb 19. Male, 73, heart attack shoveling snow.[11]
— 1 Clearfield County, U.S. 219. Truck skids on ice into on-coming car killing female, 18.[12]
— 6 Earl Township, Lancaster Co., Feb 22. Car skids on icy Route 322; hit by tractor-trailer.[13]
— 1 East Berlin, Adams County, Feb 21. Auto accident, icy road; male, age not noted.[14]
— 1 Elk County, Feb 17. Male, 14, on snowmobile leans head to side, hits parked car.[15]
— 1 Haycock Township, Bucks County, Feb 17. Boy, 11, sleds into path of pickup truck.[16]
— 1 Kurwin Heights, Washington Co.,? 19th. Trucks collide, snow-covered I-79; male.[17]
— 1 New Oxford, Adams County. Boy, 3, run over by truck plowing snow in driveway.[18]
— 1 Pottsville, Schuylkill County. Male, 66, found frozen to death in his unheated home.[19]
— 1 Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County. Apparent exposure, male nursing home resident.[20]
— 1 Scranton, Lackawanna County. Exposure; male 20, after fall down an embankment.[21]
— 1 Stockton, Luzerne County. Exposure; male inside coal-shoveling vehicle compartment.[22]
South Carolina ( 4)
–4 State. Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC. “14 Deaths Weather Related.” 2-20-1979, p. 8.
–4 State. Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
–2 State, Feb 17-18. National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, V. 21, N. 2, Feb 1979, p. 7.
–1 Charleston, Charleston County. Person slipped on ice and was killed.
–1 Columbia, Richland County. Exposure; female, 24, found frozen to death.[23]
–2 Sumter County, Feb 18. Weather-related traffic deaths; males, 17 and 33.[24]
Tennessee ( 1)
—1 Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC. “14 Deaths Weather Related.” 2-20-1979, p. 8.
Virginia ( 4)
—>4 State, Feb 18-19. Heart attacks. NCC, NOAA. Storm Data, V21, N2, Feb 1979, p. 9.
— >4 Fatal heart attacks.
Narrative Information (General)
NWS: “Feb 19…1979…An intense storm with near blizzard conditions ended early afternoon. This Presidents’ Day Storm dumped 12-20″ of snow, with winds creating 3-5′ drifts. Many roads were closed and many vehicles were stranded. Businesses, industries and activities of all kind had to be cancelled. A number of people died of heart attacks while shoveling snow. The storm caused similar or worse conditions on the East Coast from VA to New England. PHL measured 13.9″ of snow, with a liquid equivalent of 1.03″ With previous snow, there was 20″ of snow on the ground early morning on the 20th (SD)(PHL)” (NWS FO, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts…,” Oct 17, 2005.)
Newspaper
Feb 19: “By The Associated Press. Winter blasted the East with both barrels today, sending a storm sweeping in from the frozen Midwest and another howling up the coast from the South, which was stunned by up to 17 inches of snow.
“At least 13 weather-related deaths were reported in six states, including six persons who froze to death in what is on record in some places as the coldest winter of the century. Seven of the deaths came in southern states ill-prepared for the storm that hit Sunday [Feb 18].
“Heavy snow was falling in New York City today, where 3-to-f inches were predicted in the city’s third snowstorm this month. In Washington, D.C., where most of last week’s 5-6 inch snowfall was still on the ground, four inches fell Sunday and more was expected today, sending snowplows out to clear the capital’s streets for expected holiday shoppers.
“More than 110,000 customers were left without electricity Sunday in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina after freezing rain snapped power lines. Normally balmy South Carolina reported 6 to 12 inches of snow, which even reached the palmetto-lined coast. Eight inches buried Charlestown and ice and snow covered the golf curses of Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island.
“Virginia had up to 13 inches of snow, and the 6-plus inches in Richmond forced the city to implement a snowplowing program for the first time since 1967.
“In Atlanta, four inches of snow sent residents to the streets on seldom used skis or to street corners to yell encouragement to drivers trying to negotiate slippery hills….
