lornajarrettblanchard

— 9  AP. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD. 2-28-1994.

— 9  AP. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” Victoria Advocate, TX, 2-28-1994, p. 8A.

— 9  Baltimore Sun. “Fatal Fires.” 5-23-2007.

 

Narrative Information

 

Baltimore Sun: “Feb. 26, 1994. Nine people, including seven children, died at 2035 Hollins St., a West Batltimore rowhouse where electrical power had been cut off in October because of unpaid bills. A candle being used as a light source ignited the blaze, officials said.”

 

AP: “Baltimore (AP) – A fire that engulfed a row house, killing seven children and two adults, was caused by candles they were burning for light because their electricity had been cut off, fire officials said Sunday [Feb 27].

 

“A 21-year-old woman dropped her 2-year-old son to safety from a second-floor window and then leaped herself, suffering a broken ankle, fire officials said.

 

“The only other survivor was a 14-year-old boy who told investigators he was awakened by the heat and screamed to wake the others upstairs. All of the dead were found upstairs.

 

“Investigators believe the fire late Saturday [Feb 26] was started in the downstairs living room by candles left burning on a table beside a sofa bed where the boy slept…

 

“Power was shut off Oct. 11 after the electric bill for the row house had mounted to $1,400, said Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. spokesman…The home in one of the city’s poorer neighborhoods apparently also had no heat. It had a gas stove, but the oil furnace required electricity…

 

[The company spokesman] “said state funds that help the poor pay for utilities contributed $384 to the electric bill. The company offered to allow the bill to be paid off over a one- to four-year period, but the residents never responded… ‘We’re willing to do anything to help, but we need some reciprocation,’…The last payment was $100 in September 1993…

 

“There were no smoke detectors.

 

“So far this year, 25 people have died in Baltimore fires, compared with 33 for all of 1993, [according to] fire department spokesman…”

 

“When firefighters arrived, the block was so filled with smoke that firefighters had difficulty determining which house was burning…It took 30 firefighters about 20 minutes to control the blaze.

 

“Some of the children, who ranged in age from 8 months to 12 years, were found crouched on the floor or hiding under clothes and blankets….

 

“Also killed were a 24-year-old man found at the top of the stairs and a 28-year-old woman.” (Associated Press. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” Victoria Advocate, Victoria TX, 2-28-1994, p. 8A.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD. 2-28-1994. Accessed at: Newspaperarchives.com

 

Associated Press. “Nine die in house fire sparked by candles.” Victoria Advocate, Victoria TX, 2-28-1994, p. 8A. Accessed 5-27-2016 at: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19940227&id=AzhOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6UoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,6125903&hl=en

 

Baltimore Sun. “Fatal Fires.” 5-23-2007. Accessed 5-26-2016 at: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-05-23/news/0705230028_1_baltimore-rowhouse-rowhouse-fire-baltimore-fire

—>23  AP. “Snow shuts down government…” The Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 2-11-1994, A7.[1]

—  15  Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.

—  >9  Lott and Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeast – The February Ice Storm… 1994, pp. 2-3.

 

Illinois             (  1)

— 1  Carpentersville, Feb 8. Boy, 7, sledding on fresh now, slides underneath school bus.[2]

 

Ohio                (>7)

—   1  Middletown, Butler Co., Feb 8-9. Exposure; male, 40. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, pp. 38-39.

— >6  Statewide. Traffic fatalities. NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, pp. 38-39.)

 

Oklahoma      (  1)

— 1  Oklahoma City, Feb 8. Freezing drizzle; traffic accident; female lost control of her car.[3]

 

Tennessee       (  1)

— 1  Memphis, Feb 9-10. Tree falls onto moving car killing male driver.[4]

 

Texas              (  4)

— 2  San Antonio International Airport, Feb 11. Air ambulance crash in freezing rain.[5]

— 2  Traffic accidents. Lott and Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeastern… 1994, p. 6.

 

West Virginia (  1)

— 1  Wayne County, Feb 9. Flash Flood.

 

Narrative Information — General

 

Lott and Ross: “The ice storm which struck the Southeast in February 1994 resulted from a typical icing scenario: a quasi-stationary front with overrunning moisture producing freezing precipitation in colder air near the surface to the north of the front. However, this storm was very unusual in 2 respects: 1) Its areal extent was much greater than usually found in ice storms, and 2) The precipitation amounts were much higher than usually found in ice storm situations, with some amounts exceeding 5 inches for the event…

 

“The ice storm began in the western sections of the Southeast on the 9th and gradually spread eastward into Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. These three states suffered the worst damage before the storm continued northeastward through the Carolinas, Virginia, and Kentucky. A large temperature gradient across the front (some temperature drops of 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit from the previous day’s readings occurred) contributed to the ‘energy’ of the storm. Ice accumulations ranged from 1 inch to as much as 6 inches in parts of northern Mississippi–unprecedented ice thicknesses in this area for a freezing rain event.

 

“Overall, the storm produced over $3 billion in damages and cleanup costs, and at least 9 deaths were attributed (directly or indirectly) to the storm. Also, well over 2 million customers were without electricity at some time, and 1/2 million were still without power 3 days after the storm. There were even some instances of residents without power for 1 month after the storm. Many homes, businesses, and vehicles were damaged by falling trees and limbs.” (Lott and Ross, 1994 Ice Storm and Floods, 1994, pp. 2-3)

 

“KY…reported 150 injuries for the event…”  (Lott & Ross, 1994 Ice Storm, Floods, 1994, p. 4)

 

TN:  “There was one traffic fatality attributed to the storm when a tree fell on a moving car.”  (Lott & Ross, 1994 Ice Storm, Floods, 1994, p. 6)

 

TX:  “…2 fatalities were reported due to traffic accidents…”(Lott & Ross, 1994 Ice Storm,  6)

 

NCDC Storm Data: “A combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain struck Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas late on February 8 and spread eastward toward the mid-Atlantic states over the next few days. An Arctic cold front was moving south and east out of Canada beneath a strong southwesterly flow of moisture. Snow extended from the Plains to the Northeast, north of the front, and a mixture of sleet, snow, and freezing rain fell along the front from Oklahoma and Texas to the mid-Atlantic. Temperature drops of 40 to 50 degrees from the previous day readings, to below freezing were common with the passage of the front.

 

“Due to the heavy amounts of precipitation, totals greater than five inches…flash flooding occurred in Tennessee and Alabama. Eastern Tennessee recorded over six inches of precipitation. More than 100 residents of Washington and Rhea counties in Tennessee were forced to evacuate. Flash flooding also closed or washed out numerous roads.

 

“Major ice accumulation of three to six inches existed in Mississippi. Louisiana recorded one to two inches of ice accumulation and at times freezing rain was accompanied by thunder. Generally, ice accumulations of up to three inches existed in the remaining area with the exception of northern Texas where amounts of up to four inches occurred. The accumulation of ice caused extensive damage in most states affected by the ice. Homes, businesses, and vehicles were also damaged by the falling trees. Many trees also fell on utility poles and lines causing the widespread loss of electrical power. Some people in Mississippi were without power for up to a month. Additionally, Mississippi reported significant damage to 3.7 million acres of commercial forestland valued at an estimated $1.3 billion. Preliminary estimates place the damage and cleanup cost at over $50 million in Arkansas alone. The Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness estimated the ice damage approximately $13.5 million.” (NCDC. Storm Data, “Outstanding Storms of the Month. 1. Ice Storm Occurs in the South and Southeast.” Vol. 36, no. 2, Feb 1994, p. 7.)

Arkansas

 

NCDC Storm Data: “A combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain began falling across northern Arkansas late on the 8^th and overspread the rest of the state on the 9th. The precipitation continued falling on the 10th and ended from the west early on the 11th. Many roads, bridges and overpasses across the state became hazardous due to the accumulation of ice and snow. Numerous traffic accidents resulted from the slick roads. Heavy amounts of sleet and ice fell over southeast Arkansas on the 9th and 10th. Significant accumulations of ice and sleet brought down numerous trees and utility poles. A number of homes and businesses also sustained structural damage by falling trees. Some communities in southeast Arkansas had virtually every power pole knocked down by the weight of the ice. At the height of the storm, approximately 120,000 customers were without power. In some cases, it took up to two weeks to get power restored to some areas. The damage was not as widespread over the rest of Arkansas. Some of the power companies were calling this the worst storm in their history. Preliminary estimates place the damage and cleanup costs at over $50 million.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, 1994, p. 16.)

 

Louisiana

 

NCDC Storm Data: “A severe ice storm developed over Louisiana, as well as adjacent states, in the early morning hours of February 10. Freezing rain spread across much of the north third of Louisiana during the next 12 hours, and at times was accompanied by thunderstorms which produced the most severe icing problems. The greatest damage occurred on elevated objects. The combination of gusty winds and icing of one to two inches thick snapped power lines, power poles, or caused tree limbs to snap which subsequently broke power lines. The weight from ice accumulations was also heavy enough to collapse a number of chicken houses. Ground temperatures were fairly warm due to mild temperature s prior to the ice storm, so icing on roadways was not widespread, however fallen trees and power line s did close many secondary roads. The two hardest hit parishes appeared to be Claiborne and Webster. From newspaper accounts over 100,000 persons in north Louisiana were without electrical power on February 10 and 11. While temperatures above freezing quickly returned to the region on the February 11 and 12, some power companies had difficulty returning power to residents due to the widespread nature of the ice storm which affected many states from northeast Texas to the Tennessee Valley. On February 15, 10,000 residents were still without electrical power in Bienville, Claiborne, and Union Parishes. The Forest Service reported that 256,000 acres of forest were damaged by icing. Overall, the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness estimated the ice storm damage at approximately $13.5 million. This was the worst ice storm in Louisiana since 1983, and likely the costliest on record with respect to dollar damages.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, 1994, p. 26.)

 

Mississippi

 

NCDC Storm Data: “During the early morning hours on the 9th, freezing rain began falling over north Mississippi and continued through mid-day on the 10th. Ice accumulation of three to six inches were common over the affected area. Due to the weight of the ice, power lines, trees and tree limbs were downed. Many trees fell on houses and automobiles. The ice storm caused significant damage to approximately 3.7 million acres of commercial forestland. The value of damaged timber was estimated to be $1.3 billion. In addition to the damage of commercial timber was the damage to urban trees, estimated to be $27 million. Twenty five percent of the states pecan crop will be lost for the next five to ten years at an estimated cost of $5.5 million per year. Nearly 750,000 customers were with out power in the affected area. Customers were without power for up to a month. Over eight thousand utility poles were pulled down by the weight of the ice. Over 4,700 miles of power lines were down. Four-hundred-ninety-one water systems were affected with around 741,000 customers without water. Estimates of damage to utilities will run nearly $500 million. This is the worst ice storm to strike Mississippi since a severe ice storm struck the state in January 1951.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, Feb 1994, p. 31.)

 

Ohio

 

NCDC Storm Data: Jan 8-9: “The worst ice storm in recent memory struck southern Ohio. Heavy freezing rain fell across the counties near the Ohio River and heavy sleet mixed in across the central counties. Ice accumulations averaged three-quarter to two inches. Thunderstorms with heavy freezing rain occurred over parts of southern Ohio the evening of the 8th. Trees, including numerous fruit trees, and power lines were downed and damaged in many southern Ohio communities. Supplies of salt, already low from previous storms, were used up by many communities hindering ice removal. Temperatures during and after the storm remained quite cold, in the teens and single digits, also slowing ice removal. Travel on foot and by vehicle was treacherous. The extended cold, the inability to remove all the ice, and school closings (some schools were closed through the 11^th) produced a record number of injuries, mostly due to falls and sledding accidents. Most were broken bones. At least a half dozen traffic fatalities occurred and one death can be directly attributed to the weather. A Middletown (Butler) man, age 40, died of exposure. Some freezing drizzle lingered into the 9^th.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, pp. 38-39.)

 

Tennessee

 

NCDC Storm Data on Jan 9-10 Ice Storm: “A major ice storm hit much of Tennessee. Numerous trees were knocked down. Many of these trees took down power lines as well. About 770,000 people in the state lost power for some period of time. One person was killed in Memphis when a tree fell upon his car while he was driving.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, p. 45.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Snow shuts down government operations in nation’s capital.” The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, WA, 2-11-1994, p. A-7. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=282839111&sterm

 

Daily Herald (Dan Rozek and Bonnie Booth), Fox Valley, IL. “Before-school playtime ends in tragedy for boy.” 2-9-1994, p. K1. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=264620206&sterm

 

Lott, Neal and Tom Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeast – The February Ice Storm and the July Flooding (Technical Report 94-03). Asheville, NC:  National Climatic Data Center, NOAA, Department of Commerce, October 12, 1994, 23 pages. Accessed at:  http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/techrpts/tr9403/tr9403.pdf

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Accessed 3-26-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-BC0A4775-3147-4DBF-8D2C-7EFCEA5FD483.pdf

 

 

 

[1] Not using as our estimate of fatalities in that we have not been able to substantiate.

[2] Daily Herald (Dan Rozek and Bonnie Booth), Fox Valley, IL. “Before-school playtime ends in tragedy for boy.” 2-9-1994, p. K1.

[3] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 40.

[4] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, 36/2, Feb 1994, p. 45; Lott/Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeastern… 1994, p. 6.

[5] AP. “Snow shuts down government operations in nation’s capital.” The Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 2-11-1994, A7.

— 7  Court of Appeals of MN. “In Re: Alexandria Accident of February 8, 1994.” Decided 4-1-1997.

— 6  Knight-Ridder. “Six dead in 3-way crash…” Sandusky Register, OH, 2-9-1994, p. A-5.

 

Narrative Information

 

MN Court of Appeals: “….This case arises out of a major automobile accident on February 8, 1994, involving a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) snowplow, a van, and a charter bus on Interstate 94 around 8:30 a.m. near Alexandria, Minnesota….

 

“On the same morning [as the beginning of snowplowing on I-94], 13 students and two employees of Josef’s School of  Hair Design left Fargo for Minneapolis in a van driven by Dianna Jilek. The van passed a chartered bus driven by John Carlson and a Spee-Dee delivery truck. The  van was traveling approximately 65 m.p.h. As the van proceeded in the passing lane, it came upon white-out conditions, and Jilek could see nothing.  She removed her foot from the  accelerator, saw ‘an orange flash,’ and veered the van hard to her right. The front of the van struck the rear of…[the MnDOT] snowplow, causing the van to spin in the roadway.  The van was then struck by bus. Seven passengers in the van were killed. Others in the van and bus suffered injuries….

 

“Prior to the accident, MnDOT had undertaken a study of snowplow accidents. The study indicated that a contributing factor to such accidents was the snowplow’s creation of ‘snow clouds,’ or ‘white-out’ conditions. Consequently, MnDOT developed a better lighting system which it decided to install on its newer vehicles. It started with 1988 models because ‘there was enough remaining life on those trucks to make it worthwhile.’ Only two snowplows in the Alexandria station were equipped with new lighting systems….In 1993, one of the vehicles…was sent away for installation of some additional equipment. [Notes that the snowplow involved]… did not have the new lights….” (Court of Appeals of Minnesota. “In Re: Alexandria Accident of February 8, 1994. Nos. C7-96-2178, C9-96-2179.” Decided 4-1-1997.)

 

Knight-Ridder, Feb 9: “Six young women from a Fargo, N.D., cosmetology school were killed and nine companions critically injured Tuesday when their van slammed into a snowplow on a Minnesota interstate highway, then was struck by a charter bus. Forty-six bus passengers also were injured. Chartered by Better Entertainment of Brooklyn Center, the bus was on an overnight tour of three Minnesota casinos.

 

“A strong north wind was whipping snow across Interstate 94, creating whiteout conditions, when the accident occurred at 8:15 a.m., 11 miles west of Alexandria, Minn., three miles west of the Osakis exit.

 

“Three van passengers were dead at the scene. Those three and three women who died later at Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria were from Josef’s School of Hair Design, as were the critically injured. In all, there were 13 students, an instructor and an administrative aide aboard the van, which was enroute to Rocco Altobelli salons in Burnsville, Minn., for hairstyling demonstrations….

 

“The impact mangled the van and trapped most of the occupants inside, according to Dr. Mark Odland of Alexandria, who happened the crash while enroute to work at the Osakis Medical Clinic….” (Knight-Ridder. “Six dead in 3-way crash…” Sandusky Register, OH, 2-9-1994, A5.)

 

Sources

 

Court of Appeals of Minnesota. “In Re: Alexandria Accident of February 8, 1994. Nos. C7-96-2178, C9-96-2179.” Decided 4-1-1997. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/mn-court-of-appeals/1113089.html

 

Knight-Ridder Newspapers. “Six dead in 3-way crash. School van, snowplow, bus collide in whiteout.” Sandusky Register, OH, 2-9-1994, p. A-5. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=228988725&sterm

 

 

 

 

 

–7  AP. “Report: Betrothed teen rejected agreement.” Daily Globe, Ironwood, MI. 2-2-1994, 13.

 

Narrative Information

 

Feb 2: “Pontiac, Mich. (AP) — New evidence that the teen-age daughter of Laotian refugees spurned an arranged marriage left police no closer to determining whether the jilted suitor committed murder and suicide at the wheel of a van. Kai Chanhthavong, 17, and Khamphong ‘Pong’ Phonemalay, 37, were among seven people killed Sunday morning [30^th] when their van collided head-on with a tractor-trailer near Howell in Livingston County.

 

“Phonemalay apparently was driving the van, sheriff’s Lt. Ivan Deering said. Witnesses said the van did not swerve but crossed into the opposite lane, then appeared to speed up before slamming into the truck.

 

“Also killed were Kai’s parents, her younger sister, her grand-mother and a family friend from Detroit. Phonemalay once lived at the Chanhthavongs’ Pontiac home but was living in a Pontiac apartment at the time of the death, The Detroit News reported today.

 

“Since Sunday, investigators have been trying to determine whether Phonemalay, frustrated by Kai’s resistance to the marriage he had arranged with her parents, intentionally crashed the van. On Monday, police said, they found a prenuptial agreement in the Chanhthavongs’ home. The agreement dated May 4, 1993, called for Phonemalay to give Kai’s parents $15,000, gold jewelry valued at $2,000 and a $1,400 diamond ring in exchange for her hand in marriage, The News said. At the bottom of the document, the Detroit Free Press reported today, Kai wrote ‘I don’t want to marry Kham.’ The document, and Kai’s notation on it, provided only ‘one more piece of the puzzle’ surrounding Sunday’s tragedy, Deering said. ‘We cannot call this a murder-suicide because we don’t have any concrete evidence, like a suicide note or a conversation he may have had with someone where he discussed doing this,’ he told the Free Press. ‘But the circumstances could certainly lead you to that conclusion.’

 

“The Chanhthavongs, Phonemalay and Amkha Veoprasaseuth were returning from a weekend visit with another family friend in Holland [Ottawa and Allegan counties, MI], Piou Bounyavong, when the crash occurred. Kai’s father, Buonmy Chanhthavong, 45, was at the wheel when the van left the west Michigan city, Bounyavong said.

 

“But, Deering told The News, ‘The father was found belted in a passenger seat, and Phonemalay’s injuries indicate he was driving the van at the time of the crash.’

 

“The Chanhthavongs still had the cash and jewelry offered by Phonemalay at the time of their deaths, the Free Press said. Acquaintances of Phonemalay said he was angry that the family had refused to return the items, the newspaper said.

 

“Police believed letters written in Laotian and found in Phonemalay’s toolbox at work might have provided clues about his soured relationship with Kai. The letters translated as love songs he was writing, but none mentioned Kai, investigators told The News.

 

“Police conceded that they could guess at, but probably never prove, a motive for the deadly crash.

 

“Kai embraced American culture — playing softball, swimming for Pontiac Central High School, entering the Miss Teen-Age Michigan Pageant and, the marriage agreement notwithstanding, wanted to date boys her age.

 

“Phonemalay, who like Kai’s parents had fled communist rule in Laos, wanted to proceed with the arranged marriage common to the culture of his native country. But co-workers have given differing accounts of his state of mind in recent weeks, some saying he was upset with Kai and others calling him happy. ‘I know there was problems there. She was very young,’ said Mike Kosciolek, Phonemalay’s supervisor at Special Mold Engineering in Rochester. ‘There was totally different conflicts with just about everything. I don’t think she really liked him that much, not as much as he liked her,’ Kosciolek said. ‘But he didn’t seem that much unhappy about the situation — nothing that would ever warrant this….” (Associated Press. “Report: Betrothed teen rejected agreement.” Daily Globe, Ironwood, MI. 2-2-1994, p. 13.)

 

Source

 

Associated Press. “Report: Betrothed teen rejected agreement.” Daily Globe, Ironwood, MI. 2-2-1994, p. 13. Accessed 3-3-2019: https://newspaperarchive.com/ironwood-daily-globe-feb-02-1994-p-15/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–72  Durkin. “Casualty Patterns in the 1994 Northridge…Earthquake.” 11^th World Conf. 1996.[1]

–72  Reich. “Study Raises Northridge Quake Death Toll to 72.” LA Times, 12-20-1995.[2]

–72  Reich. “Still Shaking Things Up: 2 Years Later, Northridge Quake…” LA Times, 1-15-96.[3]

–61  FEMA. The Northridge Earthquake One Year Later, January 17, 1995. 1995, p. 1.

–61  Hyndman and Hyndman.  Natural Hazards and Disasters (2^nd Ed.).  2009, p. 54.

–60  National Geophysical Data Center/NOAA, Significant Earthquake Database.

–60  USGS. Deaths in the United States from Earthquakes. 2008 update

–60  USGS. Historic Earthquakes: Northridge, California, 1994 01 17, 12:30:55. 26 Oct 2009

–57  Gunn. Encyclopedia. Chap. 169. “Northridge, California, Earthquake, January 17, 1994.”

–57  Mori/USGS. “Overview: The Northridge earthquake: Damage to an Urban Environment.”[4]

–57  NFPA (Stephen N. Foley). Summary Investigation Report. Northridge Earthquake…

–57  Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley.

–57  USGS. Northridge Earthquake 10^th Anniversary, January 17, 2004.

–57  USGS. USGS Response to an Urban Earthquake: Northridge `94. “Earthquake Impacts.”

–54  History.com. This Day in History, Disaster, Jan 17, 1994. “Earthquake Rocks [LA].”

–51  Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting. Catastrophe Response, Sample Project.

 

Electrocution                         (      1)

–1  Male, 25, “when he tried to remove a power line from his car.”[5]

 

Exposure                                (      2)

— 2  Durkin. “Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Con. On Earthquake Eng., 1996.

            –Male, 87, “…pneumonia after spending several hours in the cold after evacuating his home.”

 

Fall of structural contents    (      3)[6]

Fitchner, Ted Peter, 28, Chatsworth, hit in head by a falling microwave oven at home. (ST.)

Couple crushed and asphyxiated in home by hundreds of pounds of falling items.[7]

 

Falls                                        (      5)

— 5  Durkin. “Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Con. On Earthquake Eng., 1996.

 

Fire                                         (      1)

–Hanson, Evelynn B., 92, trailer fire in Northridge. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)[8]

 

Heart Attacks                        (19-30)

–30  Durkin in Reich. “Study Raises Northridge Quake Death Toll to 72.” LA Times, 12-20-95.[9]

–19  NFPA.

 

Life-Support Failure             (       3)

–3  Respirator failures. Durkin. “Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Con., 1996.[10]

–Lionel Ventura, 20, Holy Cross Medical Cen., power to respirator was knocked out.[11]

 

Structural failure/crushing  (     22)

–22  Durkin, in LA Times. “Study Raises Northridge Quake Death Toll to 72.” 12-20-1995.

—  1  Clarence Dean, police motorcycle officer fall; collapsed Newhall Pass Interchange.[12]

—  1  Mobile home collapse. Durkin/Associates. “Casualty Patterns…” Paper 979, 1996

–16  Northridge Meadows complex collapse; people on first floor.[13]

—  4  Three separate wood-frame homes. Durkin. “Casualty Patterns…” Paper 979, 1996.

 

Suicide                                    (      1)

— 1  Ventura County male, 50, after his uninsured business was destroyed.[14]

 

Vehicular                               (       3)

— 3  Automobile accidents.  Durkin. “Casualty Patterns…” 11^th World Conf. … 1996.

–2  Separate fatal accidents at intersections where traffic signals were out.

–1  Female, when her car overturned after hitting earthquake-caused street break.

 

Unspecified Natural Causes at Hospitals                (  3)[15]

–Norman Cole, 79, of North Hills, at a hospital.

–Madeline Riggins, 92, of Reseda, at a hospital.

–Margarita Vasquez, 73, at a hospital.