“Weather service spokesmen said it was the coldest February ever in Detroit, with temperatures 16 degrees below normal, and the coldest in 84 years in Washington, D.C., where the mercury has climbed above freezing on only one day since Feb. 8.
“Temperature records tumbled throughout the Midwest and East this weekend. A sampling: 9 below in Youngstown, Ohio; 37 below in Traverse City, Mich.; 31 below in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; zero in New York City, 52 below in Old Forge, N.Y.; and 11 below in Erie, Pa. …” (AP. “Storms Sweep East From Frozen Plain.” Cumberland Evening Times, MD, 2-19-1979, p. 1.)
Feb 21: “By United Press International. Tractors climbed six-foot snowdrifts in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, National Guardsmen patrolled looter-ravaged Baltimore and New Yorkers slogged through deep snow — the East’s share of the record-smashing Winter of ’79. The season’s latest storm, blamed for at least 16 deaths in six states and the District of Columbia during a three-day push from the Deep South t the East, left a thousand-mile snowscape along the mid-Atlantic seaboard — a silent testament to one of the worst winters in the nation’s history. Schools, businesses and government offices shut down for a second straight day in much of the East and emergency crews worked doggedly to free major cities from up to two feet of snow.
“Baltimore Mayor Donald Schaefer clamped a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the city and authorities promised looters would be prosecuted to the limit. In a move to ensure the legality of the mayor’s curfew, Maryland Gov. Harry Hughes declared a state of emergency for the city….more than 300 people were arrested for looting. Store windows were shattered and televisions sets, liquor and other goods taken from stores in several areas of the city. A curfew was imposed from 7 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday. National Guardsmen drove policemen in jeeps to patrol looted areas…
“Sub zero cold settled into many eastern areas in the snow’s wake. Thousands of homes along the New Jersey shore were without power. But the temperature got above freezing for the first time since Dec. 23 in Minneapolis and for just the second time this year in Chicago. Temperatures in the 40’s started to melt New York’s foot-deep snows….
“Airports closed and land travel was snarled from Atlanta to New York at the height of the storm Monday [Feb 19]….The snowstorm was Washington’s worst since 1922, when heavy snow collapsed the roof of a theater and killed 100 people.
“Two deaths were blamed on Monday’s storm, which dumped 19 inches of new snow on the capital, bringing the city’s snowcover to nearly two feet. Drifts piled 6 feet high….” (UPI, “Tractors Buck Capital Drifts.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY, 2-21-1979, p. 1.)
Narrative Information (By State)
Delaware
NCC on Delaware, Feb 18-19 “Blizzard of ‘79”: “Slow-moving low pressure system brought record snowfall beginning the afternoon of the 18th and continuing for 15-20 hours. Snow depths of 15 to 18 inches made it the worst storm since 1966, generally, and the 20 inches over Sussex County were the greatest in 57 years. While there were apparently no fatalities or serious injuries, losses were in the multi-millions of dollars….” (National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 3.)
District of Columbia
Junker and Halverson: “On Feb. 18 and 19, 1979, an epic winter storm took Mid-Atlantic forecasters by complete surprise. The storm buried much of the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area under more than 20 inches of snow, sometimes falling at rates up to a virtually unprecedented five inches per hour. It would go down in history as the infamous President’s Day Storm of 1979….” (Junker, Wes and Jeff Halverson. “How the surprise President’s Day snowstorm of 1979 advanced forecasting.” Washington Post, 2-16-2015.)
Georgia
NCC on Northern Georgia, Feb 17-18 Snow and Sleet: “A major snow and sleet storm struck the state. A small area in Northeast Georgia had all snow, while most of the affected area had all sleet, or a combination of precipitation types….Two people died of exposure in the storm: one in Atlanta and another in Coweta County. A few others were killed in weather-related auto accidents. The storm cost businesses millions of dollars in losses due to stranded travel. The Atlanta Airport was virtually closed for several hours….Thirteen counties in North Georgia were declared disasters areas…” (National Climatic Center, Storm Data, V. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 3.)