 

Breakout of Fatalities by Name

 

1. Aslenpoura, Javad, 90. Santa Monica, cause undetermined. AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-94.[16]
2. Baitman, Bea, 69, Studio City, home collapse. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
3. Borman, Jerry, 67, heart attack at a hospital. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
4. Brace, Elizabeth, 37, Rancho Cucamonga, fell, hit her head on a baby crib. (ST, 1-20-94.)[17]
5. Burlington, Marguerite, 91, heart attack at her Reseda home. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
6. Carr, Pearl, 70, fall/head trauma. (Seattle Times. “The 47 Quake…Fatalities…” 1-20-1994.)
7. Cerone, Angeline (Ann), 80. Northridge Meadows apartments collapse. (Seattle Times.)
8. Cole, Norman, 79, North Hills, heart attack. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
9. Dean, Clarence W. 46, LA motorcycle police officer; went off collapsed freeway in dark.
10. Englar, Phil, 62. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
11. Englar, Sharon. 58 (wife of Phil). Northridge Meadows apts. collapse. Seattle Times. 1-20-94
12. Enos, Darla Rae, 43, Northridge Meadows apartments collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
13. Fitchner, Ted Peter, 28, Chatsworth, hit in head by a falling microwave oven at home. ()
14. Glasser, Leonard, 60+, heart attack at a hospital. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
15. Green, Jerry, 52, Northridge, apartment collapse. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
16. Hall, Robert T., 62, North Hollywood, cause undetermined. AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-94.
17. Hanson, Evelynn B., 92, trailer fire in Northridge. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
18. Hernandez, Felix, 80, Glendale, heart attack. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
19. Hernandez, Jose, 45, fall from 6^th floor window of downtown hotel. (Seattle Times, 1-20-94.)
20. Horton, Edward Lee, 73, Los Angeles, cause undetermined. AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-94.
21. Kamiya, Hannah, 75, fall at her Los Angeles (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
22. Khaytman, Gennady, 45, fell down stairs/head trauma; and possible heart attack at hosp.[18]
23. Krell, Dr. Burton, 59, killed in accident where power to traffic light was knocked out. (NYT)
24. Lee, Howard, 14. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
25. Lee, Pil Soon, 46, Northridge Meadows apt. collapse. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
26. Maher, Kevin C., 25, electrocuted by a power line. (NYT. “The Earthquake…” 1-21-1994.)
27. Melton, Frances, 80, Inglewood, cause undetermined. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
28. Mizrahi, Stella, 60+, heart attack at a hospital. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
29. Munoz, Antonia, 66, heart attack at her Hollywood (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
30. Nalls, John, 64, Sherman Oaks, cause undetermined. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
31. Ng, Judith Ann, 42, Van Nuys home collapse. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
32. O’Connor, Betty, 70, Torrance, cause undetermined. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
33. Osterholt, Karen, 30, collapse of hillside home in Sherman Oaks. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
34. Pauline, Robert, 73, Van Nuys home collapse. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
35. Pearson, Willard, 55, Santa Monica, cause undetermined. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-94.)
36. Pressman, Cecilia, 72. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
37. Pressman, David, 72, husband of Cecilia. Northridge Meadows apt. collapse. (Seattle Times)
38. Quintanar, Concha, 83, heart attack at a hospital. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
39. Ramus, Albert, 75, Los Angeles, heart attack. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
40. Raziye, Marzia, 22, Reseda, traffic crash, darkened intersection. AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-94.
41. Refugio, Romero, 88, Van Nuys, fell, fracturing hip, heart attack. AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-94.
42. Reskin, Bea, 71. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
43. Reyes, Jaime, 19. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
44. Riggins, Madeline, 92, of Reseda, heart attack at a hospital. ( “List of…, 1-25-1994.)
45. Runnings, Carol, 48. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
46. Sacco, Arnold, Van Nuys, heart attack. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
47. Sandoval, Manuel D., 24. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-94)
48. Slotnik, Adam, 27. Northridge Meadows apartment collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
49. Smith, Maxfield, 62, of Marina del Rey, heart attack at a hospital. (Seattle Times. 1-20-94.)
50. Uribe, Olga Robles, 26, passenger, vehicle overturned; intersection, traffic light power knocked out.
51. Valasquez, Myrna, 18. Northridge Meadows apartments collapse. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
52. Valenzuela, Fredrico, 55, Sylmar, cause undetermined. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
53. Vasquez, Margarita, 73, Sun Valley, heart attack. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
54. Ventura, Lionel, 20, Sun Valley, power lost to respirator. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-94.)
55. Vigil-Tyre, Amy 5, Sherman Oaks home collapse. (Seattle Times. “The 47.” 1-20-1994.)
56. Wesley, Herbert, 45, Pico Rivera, cause undetermined. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
57. Wilhelm, Ruth, 77, Northridge, apartment collapse. (AP. “List of Fatalities.” 1-25-1994.)
58. Yobs, Marc, 32, collapse of hillside home in Sherman Oaks. (Seattle Times. 1-20-1994.)
59. Unidentified man, 67, heart attack at Inglewood (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-94.)
60. Unidentified male, 80, heart attack at a hospital. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)
61. Unidentified male, collapse of a Northridge home. (Seattle Times. “The 47…” 1-20-1994.)

 

(We assume that the additional deaths necessary to support the estimate of Durkin and Associates of 72 fatalities [or 71, if there was a computational error] is from the collection of additional material from coroners on heart attacks.)

 

Narrative Information

 

Gunn: “An earthquake of magnitude (u7 hit all area of high population den­sity twenty-five miles northwest of Los Angeles at 4:30 M. on Jan­uary 17, 1994. About ten million people in the Greater Los Angeles region felt the impact of the quake. This earthquake, named for its epicenter in the town of Northridge, proved to be the most costly in U.S. history. Communities throughout the San Fernando Valley and in its Surrounding mountains north and west of Los Angeles were affected, causing losses of billion dollars. Fifty-seven people died, more than 9,000 were injured, and more than 20,000 were displaced from their homes.” (Gunn. “Northridge, California, Earthquake, January 17, 1994.” Encyclopedia of Disasters: Environmental Catastrophes and Human Tragedies. 2007.)

 

History.com: “On this day in 1994, an earthquake rocks Los Angeles, California, killing 54 people and causing billions of dollars in damages. The Northridge quake (named after the San Fernando Valley community near the epicenter) was one of the most damaging in U.S. history.

 

“It was 4:31 a.m. when the 6.7-magnitude quake struck the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated area of Los Angeles located 20 miles northeast of the city’s downtown. With an epicenter 12 miles beneath the earth’s surface, the earthquake caused the collapse of several apartment buildings. At the Northridge Meadows complex, 16 people died, all of whom lived on the first floor, when the weak stucco structure fell down on them as they slept.

 

“Given the strength and location of the earthquake, it was fortunate that the death toll was not far higher. Two key factors were critical in reducing the casualties. First, the quake struck in the middle of the night while nearly everyone was at home in their beds. A mall parking lot in the Valley collapsed, but no one was killed because it was entirely empty. Several highways also suffered critical failures, but only one police officer died, when his vehicle plunged off an overpass. The other key factor was that the city’s building and safety codes were strengthened following the 1971 Sylmar quake that collapsed the San Fernando Veterans Hospital. Every building constructed after the new regulations were implemented stayed intact.

 

“Still, the quake caused a huge amount of property damage over a wide area, especially in the beach community of Santa Monica, even though it was relatively far from the epicenter. As much of Santa Monica stands on soil that is less solid than bedrock, it suffered severe ground movement during the earthquake. The partial collapse of the Santa Monica freeway snarled traffic in Los Angeles for months. All told, it is estimated that the earthquake was responsible for $20 billion in damages.” (History.com. This Day in History, Disaster, Jan 17, 1994, “Earthquake Rocks LA.”)

 

Hyndman: “The Northridge earthquake caused $15.2 billion in property damage. Some 3,000 buildings were closed to all reentry; another 7,000 buildings were closed to occupation. Sixty-one people were killed. In fact, the toll would probably have been in the thousands had the earthquake happened later in the day, when more people would have been up and about. Most buildings and parking garages that collapsed were essentially unoccupied. Freeway collapse occurred at seven locations, 170 bridges were damaged, and a few unlucky people were on the road.”  (Hyndman and Hyndman. Natural Hazards and Disasters (2^nd Ed.). 2009, p. 54.)

 

LA Times, Dec 20, 1995: “The most comprehensive study yet to appear on casualties in the Northridge earthquake has concluded that both deaths and injuries were more numerous than the official tallies by the state Office of Emergency Services and coroners in Los Angeles and Ventura counties indicate. An article on the study, appearing in a lengthy publication on the quake released last week by the state Division of Mines and Geology, found that 72 deaths were attributable to the magnitude 6.7 temblor and that 11,846 people were treated for quake-related injuries in hospitals in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties. These figures compare to the 57 deaths and 9,000 injuries that had been reported as the official casualty tolls for the Jan. 17, 1994, quake.

 

“The new figures were compiled by Michael E. Durkin, a Woodland Hills public health researcher who has studied and written about casualties from many other quakes around the world. He attributes 30 of the 72 Northridge deaths to heart attacks, accounting for most of the discrepancy with earlier fatality figures.

 

“Durkin painstakingly reviewed hospital and Red Cross records, as well as coroner and Office of Emergency Services reports, in coming to his conclusions, although he conceded in an interview that some deaths caused indirectly by the quake–such as the suicide of a 50-year-old Ventura County man after his uninsured business was destroyed–represent somewhat subjective judgments.

 

“Spokespeople for both the OES and the Los Angeles County coroner said Tuesday that they recognize that their earlier figures were incomplete. Kati Corsaut, information officer for the OES, said the agency accepts Durkin’s numbers as more complete because “we don’t have any numbers other than those reported to us the first week of the event.” “We don’t have any reason to think there’s a problem with his numbers,” Corsaut said. “Our numbers are meant to reflect the scope of the disaster. They’re not meant to reflect a final number. We do the best we can fast. Our numbers are not based on the extensive research this man has clearly done.”

 

“Dean Gilmore, captain in charge of the investigations division of the coroner’s office, said that some Northridge quake deaths in Los Angeles County occurred after the office reported its figures to the OES and that some were of “direct, natural causes, a person under a doctor’s treatment, and we would know nothing about it.”

 

“As it is, Durkin’s numbers remain well below the 117 funeral grants the state reported making for quake victims six months after the temblor. But he explained Tuesday that he may follow a more rigorous standard for attributing a death to the earthquake….

 

“Of the 11,846 injuries, Durkin reports, 1,044 people were listed as admitted to hospitals and the other 10,802 were treated and released. He said that because of incomplete records at certain hospitals, the latter figure may be a little low. In any event, he noted, people who were injured but did not go to a hospital are not recorded….

 

“Of the 72 deaths, Durkin says 22 occurred as a result of structural failure, including 16 in the infamous Northridge Meadows apartment house collapse, seven came from nonstructural failures and 43 came from other causes, including the heart attacks.

 

“Durkin goes into considerable detail about the circumstances of some of the deaths. For instance, on nonstructural deaths, he notes:

 

“A 28-year-old man died of heart failure after sustaining head injuries from being struck by a microwave oven when his mobile home collapsed. . . . Two were crushed and asphyxiated when buried under hundreds of pounds of books, model trains and other collectibles in their home. One hospital inpatient and two at-home users succumbed when their respirators lost power and stopped. A 25-year-old man was electrocuted when he tried to remove a power line from his car.””

 

(Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Reich). “Study Raises Northridge Quake Death Toll to 72.” 12-20-1995.)

 

Mori/USGS: “….Despite its relatively modest size, the magnitude 6.7 earthquake, centered beneath the densely populated San Fernando Valley, severely impacted people and manmade structures in the Los Angeles area. Shaking and other earthquake effects damaged thousands of buildings. After post-earthquake inspections, more than 1,600 buildings were designated unsafe to enter (red tag) and another 7,300 buildings were assigned to the limited entry category (yellow tag). Thousands of other structures showed minor damage. The earthquake, 10-20s of strong shaking at 4:30 am Pacific Standard Time, collapsed buildings, brought down freeway interchanges, and ruptured gas lines that created explosions and fires. However, the early morning timing of the earthquake was a very lucky coincidence. Most people were at home when the earthquake struck and most buildings and parking structures that collapsed were nearly vacant; freeway traffic was light….” (p. 4.)

 

NFPA: “On January 17, 1994, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred at 4:31 a.m. in Los Angeles. The ten plus seconds of ground shaking resulted in up to $20 billion in damage. There were 57 fatalities, 19 that were attributed to heart attacks, and 9,158 people seriously injured. Comparing this to the Loma Prieta-earthquake, there were 63 fatali­ties and more than 3,750 injuries. The earthquake’s epicenter was about one mile south-southwest of Northridge at a depth of about 12 miles according to the California Technological Seismological Laboratory….” (NFPA/Stephen N. Foley. Summary Investigation Report. Northridge Earthquake, California, January 17, 1994. 8-28-1995, p. 1.)

 

NISEE: “At 4:31 A.M. local time, Monday, January 17, 1994 the Northridge earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley region of Southern California with a moment magnitude measured at 6.7 and focal depth of 19 km. The earthquake was centered 32 km west-northwest of Los Angeles along a south-dipping, blind thrust fault. Little if any surface faulting was produced. The earthquake resulted in 57 deaths, more than 5,000 injuries, and structural damage including instances of partial or complete structural collapse. Estimates of more than $20 billion in property damage make this earthquake the costliest seismic disaster in U.S. history. The earthquake touched off considerable scientific and engineering investigation.” (NISEE, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Cen., UC, Berkeley. “Northridge Earthquake,” 2005.)

 

USGS (Historic): “Sixty people were killed, more than 7,000 injured, 20,000 homeless and more than 40,000 buildings damaged in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Severe damage occurred in the San Fernando Valley: maximum intensities of (IX) were observed in and near Northridge and in Sherman Oaks. Lesser, but still significant damage occurred at Fillmore, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Simi Valley and in western and central Los Angeles. Damage was also sustained to Anaheim Stadium. Collapsed overpasses closed sections of the Santa Monica Freeway, the Antelope Valley Freeway, the Simi Valley Freeway and the Golden State Freeway. Fires caused additional damage in the San Fernando Valley and at Malibu and Venice. Preliminary estimates of damage are between 13 and 20 billion U.S. dollars. Felt throughout much of southern California and as far away as Turlock, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Richfield, Utah and Ensenada, Mexico. The maximum recorded acceleration exceeded 1.0g at several sites in the area with the largest value of 1.8g recorded at Tarzana, about 7 km south of the epicenter. A maximum uplift of about 15 cm occurred in the Santa Susana Mountains and many rockslides occurred in mountain areas, blocking some roads. Some ground cracks were observed at Granada Hills and in Potrero Canyon. Some liquefaction occurred at Simi Valley and in some other parts of the Los Angeles Basin.” (USGS. Historic Earthquakes: Northridge, California, 1994 01 17, 12:30:55. 26 Oct 2009.)

 

USGS (USGS Response): “At 4:30 on the morning of January 17, 1994, some 10 million people in the Los Angeles region of southern California were awakened by the shaking of an earthquake. The earthquake, named for its epicenter in the town of Northridge, was a magnitude 6.7 (M = 6.7) shock that proved to be the most costly earthquake in United States history. The shaking heavily damaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley, and their surrounding mountains north and west of Los Angeles, causing estimated losses of 20 billion dollars. Fifty-seven people died, more than 9,000 were injured, and more than 20,000 were displaced from their homes by the effects of the quake. Although moderate in size, the earthquake had immense impact on people and structures because it was centered directly beneath a heavily populated and built-up urban region. Thousands of buildings were significantly damaged, and more than 1,600 were later “red-tagged” as unsafe to enter. Another 7,300 buildings were restricted to limited entry (“yellow-tagged”), and many thousands of other structures incurred at least minor damage. The 10-20 seconds of strong shaking collapsed buildings, brought down freeway interchanges, and ruptured gas lines that exploded into fires. Fortuitously, the early morning timing of the earthquake spared many lives that otherwise might have been lost in collapsed parking buildings and on failed freeway structures.” (USGS. USGS Response to an Urban Earthquake: Northridge `94. “Introduction. The Earthquake and Its Impacts.”

 

USGS (Significant Earthquakes): “….Southern California….Sixty people were killed, more                than 7,000 injured, 20,000 homeless and more than 40,000 buildings damaged in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Severe damage occurred in the San Fernando                 Valley: maximum intensities of (IX) were observed in and near Northridge and in Sherman Oaks. Lesser, but still significant damage occurred at Fillmore, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Santa                 Monica, Simi Valley and in western and central Los Angeles. Damage was also sustained to Anaheim Stadium. Collapsed overpasses closed sections of the Santa Monica Freeway, the                 Antelope Valley Freeway, the Simi Valley Freeway and the Golden State Freeway. Fires caused additional damage in the San  Fernando Valley and at Malibu and Venice. Preliminary estimates                 of damage are between 13 and 20 billion U.S. dollars. Felt throughout much of southern California and as far away as Turlock, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Richfield, Utah and                 Ensenada, Mexico. The maximum recorded acceleration exceeded 1.0g at several sites in the area with the largest value of 1.8g recorded at Tarzana, about 7 km south of the epicenter. A               maximum uplift of about 15 cm occurred in the Santa Susana Mountains and many rockslides occurred in mountain areas, blocking some roads. Some ground cracks were observed at Granada Hills and in Potrero Canyon. Some liquefaction occurred at Simi Valley and in some other parts of the Los Angeles Basin.” (USGS. Significant Earthquakes of the World. “1994.” 0-30-2012 modification.)

Sources

 

Associated Press, Los Angeles. “It’s Been 20 Years Since the Northridge Earthquake Rocked Los Angeles.” Huffington Post, 1-17-2014. Accessed 3-8-2016 at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/17/northridge-earthquake-20-_n_4613234.html

 

Associated Press. “List of Fatalities from Los Angeles Earthquake, with AM-Quake Aftermath…” 1-25-1994. Accessed 3-10-2016 at: http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1994/List-of-Fatalities-from-Los-Angeles-Earthquake-With-AM-Quake-Aftermath-Bjt/id-d1cd6681372ccbd19938eeffb0018b1f

 

Ayres, B. Drummond, Jr. “The Earthquake: In City of Motorcycle-Cop Mystique, an Officer, and Quake Victim, is Laid to Rest.” New York Times, 1-25-1994. Accessed 3-7-2016 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/25/us/earthquake-city-motorcycle-cop-mystique-officer-quake-victim-laid-rest.html

 

Dewey, James W. “Intensities and Isoseismals,” Earthquakes & Volcanoes, Vol. 25, No. 2, 1994, pp. 85-93.

 

Durkin, Michael E. and Associates. “Casualty Patterns in the 1994 Northridge, California Earthquake.” Paper No. 979, Eleventh World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. 1996.

 

Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting. Catastrophe Response, Sample Projects.  Accessed 8-8-2009 at: http://www.exponent.com/catastrophe_response1/#tab_projects

 

Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Northridge Earthquake One Year Later, January 17, 1995. Washington, DC: FEMA, 1995, 62 pages.

 

Gunn, Angus M. Encyclopedia of Disasters: Environmental Catastrophes and Human Tragedies (Volume 2).  Greenwood Press, 2007.

 

History.com. This Day in History, Disaster, January 17, 1994. “Earthquake Rocks Los Angeles.” Accessed 12-6-2008 at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&displayDate=01/17&categoryId=disaster

 

Hyndman, Donald and David Hyndman. Natural Hazards and Disasters (2^nd Ed.). Brooks/Cole, 2009.

 

Mori, James J. (U.S. Geological Survey). “Overview: The Northridge earthquake: Damage to an Urban Environment.” Earthquakes & Volcanoes, Vol. 25, No. 1, 1994, pp. 4-10.

 

National Fire Protection Association (Stephen N. Foley). Summary Investigation Report. Northridge Earthquake, California, January 17, 1994. NFPA, 8-28-1995.

 

National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA. The Significant Earthquake Database. “California: Northridge.” NGDC, NOAA. Accessed 3-7-2016 at: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/results?eq_0=5372&t=101650&s=13&d=22,26,13,12&nd=display

Previously accessed at: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/form?t=101650&s=1&d=1

 

New York Times. “The Earthquake; 41 Victims Identified by Coroner.” 1-21-1994. Accessed 3-8-2016 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/21/us/the-earthquake-41-victims-identified-by-coroner.html

 

NISEE (National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering), Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley. “Northridge Earthquake” (webpage), 2005. Accessed 3-17-2016 at: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/northridge/

 

Reich, Kenneth. “Still Shaking Things Up: 2 Years Later, Northridge Quake Continues to Teach Lessons on Disaster.” Los Angeles Times, 1-15-1996. Accessed 3-7-2016 at: http://articles.latimes.com/1996-01-15/local/me-24837_1_northridge-quake

 

Reich, Kenneth. “Study Raises Northridge Quake Death Toll to 72.” Los Angeles Times 12-20-1995. Accessed 3-7-2016 at: http://articles.latimes.com/1995-12-20/news/mn-16032_1_quake-death-toll

 

Seattle Times, WA. “The 47 Quake-Related Fatalities Confirmed so Far.” 1-20-1994. Accessed 3-8-2016: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940120&slug=1890733

 

United States Geological Survey. Deaths in the United States from Earthquakes (Website). July 16, 2008 update. Accessed at: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/us_deaths.php

 

United States Geological Survey. Historic Earthquakes: Northridge, California, 1994 01 17, 12:30:55 UTC (local time: 4:30 a.m.), Magnitude 6.7. October 26, 2009 modification. Accessed at: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1994_01_17.php

 

United States Geological Survey, Caltech, USGS and the Earthquake Country Alliance. Northridge Earthquake 10^th Anniversary, January 17, 2004 (Learning from the Past; Planning for the Future). Accessed 3-7-2016 at: http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/info/nr10/

 

United States Geological Survey. Significant Earthquakes of the World. “1994.” U.S. Dept. of the Interior, USGS, Earthquake Hazards Program, 10-30-2012 modification. Accessed 3-7-2016 at: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/significant/sig_1994.php

 

United States Geological Survey. USGS Response to an Urban Earthquake: Northridge `94 (Open-File Report 96-263). USGS, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1-10-2013 modification. Accessed 3-7-2016 at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/ofr-96-0263/

 

 

 

[1] Durkin writes that “The Northridge earthquake was directly or indirectly responsible for at least 72 fatalities…” and notes that number again at several locations, including “Table 1. Fatalities by structural type and other causes.” However, a tally of the numbers in the table comes to 71, not 72. The location of the apparent addition error is in the “Other Causes” section of the table which lists six different causes (falls/5 deaths, automobile accidents/3, fire/1, suicide/1, exposure/2, and heart attacks/30) and shows the number “43” under the tabulation line. However these figures add to 42, not 43. If one adds the 22 deaths shown under the “Structural Failure” heading, and 7 under “Nonstructural Elements/Contents” heading, then one gets 71. Thus either the number 72 is incorrect and should be 71, or one death was left out of the “Other Causes” heading, which, if included, would account for 43 deaths. Thus, not knowing which is the case we use a range of 71-72,

[2] Cites study recently released by California Division of Mines and Geology, by Michael E. Durkin.

[3] Relies on Durkin for fatality numbers.

[4] “Within the affected region, 57 people were killed, more than 9,000 people were injured, and 20,000 people were displaced from their homes.” (p. 4.)

[5] Durkin and Associates. “Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Con. On Earthquake Eng., 1996.

[6] Durkin and Associates. “Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Con. On Earthquake Eng., 1996.

[7] Durkin in Reich, Kenneth. “Study Raises Northridge Quake Death Toll to 72,” Los Angeles Times, 12-20-1995

[8] Durkin and Associates (“Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Conf. On Earthquake Eng., 1996) notes this as a death due to “smoke inhalation when…mobile home was knocked off support jacks by the earthquake which ruptured a gas line and started fire.”

[9] Writes that the 30 fatal heart attacks were “classified by the Coroner’s office as indirectly earthquake-related.”

[10] “One hospital inpatient and two at home users succumbed when their respirators lost power and stopped.”

[11] Seattle Times, WA. “The 47 Quake-Related Fatalities Confirmed so Far.” 1-20-1994.

[12] Durkin. “Casualty Patterns in the 1994 Northridge…Earthquake.” 11^th World Con. On Earthquake Eng., 1996. Durkin does not identify the officer or the exchange name, writing “a policeman perished when he drove his motorcycle off the end of a collapsed freeway overpass.” Name is from Ayres, B. Drummond, Jr. “The Earthquake: In City of Motorcycle-Cop Mystique, an Officer, and Quake Victim, is Laid to Rest.” New York Times, 1-25-1994.

[13] Durkin and Associates. “Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Con. On Earthquake Eng., 1996. Notes that all fatalities were on the first of three floors when “Twenty-six of the thirty-six ground floor apartments collapsed completely.” Even so there were some survivors on the collapsed section of the first floor.

[14] Durkin and Associates. “Casualty Patterns…Northridge…” 11^th World Con. On Earthquake Eng., 1996.

[15] Seattle Times, WA. “The 47 Quake-Related Fatalities Confirmed so Far.” 1-20-1994.

[16] “The unofficial death toll from the Jan. 17 earthquake climbed to 61 Tuesday. The Los Angeles County coroner is reporting 57 quake deaths. The San Bernardino County coroner has been reporting one. Hospital officials have confirmed three [LA] County deaths for The Associated Press, but those have yet to be relayed to the coroner.”

[17] Appears to be reference to death, noted by Dewey of the USGS, of a woman who “died when, running to protect her baby, she fell and hit her head on her baby’s crib.”

[18] Seattle Times attributes cause of death as a fall down stairs. NYT has it as “head trauma and a possible heart attack at hospital.” (NYT, “The Earthquake; 41 Victims Identified by Coroner.” 1-21-1994.)

—  142  AP. “Cold begins to loosen its grip on eastern…U.S.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, 1-22-1994, 1.[1]

—>130  Associated Press. “Cold wave easing to a ripple.” Kokomo Tribune, IN, 1-21-1994, p. 5.