Louisiana
NCC on northern and central Louisiana, Feb 17 Ice Storm: “The worst ice storm since 1973 coated most of the northern and central parishes with up to 2 inches of ice. Most of the icing was on objects above the ground with only light icing on the ground itself. However hundreds of power lines and poles fell under the ice or were knocked down by ice covered trees. As many as 50,000 homes were without electrical power at one time and many remained without power for several days….” (National Climatic Center, Storm Data, V. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 5.)
Maryland and District of Columbia
NCC on MD & DC, Feb 18-19, “Blizzard of ’79”: “Heaviest snowfall since 1922 over central and southern sections and greatest totals since 1966 for rest of area as two low pressure systems combined to pump a vast amount of moisture into the region. Storm lasted an average of between 15 and 20 hours, beginning the afternoon of the 18th, with travel virtually at a standstill for the following two days. Snow depths ranged between 18 and 20 inches on the average through the central sections with Montgomery and Baltimore Counties reporting up to 22 inches of new snow. Over the Eastern Shore and western Maryland 16 to 18 inches were common, while only 10 inches fell over Garrett County. The fact that the storm occurred over the ‘Washington’s Birthday’ holiday helped to some extent. The rate of fall was unusually heavy during the latter part of the storm, amounting to between 3 and 4 inches per hour. There were a total of 13 heart attack victims, one death due to exposure, 3 auto-related fatalities and one other due to a fire that rescue and fire-fighting equipment were unable to reach in time because of blocked roads. An estimate of between 50 million and 100 million dollars loss appears likely from various causes: Roof collapse due to snow weight; Snow removal expense; Excused absences of workers unable to get to their jobs; Washington Birthday Sales that had to be cancelled; Bands of looters and vandals who took advantage of law enforcement agencies’ immobility.” (National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 5.)
New Jersey
NCC on Coastal NJ Feb 19 Snowstorm: “Washington’s Birthday snow storm created difficulties for both the motorist and the pedestrian. The storm left as much snow as last year’s near blizzard of Feb 13 and more than the 13 inches of Jan 20, 1978. Because of the lack of strong winds it is not classified as a blizzard but the after-effects, due to the sheer amounts of snow, are the same.” (National Climatic Ctr., NOAA. Storm Data, V. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 6.)
NJ.com/Melisurgo: “Presidents Day Snowstorm of 1979….It hit from Feb. 17 to Feb 19, 1979, shutting down major cities along the I-95 corridor, from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia to New York.…The storm dumped 10 to 20 inches of snow across most of South Jersey and parts of North Jersey, with some pockets of 20 to 30 inches along the Jersey Shore….” (Melisurgo, Len. “Flashback to nasty Presidents Day snowstorms.” NJ.com, 2-20-2017.)
North Carolina
NCC on NC Snow, Feb 17-19: “The snow storm began late Saturday and ended early Monday. Snow fall ranged from trace along the Coast; 6 to 8 inches on the Coastal Plain; 9 to 13 inches in the Piedmont; and 10 to 19 inches in the Mountains. Several buildings collapsed from snow on the roof. Poultry farms in Union County have near ½ million dollars in damage. Eight people were killed. Four got lost in the snow and died of exposure; two boys were killed by a snow plow; and two men had heart attacks in the snow. Businesses and school closed. Some utility lines were damaged. Several scout troops had to be rescued in the mountains where they camped. In addition there were many people injured and cars damaged from snow related accidents.” (National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 6.)
Ohio
NCC on Ohio Winter Storm and Cold, Feb 17-18: “A winter storm brought 2 to 4 inches of snow and bitter cold to Ohio. Two Butler county residents froze to death. One was found frozen next to his car in a mobile home park and a woman slipped on ice outside her home an froze to death before she was found.” (National Climatic Center, Storm Data, V21, N 2, Feb 1979, p. 7.)