—  113  AP. “Weather claims more than 100 lives.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-21-1994, p. 1.

—  110  Blanchard tally of State breakouts using highest number of fatalities reported for State.

—  >92  AP. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.[2]

—  >79  Petterson (Associated Press). “Coldest Cold Hits Midwest, East,” 1-20-1994, p. 5.[3]

—    78  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts (thus allowing one to count individual deaths).[4]

—  >58  AP. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

—  >25  AP. “Blizzard sweeps eastward; arctic cold follows.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, 1-18-1994.

 

Summary of Fatalities by State

 

Alabama                     (   1)

District of Columbia (   2)   

Georgia                      (   7)

Illinois                         (   3)

Indiana                       (   8)

Iowa                            (   2)

Kentucky                   (   6)

Maine                         (   3)

Maryland                   (   2)

Massachusetts           (   1)

Michigan                    (   2)

Minnesota                  (   1)

Missouri                     (   2)

New Hampshire         (   1)

New Jersey                 (   2)

New York                   (3-5)

North Carolina          ( 10)

Ohio                            ( 16)

Oklahoma                  (   2)

Pennsylvania              (   9)

South Carolina          (   5)

Tennessee                   (   7)

Virginia                      (   3)

West Virginia            (   4)

Wisconsin                   (   6)

Breakout by States (where identified):

 

Alabama                     (  1)

— 1  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 1  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

 

District of Columbia (  2)

–2  Jan 14-15. Exposure; homeless men “after being kicked out of shelters for being disruptive.”[5]

 

Georgia                      (  7)

— 7  AP. “Blizzard sweeps eastward…” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-18-1994, p. A8.

— 7  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

— 7  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 3  State. AP. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3.

 

Illinois                         (  3)

—  4  Chicago, Jan 14. Space heaters cause apartment fire after gas heat had been turned off .[6]

–~3  State, by Jan 14. “The cold was blamed for several deaths [we convert into 3] in Chicago…”[7]

—  3  State. Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

—  2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

—  2  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

—  2  AP. “Blizzard sweeps eastward…” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-18-1994, p. A8.

Breakout of fatalities by locality (where noted):

—  1  Chicago, Jan 14. Apartment where gas/electricity had been turned off; male, 79, frozen.[8]

—  1  Elgin, Cook Co., Jan 18. Male, low 80s, with Alzheimer’s wandered out of family home.[9]

—  1  Hazel Crest, Cook Co., Jan 17. Male, 37, found partially frozen outside office building.[10]

 

Indiana                       (  8)

—  8  State. Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

—  5  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

—  5  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

—>5  Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN. “Indiana experiences coldest day ever.” 1-20-1994, p. D4.

—  4  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

—>3  AP. “Record-breaking temperatures blamed in 3 deaths across state.” Herald, IN, 1-19-1994, D5.

—  2  AP. “Blizzard sweeps eastward…” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-18-1994, p. A8.

Breakout of fatalities by locality (where noted):

— 1  Knox County, Vincennes, Jan 17. James Lance, 56, collapsed while shoveling snow.[11]

— 1  Marion County, Indianapolis, Jan 17-19. Donald Baxter, 73, after shoveling snow.[12]

— 1  Marion County, Indianapolis, Jan 17. Luther Brown, 77, collapsed while shoveling snow.[13]

— 1  Marion Co., Indianapolis, Jan 19. Exposure; T. Louise Cantrall, 82, after falling outside home.[14]

— 1  Porter County, Valparaiso, Jan 17. John Gelon, 61, collapsed while shoveling snow.[15]

— 3  Vanderburgh County, Jan 14-21. NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, V. 36, N. 1, Jan 1994, p. 19.

–1  Evansville, Jan 16 (found). Hypothermia; female, 79, home with broken windows.[16]

–1  Exposure; male, 77, working on his farm.

–1  Froze; male, 46, after passing out in his car.

 

Iowa                            (  2)

— 2  State. AP. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3.

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 2  State. Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

— 1  AP. “Blizzard sweeps eastward…” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-18-1994, p. A8.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout by locality.

— 1  Boone, Jan 14. Exposure; elderly female; front steps of her home. Storm Data, 36/1, p. 20.

— 1  Eagle Grove, Wright Co., Jan 16. Howard Egemo, 80, with Alzheimer’s, wandered out.[17]

 

Kentucky                   (  6)

— 6  AP. “Traffic creeps, crawls toward normal.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-21-1994, p. 1.[18]

— 6  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

— 5  AP. “Getting ready for the rush.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-20-1994, p. 1.

— 5  State. Doina Chiacu/AP. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 3  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

— 2  AP. “Blizzard sweeps eastward…” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-18-1994, p. A8.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout of fatalities by locality (where noted):

— 1  Casey County, ~Jan 20. Heart attack, male, 62, running in deep snow, -27°, house fire.[19]

— 1  Grant County, Jan 17. Roy Gilbert, 54; heart attack after leaving his snow-mired car.[20]

— 1  Louisville, Jan 19. James Hyberger, 72, “froze to death at home.”[21]

— 1  Louisville, Jan 19. Thelma Baete, 89, found dead sitting next to a space heater; cold home.[22]

— 1  Oakland, Jan 17. James A. Stephens, 62; heart attack after pushing his car in the snow.[23]

— 1  Upton, LaRue County, Jan 17. Cecil Daughtery, 62, when his farm tractor overturned.[24]

 

Maine                         (  3)

–3  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

–3  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

–2  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

–0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout by locality:

–1  Vassalboro area, Jan 13 night. Exposure; female, walking through woods; car stuck in snow.[25]

 

Maryland                   (  2)

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 2  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

 

Massachusetts           (  1)

— 1  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

— 1  Worcester, Jan 15-16; Female, 69, on neighbor’s doorstep, where she went for help.[26]

 

Michigan                    (  2)

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 2  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout by locality:

— 1  Detroit (western), Jan 18. Female, 78, found frozen to death in front of her home.[27]

— 1  Kalamazoo, Jan 18. Male, 34, lost control of car on ice and slid into another car.[28]

 

Minnesota                  (  1)

— 1  St. Paul suburb, Jan 18. Exposure/hypothermia; female, 69, after she fell outdoors.[29]

 

Missouri                     (  2)

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 2  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

 

New Hampshire         (  1)

— 1  State. AP. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3.

— 1  State. Doina Chiacu/AP. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout by locality:

— 1  Mt. Jefferson, Jan 15. Exposure to extreme wind/cold; male hiker, 20. Storm Data, 36/1, 35.[30]

 

New Jersey                 (  2)

— 2  State. AP. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3.

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 0  State. National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

— 1  Newark, ~Jan 15-16. Male, “whose unheated apartment dropped to 36 degrees.”[31]

 

New York                   (  5)

—   5  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

—   5  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

–3-5  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

—   4  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

—   1  NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 38.

Breakout by locality were noted:

— 2? Massena, St. Lawrence Co., Jan 18. “The extreme cold may have led to a furnace fire.”[32]

— 1  Mount Vernon, Jan 16. Homeless man, outdoors in subzero temperatures.[33]

— 1  Patterson, Jan 15. Male, 35, drove car into snowbank; sought help at house but was turned away.[34]

— 1  Woodstock, Jan 17. Ann Hubbard, 87, locked herself out of home; froze on front porch.[35]

 

North Carolina          (10)

–10  State. Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

—  9  State. Doina Chiacu/AP. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

—  9  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

—  9  National Climatic Data Center, NOAA Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994, p. 40.

—  2  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

Breakout by locality and/or cause:

— 2  Caswell County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 40.

— 2  Guilford County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 40.

— 2  Robeson County, Jan 15-17. Hypothermia. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 40.

— 1  Robeson County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 40.

— 1  Rockingham County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 40.

— 1  Wayne County, Jan 15-17. Hypothermia. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 40.

— 1  Location not noted. Fire; male, using blowtorch to try to thaw frozen water pipes. PI.[36]

 

Ohio                            (16)

–16  Blanchard tally.[37]

–15  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

–15  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

–15  Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH. “That cheer? It’s mom…schools reopen…” 1-21-1994, 4.[38]

–11  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

–10  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

—  0  National Climatic Data Center, NOAA Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout by locality:

— 1  Chester, Geauga County, Jan 17-21. Exposure; female, 97, found dead at her mailbox.[39]

— 1  Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Jan 17-21. Hypothermia; female, 53.[40]

— 1  Cleveland, Jan 17-21. Hypothermia; male, homeless.[41]

— 1  Dayton, Jan 17-18. “newborn boy in Dayton, Ohio, froze to death in [his]…home…” WP.[42]

— 1  Dayton area, Jan 19. Minn. male “who died…in a weather-related traffic accident.”[43]

— 1  Elyria, Jan 16-17. Apparent heart attack; male, 74, found dead in snowdrift in his driveway.[44]

— 1  Geauga Co., Jan 16-17. Recreational & storage facilities collapse; snow weight; teen boys.[45]

— 1  Interstate 90. Male, 23, from Cleveland in 12-vehicle collision on icy I-90. AP.[46]

— 1  Middlefield, Geauga Co., Jan 17. Boy, 14, crushed when snow-covered roof collapsed.[47]

— 1  Scioto County, Jan 17 (found). Elderly man (80s) found frozen to death in his home.[48]

— 1  Townsend Twp., Ohio Turnpike (I-80), Sandusky Co. Male, 21, lost control of vehicle, icy road.[49]

 

Oklahoma                  (  2)

— 2  State. AP. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3.

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 2  Vehicular, ~Jan 15-16.[50]

 

Pennsylvania              (  9)

— 9  State. Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

— 6  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 6  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

— 3  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

— 3  AP. “Blizzard sweeps eastward…” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-18-1994, p. A8.

— 2  State. AP. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3.

Breakouts by locality:

— 1  Allegheny Co., West Mifflin, Jan 18. Female, 81, froze to death outdoors retrieving mail.[51]

— 1  Columbia County, Beaver Township, ~Jan 16. Exposure; male, 43, trying to walk home.[52]

— 1  Delaware Co., Upper Darby Township (W. Philly). Male, 68, collapsed, shoveling snow.[53]

— 1  Delaware Co., Upper Darby, Drexel Hill. Male (Michael Gillane), 66, using snow blower.[54]

— 1  Elk County, Saint Marys, Jan 23. Roof collapse from heavy previous snow.[55]

— 1  Erie County, Jan 14-21. Hypothermia; female, 58, in her home. Storm Data, 36/1, p. 44.[56]

— 1  Lawrence County, New Castle, Jan 14-20. Female, 70, found frozen on her porch.[57]

— 2  Schuylkill County, Shenandoah, Jan 16-22. CO poisoning, males, 65, 73; vehicular.[58]

 

South Carolina          (  5)

— 5  Blanchard tally of NCDC Storm Data notations, p. 18.

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 2  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

Breakout of fatalities by locality:

— 1  Anderson Co., Jan 17. Hypothermia; female, 48, under porch; apparently locked herself out.[59]

— 1  Charleston Co., Awendaw, Jan 16. Hypothermia; male, outside after truck bogged down.[60]

— 1  Colleton County, Jan 23. Cold exposure; female, 85. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, p. 48.

— 1  Pickens County, Jan 25. Cold exposure, male, 69. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, p. 48.

— 1  Spartanburg County, Jan 22. Cold exposure, female, 84. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, p. 48.

 

Tennessee                   (  7)

— 7  State. Assoc. Press/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 7  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

— 1  State. AP. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3.

— 0  National Climatic Data Center, NOAA Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout by locality (where noted):

— 1  Nashville, ~Jan 15-16. Homeless man.[61]

 

Virginia                      (  3)

—  3  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

—  3  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

–“3” Fires caused by “improper use of space heaters and fuel-burning stoves, authorities said.”[62]

 

West Virginia            (  4)

— 4  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

— 4  National Climatic Data Center, NOAA Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

— 2  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 2  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

— 1  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

Breakout of fatalities by locality:

— 2  Calhoun County, Jan 18-19. Carbon monoxide poisoning, overworked furnace; couple.[63]

— 1  Monroe Co., Jan 17. Female, 45, drowned; vehicle slid on ice, overturned into Rick Creek.[64]

— 1  Wood County, Jan 18-19. Male, 46, found frozen in his vehicle stuck in the snow.[65]

 

Wisconsin                   (  6)

— 6  State. AP/Doina Chiacu. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.

— 6  Assoc. Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3.

— 4  Assoc. Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3.

— 2  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

— 0  National Climatic Data Center, NOAA Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994.

Breakout by localities (where noted):

— 1  Farmington, Jefferson Co., Jan 16 (found). Hypothermia; male, 55, in unheated house.[66]

— 1  Northern WI, Jan 18. Female, 74; walking for help after car slid into ditch; -20° F. temp.[67]

 

Causes of Death (where specifically noted):

 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning           (  4)

–2  PA, Schuylkill County, Shenandoah, Jan 16-22. CO poisoning, males, 65, 73; vehicular.

–2  WV, Calhoun County, Jan 18-19. Carbon monoxide poisoning, overworked furnace; couple.

 

Fires                                                    (  6)

–2  NY, Massena, St. Lawrence Co., Jan 18. “The extreme cold may have led to a furnace fire.”

–1  NC, Location not noted. Fire; male, using blowtorch to try to thaw frozen water pipes.

–3  VA. Fires caused by improper use of space heaters and fuel-burning stoves.[68]

 

Heart Attacks/Cardiac Arrest         (10)

–1  IN, Knox County, Vincennes, Jan 17. Male, 56, collapsed while shoveling snow.

–1  IN, Marion County, Indianapolis, Jan 17-19. Male, 73, after shoveling snow.

–1  IN, Marion County, Indianapolis, Jan 17. Male, 77, collapsed while shoveling snow.

–1  IN, Porter County, Valparaiso, Jan 17. Male, 61, collapsed while shoveling snow.

–1  KY, Casey County, ~Jan 20. Heart attack, male, 62, running in deep snow, -27°, house fire.

–1  KY, Grant County, Jan 17. Male, 54; heart attack after leaving his snow-mired car.

–1  KY, Oakland, Jan 17. Male, 62; heart attack after pushing his car in the snow.

–1  OH, Elyria, Jan 16-17. Apparent heart attack; male, 74, buried in snowdrift in his driveway.

–1  PA, Delaware Co., Upper Darby Township. Male, 68, collapsed, shoveling snow.

–1  PA, Delaware Co., Upper Darby, Drexel Hill. Male, 66, using snow blower.

 

Hypothermia                                      (49)

–2  DC, Jan 14-15. Homeless men “after being kicked out of shelters for being disruptive.”[69]

–1  IL, Chicago, Jan 14. Apartment where gas/electricity had been turned off; male, 79, frozen.

–1  IL, Elgin, Cook Co., Jan 18. Male, 80s, with Alzheimer’s wandered out of family home.

–1  IL, Hazel Crest, Cook Co., Jan 17. Male, 37, found partially frozen outside office building.

–1  IN, Marion Co., Indianapolis, Jan 19. Exposure; female, 82, after falling outside home.

–1  IN, Vanderburgh Co., Evansville, Jan 16 (found). Female, 79, home with broken windows.

–1  IN, Vanderburgh County. Exposure; male, 77, working on his farm.

–1  IN, Vanderburgh County. Froze; male, 46, after passing out in his car.

–1  IA, Boone, Jan 14. Exposure; elderly female; front steps of her home.

–1  IA, Eagle Grove, Wright Co., Jan 16. Male, 80, with Alzheimer’s, wandered outside home.

–1  KY, Louisville, Jan 19. Male, 72, “froze to death at home.”

–1  KY, Louisville, Jan 19. Female, 89, found dead sitting next to a space heater in cold home.

–1  ME, Vassalboro area, Jan 13 night. Female, walking through woods after car stuck in snow.

–1  MA, Worcester, Jan 15-16; Female, 69, on neighbor’s doorstep, where she went for help.

–1  MI, Detroit (western), Jan 18. Female, 78, found frozen to death in front of her home.

–1  MN, St. Paul suburb, Jan 18. Exposure/hypothermia; female, 69, after she fell outdoors.

–1  NH, Mt. Jefferson, Jan 15. Exposure to extreme wind/cold; male hiker, 20.

–1  NJ, Newark, ~Jan 15-16. Male, “whose unheated apartment dropped to 36 degrees.”

–1  NY, Mount Vernon, Jan 16. Homeless man, outdoors in subzero temperatures.

–1  NY, Patterson, Jan 15. Male, 35, drove car into snowbank; sought help at house but turned away.

–1  NY, Woodstock, Jan 17. Ann Hubbard, 87, locked herself out of home; froze on front porch.

–2  NC, Caswell County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia.

–2  NC, Guilford County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia.

–2  NC, Robeson County, Jan 15-17. Hypothermia.

–1  NC, Robeson County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia.

–1  NC, Rockingham County, Jan 19-22. Hypothermia.

–1  NC, Wayne County, Jan 15-17. Hypothermia.

–1  OH, Chester, Geauga County, Jan 17-21. Exposure; female, 97, found dead at her mailbox.

–1  OH, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Jan 17-21. Hypothermia; female, 53.

–1  OH, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Jan 17-21. Hypothermia; male, homeless.

–1  OH, Dayton, Jan 17-18. “newborn boy in Dayton, Ohio, froze to death in [his]…home…”

–1  OH, Scioto County, Jan 17 (found). Elderly man (80s) found frozen to death in his home.

–1  PA, Allegheny Co., West Mifflin, Jan 18. Female, 81, fell and froze outdoors retrieving mail.

–1  PA, Columbia County, Beaver Township, ~Jan 16. Exposure; male, 43, trying to walk home.

–1  PA, Erie County, Jan 14-21. Hyperthermia; female, 58, in her home.

–1  PA, Lawrence County, New Castle, Jan 14-20. Female, 70, found frozen on her porch.

–1  SC, Anderson Co., Jan 17. Female, 48, under porch; apparently locked herself out of home.

–1  SC, Charleston Co., Awendaw, Jan 16. Hypothermia; male, outside after truck bogged down

–1  SC, Colleton County, Jan 23. Cold exposure; female, 85.

–1  SC, Pickens County, Jan 25. Cold exposure, male, 69.

–1  SC, Spartanburg County, Jan 22. Cold exposure, female, 84.

–1  TN, Nashville, ~Jan 15-16. Homeless man.

–1  WV, Wood County, Jan 18-19. Male, 46, found frozen in his vehicle stuck in the snow.

–1  WI, Farmington, Jefferson Co., Jan 16 (found). Hypothermia; male, 55, in unheated house.

–1  WI, northern, Jan 18. Female, 74; walking for help after car slid into ditch; -20° F. temp.

 

Structural Collapse from Snow Weight      (  3)

–1  OH, Middlefield, Jan 17. Boy, 14, crushed when snow-covered roof collapsed on him.

–1  OH, Geauga Co., Jan 16-17. Recreational & storage facilities collapse; snow weight; teen boys.[70]

–1  PA, Elk County, Saint Marys, Jan 23. Roof collapse from heavy snow accumulation.

 

Vehicular/Traffic Accidents                         (  7)

–1  MI, Kalamazoo, Jan 18. Male, 34, lost control of car on ice and slid into another car.

–1  OH, Dayton area, Jan 19. Minn. male “who died…in a weather-related traffic accident.”

–1  OH, Interstate 90. Male, 23, from Cleveland in 12-vehicle collision on icy I-90.

–1  OH, Townsend Twp., OH Turnpike (I-80), Sandusky Co. Male, 21, lost control on icy road.

–2  OK, Vehicular, ~Jan 15-16.

–1  WV, Monroe Co., Jan 17. Female, 45, drowned; vehicle slid on ice into Rick Creek.

 

Unclear                                                           (  1)

–1  KY, Upton, LaRue County, Jan 17. Male, 62, when his farm tractor overturned.

 

General Narrative Information

 

AP, Jan 18: “Arctic air with wind chills up to 65 below zero swept across the central and eastern United States today in the wake of a blizzard that dumped up to 2½  feet of snow and paralyzed much of the Ohio Valley.  Kentucky and Ohio were especially hard hit by snow and ice Monday that shut down highways, closed businesses and knocked out power.  National Guardsmen were called out in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia to clear roads and help people dig out….

 

“Today’s numbing blast was the latest in a series of brutal fronts from Canada that have tormented the East in the past week.

 

“At least 14 deaths have been blamed on snow, ice and cold in the past four days. Also, a 14-year-old boy was killed Monday when a snow-covered roof collapsed on him as he tried to climb out of an apartment complex swimming pool in Middlefield, Ohio.

 

“The temperature dropped to 20 below in parts of Minnesota early today and into the single digits across much of the Ohio Valley. Wind chills of minus 65 were reported in Mason City, Iowa. The front was expected to reach the Northeast by this afternoon. Sub-zero temperatures were expected from the Plains to the Northeast and as far south as the Gulf Coast.

 

“Schools closed in several states because of the cold and ice. “When it gets this cold, it is just too dangerous,” said Robert Hanson, school superintendent in Rhinelander, Wis. “If in this weather one of the buses goes down, you don’t have much time to get those 60 to 70 kids somewhere with heat.”

 

“The snow tapered off across most of the East early today, turning into freezing rain in places. Near Portland, Maine, 40 miles of interstate highway were closed because of ice.

 

“Icy, snowy roads gave motorists trouble Monday from Indiana to Maryland. Numerous accidents were reported, including 55 in Maine and 80 in Georgia….

 

“The Louisville, Ky., area, got a record 19 inches of snow and up to 20,000 people lost power. People without electricity were urged to go to shelters as the dangerous cold moved in. Traffic was at a standstill throughout most of the area, and even some snowplows got stuck.”  (Associated Press. “Arctic Chill Freezes East,” Rome News-Tribune, GA, 1-18-1994, p. 7A.)

 

AP/Petterson, Jan 20: “At least 79 deaths have been blamed on the latest barrage of cold and snow over a six-day period beginning Friday.  Most of the victims were killed on icy roads or had heart attacks shoveling snow.  Some froze to death.” (Petterson (AP). “Coldest Cold Hits Midwest, East,” 1-20-1994.)

 

WP, Jan 20: “….At least 87 deaths have been blamed on the latest six-day barrage of cold and snow that began Friday. Most of the victims were killed on icy roads or had heart attacks shoveling snow. But some, including two elderly people in Louisville and a newborn boy in Dayton, Ohio, froze to death in their homes….” (Washington Post. “Eastern U.S. Enshrouded in Cold, Ice; 87 Deaths Blamed on Six-Day Siege.” 1-20-1994.)

 

AP, Jan 21: “The weather was blamed for 15 deaths in Ohio; nine in North Carolina; seven each in Georgia and Tennessee; six in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania; five each in Indiana, Kentucky and New York; three each in Virginia and Maine; two each in Iowa, South Carolina, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Maryland; and one each in Alabama, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.” (Chiacu, Doina/AP. “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994.)

Massachusetts

 

“In Worcester, Mass., 69-year-old Stella Bilzerian couldn’t get into her house because the lock was frozen in the 5-degree weather and died after her neighbor was too afraid to answer a knock at the door.”

Pennsylvania

 

“Three weather-related deaths were reported across Pennsylvania….In Erie, a woman who had been wearing several jackets to keep warm in a house with no heat, was found dead.  Erie County Coroner Merle Wood said Carol Morris, 58, may have died of hypothermia….In suburban Philadelphia, Ted Capaldi, 68, collapsed while shoveling snow in front of his Upper Darby home.  Michael Gillane, 66 of Drexel Hill, died while using his snow blower.” (Coates (AP), 1-19-1994.)

 

AP, Jan 24. “Philadelphia (AP)….The snow and ice continued to claim victims.  Snow stuck in auto exhaust pipes caused two Schuylkill County men to die of carbon monoxide poisoning last week.  John Fonslick, 65, and Walther J. Sadusky, 73, both of Shenandoah, died because they failed to remove snow from the tailpipes, authorities said….And Doyle Hauser, 43, died of exposure while trying to walk home after getting into a car accident near his Columbia County home, state police said.  Hauser’s body was found Saturday near his Beaver Township home, nearly a week after his family reported him missing.” (Associated Press. “Thaw Brings New Headaches,” Valley Independent (Monessen, PA), 1-24-1994, p. 5.)