Pennsylvania
NCC on Heavy Snow, Feb 18-19 in Eastern PA: “An intense storm with near blizzard conditions dumped 12 to 20 inches of snow on southern sections and 6 to 12 inches north. Winds blew the snow into 3 to 5 foot drifts. Many roads were closed and many vehicles were stranded. Businesses, industries and activities of all kinds had to be cancelled. A number of people died of heart attacks while shoveling snow. The storm caused similar or worse conditions on the East Coast from Virginia to New England.” (National Climatic Ctr, Storm Data, 21/2, Feb 1979, p. 7.)
South Carolina
NCC on SC Winter Storm, Feb 17-18: “Up to 12 inches of snow in northwestern South Carolina and with lesser amounts of sleet and freezing rain over the remainder of the state paralyzed transportation and caused widespread destruction to utilities. The most serious damage was in the Charleston area where several million dollars in power outages up to four days was reported. While there were numerous traffic related accidents and injuries, there were only two known fatalities due to the storm…one persons froze to death at Columbia. Another slipped on ice and fell in Charleston and was killed.” (Nat. Climatic Ctr., Storm Data, 21/2, Feb 1979, p. 7.)
Virginia
NCC on “Blizzard of ‘79” in VA, Feb 18-19: “Combination of two low pressure systems resulted in heaviest snowfall since 1966 over much of the state and worst in 57 years over the extreme north portion. Snow depths ranged from 6 to 8 inches over southwest and southeastern sections, 8 to 14 inches over the central and south central portions, with up to 20 inches over the extreme north portion. Storm began the afternoon or evening of the 18th and continued for around 15 hours, with heaviest rate of fall (2 to 3 inches per hour) occurring during the latter part. At least four fatal heart attacks attributed to stress during or following the storm, while many injuries from falls were reported. Cancelled Washington Birthday sales were a substantial part of the loss.” (National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 9.)
Newspaper
Feb 21, United Press International: “Tractors climbed six-foot snowdrifts in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, National Guardsmen patrolled looter-ravaged Baltimore and New Yorkers slogged through deep snow — the East’s share of the. record-smashing Winter of ‘79.
“The season’s latest storm, blamed for at least 16 deaths in six states and the District of Columbia during a three-day push from the Deep South to the East, left a thousand-mile snowscape along the mid-Atlantic seaboard — a silent testament to one of the worst winters in the nation’s history.
“Schools, businesses and government offices shut down for a second straight day in much of the East and emergency crews worked doggedly to free major cities from up to two feet of snow.
“Baltimore Mayor Donald Schaefer clamped a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the city and authorities promised looters would be prosecuted to the limit. In a move to ensure the legality of the mayor’s curfew, Maryland Gov. Harry Hughes declared a state of emergency for the city.
“Sub zero cold settled into many eastern areas in the snow’s wake. Thousands of homes along the New Jersey shore were without power.
“But the temperature got above freezing for the first time since Dec. 23 in Minneapolis and for just the second time this year in Chicago. Temperatures in the 40’s started to melt New York’s foot-deep snows….
“Airports closed and land travel was snarled from Atlanta to New York at the height of the storm Monday [19th]. Major airports reopened Tuesday, but air traffic was still backed up and slow.
“Farmers who drove tractors to Washington to protest farm policy manned the vehicles to transport medical supplies and personnel, patients and essential workers through road-clogging snowdrifts. Other tractors helped plow the capital’s streets. One tractor picked up a stranded ambulance crew in Washington’s Maryland suburbs and took the emergency team to a heart attack victim. “We’ve got the only equipment in this town that will move snow,” said Bud Bitner, a Colorado fanner among the American Agriculture Movement supporters who came to the capital three weeks ago to press for higher farm prices.
“The snowstorm was Washington’s worst since 1922, when heavy snow collapsed the roof of a theater and killed 100 people. Two deaths were blamed on Monday’s storm, which dumped 19 inches of new snow on the capital, bringing the city’s snow-cover to nearly two feet. Drifts piled 6 feet high. The Washington subway system offered $5 an hour to anyone who would shovel snow from train tracks and was swamped with hundreds of takers. Government offices and schools in metropolitan Washington were closed for the second day.