 

Sources

 

Aiken Standard, SC. “Weather Teasing Continues.” 1-18-1994, p. 5A. Accessed 3-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=253405280&sterm=cold

 

Associated Press. “An Arctic blast. Ohio residents are so cold it hurts.” Sandusky Register, OH, 1-19-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-4-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=228990002&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Arctic Chill Freezes East,” Rome News-Tribune, GA, 1-18-1994, p. 7A. Accessed 3-1-2016 at: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19940118&id=ELRMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GTMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3191,4440603&hl=en

 

Associated Press. “Arctic chill freezes most of nation.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL. 1-18-1994, A3. Accessed 3-2-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=116717677&sterm

 

Associated Press (Michael Warren). “`Awful’ cold grips much of U.S.” Garden City Telegram, KS, 1-15-1994, p. 2. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=135841667&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Blizzard sweeps eastward; arctic cold follows.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-18-1994, p. A8. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=27954136&sterm=cold+snow

 

Associated Press. “Cold begins to loosen its grip on eastern and central U.S.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY, 1-22-1994, 1. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=27954607&sterm=cold+snow

 

Associated Press. “Cold has taken 66 lives.” Daily Globe, Ironwood, MI, 1-19-1994, p. 6. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=81836158&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Cold wave easing to a ripple.” Kokomo Tribune, IN, 1-21-1994, p. 5. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=115589280&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Death toll rises from record cold.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-19-1994, p. 2. Accessed 3-3-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=294213925&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Eagle Grove man dies in cold.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1-17-1994, 6A. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=262311774&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Frigid day means more danger.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-18-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=223874952&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Frigid temps move east.” Frederick Post, MD, 1-15-1994, p. A2. Accessed 3-3-2014 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=19649198&sterm=cold+snow

 

Associated Press. “Getting ready for the rush.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-20-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=223873907&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Ice cold: Death toll rises to 58.” The Telegraph, Alton, IL, 1-19-1994, A3. Accessed 3-2-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=254756482&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Local power demands being met.” Greensburg Daily News, 1-20-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=296764608&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Mount Jefferson. Missing hiker found dead of exposure.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-17-1004, p. 6. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=294213875&sterm=cold+snow

 

Associated Press. “Ohio staggers in deep snow, cold.” Sandusky Register, OH, 1-18-1994, A-6. Accessed 3-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=228989975&sterm

 

Associated Press. “Power cutbacks across East.” The Capital, Annapolis, MD, 1-20-1994, A3. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=26346039&sterm

 

Associated Press, South Bend, Ind. “Record-breaking temperatures blamed in 3 deaths across state.” Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN, 1-19-1994, D5. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=256968128&sterm=cold+snow

 

Associated Press. “Record lows leave folks shivering; business creeping.” Marshall Chronicle, MI, 1-20-1994, p. 3. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=207509841&sterm=cold+snow

 

Associated Press. “Snow, cold shut down much of Midwest, East and South.” Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN, 1-18-1994, A3. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=256968084&sterm=cold+snow

 

Associated Press. “Thaw Brings New Headaches,” Valley Independent, Monessen, PA. 1-24-1994, p. 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=24279037

 

Associated Press. “Traffic creeps, crawls toward normal.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-21-1994, 1. Accessed 3-4-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=223873917&sterm

 

Associated Press (Michael Bass). “Weather claims more than 100 lives.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-21-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=294214016&sterm=nashua

 

Associated Press (Roger Petterson). “Winter storm slams eastern United States.” The Telegraph, Nashua NH, 1-18-1994, p. 3. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=294213898&sterm=cold+snow

 

Chiacu, Doina (AP). “Death Toll Rising as Cold Spell Continues,” 1-21-1994. Del Rio News-Herald (TX), p. 6. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=111873631

 

Chronicle-Telegram (Jack Lucentini and Julie Wallace), Elyria, OH. “All-Time Low: -22!” 1-19-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-4-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=8043859&sterm

 

Chronicle-Telegram (Madelyn Dinnerstein and John Kohlstrand), Elyria, OH). “That cheer? It’s mom, as schools reopen, at last.” 1-21-1994, pp. 1 and 4. Accessed 3-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=8044585&sterm=cold+snow

 

Coates, Claudia (Assoc. Press). “Farmers, Motorists, Students Battle Subzero Temperatures,”  Gettysburg Times, 1-19-1994, p. 3. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=766725

 

Daily Herald (Anne Gasior and Jeff Hodson), Arlington Heights, IL. “In the icy grip of the Siberian Express, DuPage copes.” 1-19-1994, p. 4. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=20607444&sterm=cold

 

Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL. “Well, it’s most definitely winter.” 1-15-1994, Section 1, p. 8. Accessed 3-1-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=263340306&sterm

 

Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA. “Heating-Related Fire Deaths Mount,” 1-17-1994, p. 7. Accessed 3-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=150571393&sterm

 

Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN. “Indiana experiences coldest day ever.” 1-20-1994, p. D4. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=183665301&sterm

 

Lowell Sun, MA. “Record cold becomes a nationwide killer (cont. from p. 1.),” 1-21-1994, p. 4. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=293593335&sterm

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994. Asheville, NC: NCDC NOAA. Accessed 3-1-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-C0489524-A2A6-4470-BD64-997C0FEA72FB.pdf

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data (Late Reports from Jan), Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994. Asheville, NC: NCDC NOAA. Accessed 3-1-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-BC0A4775-3147-4DBF-8D2C-7EFCEA5FD483.pdf

 

Orland Park Star, IL. “Arctic blast breaks weather records, leaves us reeling.” 1-20-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-2-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=286592225&sterm

 

Petterson, Roger (Associated Press). “Coldest Cold Hits Midwest, East.” Gettysburg Times, PA, 1-20-1994.

 

Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “2 Deaths Reported as Record Cold Blast Grips Indiana.” 1-18-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=109402698&sterm

 

Philadelphia Inquirer. “Frigid Weather Keeps a Grip on the East. The Snow and Cold Continued to Disrupt Daily Routines; The Death Toll Rose to 130.” 1-21-1994. Accessed 3-2-2016: http://articles.philly.com/1994-01-21/news/25825704_1_shower-mandatory-water-restriction-icy-weather

 

Sandusky Register, OH. “Fremont. Speed, icy road cause death.” 1-18-1994, A9. Accessed 3-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=228989960&sterm=cold+snow

 

Sandusky Register (Ryan DuBosar), OH. “VOA provides shelter from cold.” 1-16-1994, pp. A1-A2. Accessed 3-4-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=228989888&sterm

 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Biting cold howls across much of U.S.” 1-19-1994, A4. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=27954252&sterm

 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Watertown, at 43 below zero, is coldest spot in Lower 48” (continued from A1. 1-17-1994, A5. Accessed 3-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=28605767&sterm=cold+snow

 

Washington Post. “Eastern U.S. Enshrouded in Cold, Ice; 87 Deaths Blamed on Six-Day Siege.” 1-20-1994. Accessed 3-1-2016 at: https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-871836.html

 

Wisconsin State Journal/AP, Madison. “Lingering cold wave deepens.” 1-18-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=164431308&sterm

 

Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Regional. Hypothermia death.” 1-19-1994, p. 20. Accessed 3-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=162230008&sterm=cold

 

 

[1] Highlighting in yellow and not using as tally of deaths because we have not been able to substantiate these numbers. Even using the highest number of fatalities reported as extreme cold/snow/winter weather-related deaths within individual states and then tallying the number we show only 108.

[2] “The cold spell has been blamed for at least 92 deaths since Friday [Jan 14].”

[3] “At least 79 deaths have been blamed on the latest barrage of cold and snow over a six-day period beginning Friday. Most of the victims were killed on icy roads or had heart attacks shoveling snow. Some froze to death.”

[4] Differs from State tally of 108 in that we only count individualized deaths – those in which some degree of detail has been provided other than a statement that “X” number of people died a weather-related death in a given State.

[5] Sandusky Register (Ryan DuBosar), OH. “VOA provides shelter from cold.” 1-16-1994, pp. A1-A2. The dates are ours based on statement that the Associated Press reported deaths of two homeless men in DC “earlier in the week.” This statement appears in the Sunday, January 16 edition of The Register.

[6] “…several deaths were attributed to the cold. Four people were killed in a fire in a Chicago apartment….” (Associated Press. “Frigid temps move east.” Frederick Post, MD, 1-15-1994, p. A2.) Highlighted in yellow to denote we are not including in tally.

[7] Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL. “Well, it’s most definitely winter.” 1-15-1994, Section 1, p. 8.

[8] Associated Press (Michael Warren). “`Awful’ cold grips much of U.S.” Garden City Telegram, KS, 1-15-1994, p2.

[9] Daily Herald (Gasior/Hodson), Arlington Heights, IL. “In the icy grip of the Siberian Express…” 1-19-1994, p. 4.

[10] Orland Park Star, IL. “Arctic blast breaks weather records, leaves us reeling.” 1-20-1994, p. 1. ID: Willie Pegue.

[11] Associated Press. “Record-breaking temperatures blamed in 3 deaths across state.” Herald, IN, 1-19-1994, D5.

[12] Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN. “Indiana experiences coldest day ever.” 1-20-1994, p. D4.

[13] Associated Press. “Record-breaking temperatures blamed in 3 deaths across state.” Herald, IN, 1-19-1994, D5.

[14] Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN. “Indiana experiences coldest day ever.” 1-20-1994, p. D4.

[15] Associated Press. “Record-breaking temperatures blamed in 3 deaths across state.” Herald, IN, 1-19-1994, D5.

[16] Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN. “Indiana experiences coldest day ever.” 1-20-1994, p. D4. Identifies victim as Marcella Morris, noting her home had heat, but that the broken windows “allowed frigid air to stream in.”

[17] AP. “Eagle Grove man dies in cold.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1-17-1994, 6A. Notes the Alzheimer’s disease sufferer “wandered away from his home early Sunday [about 2 a.m. Jan 16] and died from exposure.”

[18] “So far six deaths have been blamed on the storm, including two elderly Louisville residents who froze to death in their homes.”

[19] AP. “Traffic creeps, crawls toward normal.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-21-1994, p. 1. AP notes: “The winter storm was blamed for another death. A 62-year old dairy farmer died of an apparent heart attack as he tried to get water from a milking parlor to put out a house fire. Casey County Coroner J. C. Atwood said ‘the excitement and extreme weather conditions definitely caused’ Erwin Lutz’ heart attack. Lutz’ water pipes in his home were frozen, Atwood said. Lutz had to run 150 yards in deep snow and minus 27 degree temperatures to try and get water from the milking parlor, the coroner said. So far, six deaths have been blamed on the storm…”

[20] Associated Press. “Frigid day means more danger.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-18-1994, p. 1.

[21] Associated Press. “Getting ready for the rush.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-20-1994, p. 1. Cites Assistant Jefferson County Coroner to effect that the house was so cold “you could see your own breath.”

[22] Associated Press. “Getting ready for the rush.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-20-1994, p. 1.

[23] Associated Press. “Frigid day means more danger.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-18-1994, p. 1.

[24] Associated Press. “Frigid day means more danger.” Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY, 1-18-1994, p. 1. Listed as the first of three deaths blamed on the snow storm in Kentucky.

[25] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 24.

[26] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 25. Newspaper article notes: “In Worcester, Mass., 69-year-old Stella Bilzerian couldn’t get into her house because the lock was frozen in the 5-degree weather and died after her neighbor was too afraid to answer a knock at the door.”

[27] AP. “Record lows leave folks shivering; business creeping.” Marshall Chronicle, MI, 1-20-1994, p. 3. Cites Medical Examiner’s Office spokesperson to effect she “died Tuesday while sweeping snow from her walkway.”

[28] AP. “Record lows leave folks shivering; business creeping.” Marshall Chronicle, MI, 1-20-1994, p. 3. Victim identified as Junior K Wings hockey coach Seven Banonis.

[29] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 30. An AP story notes that “…a Minnesota woman…fell as she stepped outside [minus 18-degrees] to…refill bird feeder…” and was found dead about 90 minutes later. (AP/Michael Bass. “Weather claims more than 100 lives.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-21-1994, p. 7.)

[30] AP article notes his companion walked four miles “in deep snow in wind chills of more than 100 degrees below zero” to Mount Washington Observatory seeking help for his companion Derek Tinkham, 20, of Saunderstown, RI. AP. “Mount Jefferson. Missing hiker found dead of exposure.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-17-1004, p. 6.

[31] Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Watertown, at 43 below zero…coldest…in Lower 48” cont. A1. 1-17-1994, A5.

[32] Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Biting cold howls across much of U.S.” 1-19-1994, A4. The article does not indicate how “the extreme cold” may have led to the furnace fire which led to deaths of two children, 3 and 5.

[33] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 38.

[34] Lowell Sun, MA. “Record cold becomes a nationwide killer (cont. from p. 1.), 1-21-1994, p. 4. Identifies victim as Jeffrey Barrett, whose “body was found in the woods by a rabbit hunter Tuesday night [Jan 18]. Also, AP (Michael Bass). “Weather claims more than 100 lives.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-21-1994, p. 7.

[35] AP (Michael Bass). “Weather claims more than 100 lives.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-21-1994, p. 1. Paper notes the outdoor temp was minus-11 and notes: “Police said Hubbard, who lived alone and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, tried breaking into her one-story house by shattering a front window. ‘She had the strength to break the glass, but she couldn’t push the screen in,’ Police Chief…said. She later slipped on ice and injured her hip while trying to force open the front door with a broomstick.”

[36] Philadelphia Inquirer. “Frigid Weather Keeps a Grip on the East…Death Toll Rose to 130.” 1-21-1994.

[37] Our compilation of 15 weather-related deaths reported by State Hwy Patrol and one weather-related traffic accident reported afterwards by the State Emergency Management Agency.

[38] “The State Highway Patrol said the weather contributed to at least 15 deaths this week [date of article is Friday, Jan 21], including people who died while shoveling snow.” The list did not yet include a Minnesota man who died Wednesday in a weather-related traffic accident near Dayton, according to State Emer. Mgmt. Agency.