“Schools in Philadelphia also were closed because of the snow.
“In Baltimore, more than 300 people were arrested for looting. Store windows were shattered and television sets; liquor and other goods taken from stores in several areas of the city. A curfew was imposed from 7 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday. National Guardsmen drove policemen in jeeps to patrol looted areas.” (UPI. “Tractors Buck Capital Drifts.” Post-Standard, Syracuse NY, Feb 21, 1979, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. 11 People Are Killed on State Highways.” Burlington Times-News, NC, 2-19-1979, p. 2A. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-daily-times-news-feb-19-1979-p-2/?tag
Associated Press. “Drivers Cope With Hazardous Roads.” Bedford Gazette, PA, 2-22-1979, p. 1. Accessed 7-28-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bedford-gazette-feb-22-1979-p-1/?tag
Associated Press. “South Carolina ‘Pretty Paralyzed’ By Snowstorm.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-19-1979, p. 5. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kannapolis-daily-independent-feb-19-1979-p-5/?tag
Associated Press. “Storm Blamed for Five Deaths in North Carolina.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-20-1979, p. 8. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kannapolis-daily-independent-feb-20-1979-p-8/?tag
Associated Press. “Storms Sweep East From Frozen Plain.” Cumberland Evening Times, MD, 2-19-1979, p. 1. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-evening-times-feb-19-1979-p-1/?tag
Associated Press. “Winter Storm Blasts East.” Greenville Record-Argus, PA, 2-19-1979, p. 1. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greenville-record-argus-feb-19-1979-p-1/?tag
Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC. “14 Deaths Weather Related.” 2-20-1979, p. 8. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kannapolis-daily-independent-feb-20-1979-p-8/?tag
Daily Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA. “Traffic mishaps claim 3 in Bucks.” 2-19-1979, pp. 1 & 2. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/doylestown-intelligencer-feb-19-1979-p-2/
Frederick Post, MD. “Laurel man killed in triple accident.” 2-22-1979, p. 1. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/frederick-news-post-feb-22-1979-p-1/?tag
Junker, Wes and Jeff Halverson. “How the surprise President’s Day snowstorm of 1979 advanced forecasting.” Washington Post, 2-16-2015. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/02/16/how-the-surprise-presidents-day-snowstorm-of-1979-advanced-the-science-of-forecasting/?utm_term=.bb7592cb8d8b
Melisurgo, Len. “Flashback to nasty Presidents Day snowstorms.” NJ.com, 2-20-2017. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: http://www.nj.com/weather/index.ssf/2017/02/flashback_to_big_presidents_day_snowstorms.html
National Climatic Center. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979. Asheville, NC: NCEI, NOAA. Accessed 7-26-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.2792263029929878
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Philadelphia/Mount Holly. “Historical Weather Facts for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly, NJ Forecast Area.” Mount Holly, NJ: NWS FO, Oct 17, 2005 update. Accessed at: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/phi/hist_phi.html#0311
The Capital (Bruce Friedland and Scott Lebar), Annapolis, MD. “Police use mace to stop snowball ‘attack’.” 2-20-1979, p. 1. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/annapolis-capital-feb-20-1979-p-1/?tag
The Evening Sun, Hanover, PA. “One Fatality Blamed on Icy Roads.” 2-21-1979, A4. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hanover-evening-sun-feb-21-1979-p-4/?tag
The Evening Sun, Hanover, PA. “Two Weather-Related Deaths.” 2-20-1979, p. A4. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hanover-evening-sun-feb-20-1979-p-4/?tag
The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “District Welcomes Warming Trend,” 2-20-2017, pp. 1 & 6. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/clearfield-progress-feb-20-1979-p-6/
The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Progressland” (from page 1), 2-19-1979, p. 8. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/clearfield-progress-feb-19-1979-p-8/?tag
United Press International. “6 Youths Killed in Auto Crash.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA, 2-23-1979, p. 18. Accessed 7-28-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/clearfield-progress-feb-23-1979-p-18/?tag
United Press International. “Tractors Buck Capital Drifts.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY, 2-21-1979, p. 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=20081735
United Press International. “Winter of ’79 Leaving A Good Impression.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA, 2-20-1979, p. 6. Accessed 7-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/clearfield-progress-feb-20-1979-p-6/?tag
[1] Entry for MD/DC notes 18 deaths, without MD/DC separation. Show, above, 2 DC deaths, thus note 16 MD.
[2] The Capital, Annapolis, MD. “Police use mace to stop snowball ‘attack’.” 2-20-1979, p. 1. Victim identified as Arthur S. Warthen.
[3] Frederick Post, MD. “Laurel man killed in triple accident.” 2-22-1979, p. 1. Victim identified as Frederick K. Knapp. According to article, based on police accounts, “He lost control, sliding sideways across the road and was struck broadside…Knapp alighted from the van to check on [other driver] as the third car came down the hill, swerved to miss the first accident and slammed into a snowbank. The fourth vehicle, a construction company truck…lost control attempting to avoid the two accidents. After seeing the truck, Knapp tried to get out of the way, slipped, and was struck by the truck…”
[4] “…rescue and fire-fighting equipment were unable to reach in time because of blocked roads.”
[5] National Climatic Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 21, No. 2, Feb 1979, p. 6.
[6] “In La Grange, authorities said a 49-year-old woman who was found in a field about 200 yards from her home died of exposure. The body of Augie Best Hicks of the La Grange area was found by a neighbor.” (AP. “Storm Blamed for Five Deaths in North Carolina.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-20-1979, p. 8.)
[7] “In Burke County, two Morganton men died Sunday of apparent heart attacks while shoveling snow. They were identified as Clarence Irvin, 64, a store manager who died after being taken to a hospital, and William McNeely Sr., 67 who was pronounced dead when rescuers arrived.” (AP. “Storm Blamed for Five Deaths in North Carolina.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-10-1979, p. 8.)
[8] “Two young brothers were crushed beneath a snowplow Monday afternoon at Rockingham. Investigators said William Robert Bowles Jr., 12, and Charles Franklin Bowles, 10, were riding tandem on a bicycle behind the snowplow on a city street when the plow stopped and they ran into it. They were run over when the plow began to back up.” (AP. “Storm Blamed for Five Deaths in [NC].” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-10-1979, p. 8.)
[9] Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not include in our tally in that the source does not note that any of the fatalities was weather-related. We take note of because much of the state was impacted by snow sleet and ice during this time-frame. (AP. 11 People Are Killed on State Highways.” Burlington Times-News, NC, 2-19-1979, p. 2A.)
[10] We write “~3” (approximately 3), in order to derive a number for our tally based on NCC note: “A number of people died of heart attacks while shoveling snow.”
[11] The Evening Sun, Hanover, PA. “Two Weather-Related Deaths.” 2-20-1979, A4. Victim: Lawrence A. Blevenour.
[12] “…authorities said a woman was killed when her car collided head-on with a coal truck on an icy curve along U.S. 219 in Clearfield County. Doris Yingling, 18, of Cherry Tree, was pronounced dead at the scene after the truck skidded on the ice and traveled into the on-coming lane, state police said.” (AP. “Drivers Cope With Hazardous Roads.” Bedford Gazette, PA, 2-22-1979, p. 1.)
[13] “Ephrata, Pa. (UPI) — Six young persons were killed Thursday night when their car was hit broadside by a tractor trailer on icy Route 322 at an intersection in Earl Twp., two miles east of Ephrata….Investigating officers said the car was going west when it went into a skid on the icy highway and was struck broadside by an eastbound tractor-trailer….State police identified the dead as Cathy Eberly, 21, Womelsdorf, Berks County, her daughter, Sonya Lynn, 4, a sister-in-law, Minerva Eberly, 19, Lebanon; Mahlon B. Martin, 19, Akron, Lancaster County; Eddie Leroy Wright, 19, Burton Kan., and Donna Gettle, 19, Lebanon. Miss Gettle was believed to be the driver of the car.” (UPI. “6 Youths Killed in Auto Crash.” The Progress, Clearfield, PA, 2-23-1979, p. 18.)
[14] The Evening Sun, Hanover, PA. “One Fatality Blamed on Icy Roads.” 2-21-1979, A4. Writes the accident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. an eighth of a mile west of the bridge at western edge of East Berlin.
[15] “A 14-year-old Allegheny County youth died Saturday night [Feb 17]when he leaned to one side of a snowmobile he was riding and struck his head on a parked car. Douglas Claar of Gibsonia was a passenger on the snowmobile being operated on rural road in Elk County by another youth, state police said.” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Progressland” (from page 1), 2-19-1979, p. 8.)
The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Progressland” (from page 1), 2-19-1979, p. 8.
[16] “An 11-year-old Upper Bucks boy was killed Saturday [17th] when he and his brother sledded into the path of a pickup truck outside their Haycock Township home.” (Daily Intelligencer, Doylestown, PA. “Traffic mishaps claim 3 in Bucks.” 2-19-1979, pp. 1 & 2.)
[17] “A man died at the wheel of a milk truck that collided with a tractor-trailer on snow-covered Interstate 79 around 5 a.m. today near Kurwin Heights in Washington County, state police said.” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Progressland” (from page 1), 2-19-1979, p. 8.) Another article, however, referring we believe to the same death notes: “Police reported only one storm-related fatality, Mark B. Sanner, 26, of Friendsville, Md., died when the milk tank truck he was driving rammed into the rear of a tractor-trailer on an icy stretch of I-79 in Collier Township, Allegheny County.” [Allegheny County borders Washington County to the north.] (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “District Welcomes Warming Trend,” 2-20-2017, pp. 1 & 6.)
[18] The Evening Sun, Hanover, PA. “Two Weather-Related Deaths.” 2-20-1979, p. A4. “Three-year-old John W. Bisset II was killed….in New Oxford when his father accidentally backed a truck over him while plowing snow from the family’s driveway…”
[19] “In Pennsylvania, four persons froze to death…a 66-year-old Pottsville man found in his unheated home…” (AP. “Winter Storm Blasts East.” Greenville Record-Argus, PA, 2-19-1979, p. 1.)
[20] “Elroy Fetterhoff, 52, a resident of a Schuylkill County nursing home, was found dead Saturday morning [Feb 17] on the grounds of the Schuylkill campus of Penn State University, state police said. Death was tentatively attributed to exposure.” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Progressland” (from page 1), 2-19-1979, p. 8.)
[21] “In Scranton, police said the body of Mark Kollar, 20, of Cinnaminson, N.J., was found encrusted in ice in a park Saturday [Feb 17]. Police believe the victim, a student at the University of Scranton, fell down an embankment while taking pictures.” Notes an autopsy confirmed exposure as cause of death. (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Progressland” (from page 1), 2-19-1979, p. 8.)
[22] “In Luzerne County, the frozen body of Wassil Lehan, 68, of Hazleton, was found Saturday [Feb 17] in the operator’s compartment of a coal-shoveling vehicle at a coal operation in Stockton. State police speculated the victim had crawled into the vehicle for warmth.” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Progressland” (from page 1), 2-19-1979, p. 8.) Notes an autopsy verified exposure as cause of death.
[23] Gender and age from: AP. “South Carolina ‘Pretty Paralyzed’ By Snowstorm.” The Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-19-1979, p. 5. Victim identified as Gail Hogg, who “was found frozen to death on a city street.”
[24] “The Highway Patrol said two weather-related traffic deaths occurred in Sumter County shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, just as roads were beginning to freeze. The dead were identified as Rufus Blaney James, 17, of Pinewood, and Phillip H. Carroll, 33, of Camden, killed when their cars wrecked after hitting patches of ice on rural roads.” (AP. “South Carolina ‘Pretty Paralyzed’ By Snowstorm.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-19-1979, p. 5.) Also notes exposure death of female in Columbia.