[39] NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 64.

[40] NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 64.

[41] NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 64.

[42] Washington Post. “Eastern U.S. Enshrouded in Cold, Ice; 87 Deaths Blamed on Six-Day Siege.” 1-20-1994. Dating is from AP. “Cold has taken 66 lives.” Daily Globe, Ironwood, MI, 1-19-1994, p. 6, which writes some of the “cold snap” victims “froze to death, including a baby born Monday [Jan 17] in an unheated house in Dayton, Ohio, where it was a record 25 below zero Tuesday [Jan 17].” Also: NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 64 (for Jan 17-21 time-frame).

[43] Chronicle-Telegram (Madelyn Dinnerstein and John Kohlstrand), Elyria, OH). “That cheer? It’s mom, as schools reopen, at last.” 1-21-1994, pp. 1 and 4. Cites State Emergency Management Agency for information and note that this death and not yet been added to list of “at least 15 deaths this week” reported by the State Highway Patrol.

[44] Associated Press. “An Arctic blast. Ohio residents are so cold it hurts.” Sandusky Register, OH, 1-19-1994, p. 1. The victim, Michael Gawura, was found Tuesday, Jan 18. Article writes he could have been there since Sunday. Another article notes that when the police found him he was “still clutching a shovel.” Police had been called because a neighbor had not seen the victim recently. (Chronicle-Telegram (Jack Lucentini and Julie Wallace), Elyria, OH. “All-Time Low: -22!” 1-19-1994, p. 1.) Also: NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), 36/2, Feb 1994, p. 64.

[45] NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 64.

[46] Assoc. Press (Michael Warren). “`Awful’ cold grips much of U.S.” Garden City Telegram, KS, 1-15-1994, p2.

[47] NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), 37/2 Feb 1994, p. 64 notes the deaths of two teenage boys in Geauga County  due to structural failures – one when a recreational facility collapsed and another when a storage facility collapsed due to “the accumulated weight of two feet of compacted snow…” Localities are not noted. However, an Associated Press report (“Arctic Chill Freezes East,” Rome News-Tribune, GA, 1-18-1994, p. 7A.) notes the death of a 14-year-old boy due to structural collapse due to snow weight in Middlefield.

[48] NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), 36/2, Feb 1994, p. 64; AP. “Ohio staggers in deep snow, cold.” Sandusky Register, OH, 1-18-1994, A-6.

[49] Sandusky Register, OH. “Fremont. Speed, icy road cause death.” 1-18-1994, A9. Victim identified as Jeffrey Bendekgey of Canton OH, who, according to State highway patrol was driving too fast for icy conditions.

[50] Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Watertown, at 43 below zero…coldest…in Lower 48” cont. A1. 1-17-1994, A5.

[51] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 44. Date is from Philadelphia Inquirer. “Frigid Weather Keeps a Grip on the East…Death Toll Rose to 130.” 1-21-1994. Writes “A Pittsburgh shut-in Natalie Beroscak…ventured outside in slippers on the coldest night of the year. Ignoring her brother’s advice, she retrieved an IRS tax form…from her mailbox, then fell in her driveway 10 feet from an open garage door in the Pittsburgh suburb of West Mifflin. By a neighbor’s count, Beroscak lay for at least 45 minutes in air 5 degrees below zero. She died of hypothermia shortly after she was found early Tuesday evening.”

[52] AP. “Thaw Brings New Headaches,” Valley Independent, Monessen, PA, 1-24-1994, p. 5. Notes: “….Doyle Hauser, 43, died of exposure while trying to walk home after getting into a car accident near his Columbia County home, state police said. Hauser’s body was found Saturday [Jan 22] near his Beaver Township home, nearly a week after his family reported him missing.”

[53] Coates/AP. “Farmers, Motorists, Students Battle Subzero Temperatures,”  Gettysburg Times, 1-19-1994, p. 3.

[54] Coates/AP. “Farmers, Motorists, Students Battle Subzero Temperatures,”  Gettysburg Times, 1-19-1994, p. 3.

[55] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 44.

[56] Coates/AP article notes Carol Morris found dead wearing several jackets to keep warm in a house with no heat.

[57] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 44.

[58] AP. “Thaw Brings New Headaches,” Valley Independent, Monessen, PA, 1-24-1994, p. 5. Notes: “Snow stuck in auto exhaust pipes caused two Schuylkill County men to die of carbon monoxide poisoning last week. John Fonslick, 65, and Walther J. Sadusky, 73, both of Shenandoah, died because they failed to remove snow from the tailpipes, authorities said….”

[59] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 48. Newspaper article identifies the woman as Mary Ann Johnson, 50. (Aiken Standard, SC. “Weather Teasing Continues.” 1-18-1994, p. 5A.)

[60] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 48.

[61] Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Watertown, at 43 below zero…coldest…in Lower 48” cont. A1. 1-17-1994, A5.

[62] Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA. “Heating-Related Fire Deaths Mount,” 1-17-1994, p. 7. We note “3” in attempt to convert “several” to a number. The article reads: “Roanoke – Several people trying to stay warm in the cold weather have died because of improper use of space heaters and fuel-burning stoves, authorities said. In western Virginia, seven people have died over the past two weeks in heating-related fires. Some people are tempted to plug in auxiliary space heaters when temperatures drop into the single digits….”

[63] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 56.

[64] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 55.

[65] NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, p. 56.

[66] Wisconsin State Journal/AP, Madison. “Lingering cold wave deepens.” 1-18-1994, p. 1. Writes “While no deaths had been officially attributed to the bitter cold, which began last week, Jefferson County officials were investigating th death of Lyle Seaborn, 55, of the town of Farmington…found in an unheated house about 5 p.m. Sunday…” A subsequent report cites the Jefferson County Coroner to effect that Mr. Seaborn fell, struck his head on a bathtub and froze to death: “He died of hypothermia because his heater went out.” (Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Regional. Hypothermia death.” 1-19-1994, p. 20.)

[67] AP (Michael Bass). “Weather claims more than 100 lives.” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 1-21-1994, p. 1. Victim identified as Toini Oberg who along with her husband were 500 yards from son-in-laws home. Notes that while she “had undergone heart bypass surgery…her husband was older and frailer and needed a walker.” She didn’t make it.

[68] Some ambiguity here. Newspaper account notes seven deaths in previous two weeks, citing “authorities.” In that other newspaper accounts note three weather-related fatalities for the week under consideration, without further specificity, we use “three” for our count and place under “fires.”

[69] We only have one source (newspaper) for this death.

[70] Two structural failure due to snow-weight deaths of teenage boys in Geauga County are reported in NCDC Storm Data (Late Reports), Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 64. We know that one was in Middlefield and report it separtately.

— 7 Baltimore Sun. “Fatal fires. East Baltimore Fire.” 5-23-2007.
— 6 Baltimore Sun. “Roslynn Glover-Terrell, 28, and 5 children, fire victims.” 1-13-1994.

Narrative Information

Jan 10, AP: “Clothes left on a heater sparked a pre-dawn fire Sunday [Jan 9] that filled a southwest Baltimore row house with smoke, killing four children, fire officials said. A woman and three other children were in critical condition.

“The one-alarm fire was reported at 4:27 a.m. at 619 Edgewood St… It took firefighters about a half hour to bring the fire under control.

“The fire started in clothes piled on top of a floor grate for the heater near the stairwell on the first floor… The smoke traveled up the stairs to the second floor, where the woman and children were found. ‘It’s very possible that smoke overcame the family and they never knew what hit them,’ Battalion Chief Hector Torres said. ‘There was no smoke detector in the house, so they never got a warning.’

“All of the residents were unconscious when firefighters arrived and had to be carried out of the house…Two children, Quintin Terrell, 4, and Dominique Glover, 8, were pronounced dead at the scene. Jeannette Glover, 11, and Samuel Terrell, 18 months, died a short time later at Saint Agnes Hospital…Roslynn Terrell, 28; Paul Terrell, 6, and Cedric Terrell, 11, were all in critical condition at the Francis Scott Key Burn Center. Micah Terrell, 3, was in critical condition at the University of Maryland pediatric intensive care unit….

“A neighbor in the next block first reported the fire….” (AP, Baltimore. “Four children killed in fire.” The News, Frederick, MD, 1-10-1994, p. A-2.)

Jan 11, The Capital: “Baltimore – The mother of four children who died in a rowhouse fire has died of her injuries, fire officials said. Roslynn Terrell, 28, died yesterday at the Francis Scott Key Burn Center in Baltimore….” (The Capital, Annapolis, MD. “Row house fire claims fifth victim.” 1-11-1994, p. A4.)

Jan 13, Baltimore Sun: “Roslynn Glover-Terrell, 28, and 5 children, fire victims….Cedric Dion, 11, a stepson, died Tuesday at Francis Scott Key….Two other children, Paul Terrell, 6, and Micah Terrell, 3, remained hospitalized in critical condition yesterday….” (Baltimore Sun. “Roslynn Glover-Terrell, 28, and 5 children, fire victims.” 1-13-1994.)

2007, Baltimore Sun: “Jan. 9, 1994 A blaze in the 600 block of Edgewood St. in West Baltimore claimed the lives of seven people, six of them children. Investigators said clothing piled on top of a heating grate ignited the rowhouse blaze.” (Baltimore Sun. “Fatal fires. East Baltimore Fire.” 5-23-2007.)
Sources

Associated Press, Baltimore. “Four children killed in fire.” The News, Frederick, MD, 1-10-1994, p. A-2. Accessed 6-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/maryland/frederick/news/1994/01-10/page-2?tag

Baltimore Sun. “Fatal fires. East Baltimore Fire.” 5-23-2007. Accessed 6-1-2016 at:
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-05-23/news/0705230028_1_baltimore-rowhouse-rowhouse-fire-baltimore-fire

Baltimore Sun. “Roslynn Glover-Terrell, 28, and 5 children, fire victims.” 1-13-1994. Accessed 6-1-2016 at: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-01-13/news/1994013017_1_terrell-glover-west-baltimore

The Capital, Annapolis, MD. “Row house fire claims fifth victim.” 1-11-1994, p. A4. Accessed 6-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/maryland/annapolis/annapolis-capital/1994/01-11/page-4?tag

— 10 Aircraft Crashes Record Office (Geneva, Switzerland). Florida 1990-1999. N230TW.
— 10 AP. “Newlyweds die in plane crash.” Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, 1-7-1994, p. 5.
— 10 Kebabjian, Richard. “Accident Details…January 05, 1994. Planecrashinfo.com.
— 10 NTSB. “NTSB Identification: MIA94MA048.” Accessed 3-15-2016.
— 10 Ocala Star Banner, FL. “Pilot error blamed in deadly plane crash.” 6-16-1995, p. 9.

Narrative Information

AP, Jan 7: “Fort Drum, Fla. (AP) — A fiery plane crash on a rural road killed 10 people, including a Japanese newlywed couple and six relatives. The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air reported engine trouble shortly after takeoff Wednesday evening, said Jeff Kennedy of the National Transportation Safety Board. It circled and tried to land on an isolated stretch of U.S. 441. ‘There was a boomp, boomp when it hit the two trees, then Just a big roar from the fire,’ said Joe Pariso, who lives nearby and saw the crash.

“After hitting the trees, the aircraft flipped upside down. It slammed Into the road, burst into flames and then slid into a patch of pine and oak trees, killing all aboard, two pilots and the eight Japanese passengers. The fire was so intense it burned the bodies and the plane beyond recognition, investigators said. Among those killed were Kotaro Kato, 28, and his bride Hiromi Takahara, 25, said Masateru Ito, the Japanese consul in Miami. They were married Jan. 2, apparently in Miami, and went with their families to the Orlando area to celebrate. Ito said. The groom’s father, Satoshi Kato, 57; mother, Naoko, 54; and brother Kentaro, 29, also were on the plane, as were the bride’s father, Hiroshi Takahara, 50; mother, Mitsuko, 46; and brother Tsutomo, 23, Ito said. Also killed were the plane’s pilot-owner, Toyoshi Kimura. who ran a Miami-area flight school catering to Japanese visitors, and co-pilot Robert Suarez.” (AP. “Newlyweds die in plane crash.” Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, 1-7-1994, p. 5.)

Kebabjian: “The pilot indicated he had engine trouble and was attempting to land at Okeechobee. When he could not find the airport, he attempted to land on a dirt road. Upon observing a car on the road he aborted the landing rolled to the right and crashed into trees. Improper remedial action concerning a right engine power anomaly and the failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around from a precautionary landing. Failure of the right engine fuel control bearing.” (Kebabjian, Richard. “Accident Details…January 05, 1994. Planecrashinfo.com.

NTSB: “History of the Flight

“On January 5, 1994, about 1829 (all times eastern standard time), a Beech B90, N230TW, registered to Kimura International, Inc., collided with trees and then the ground near Okeechobee, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the airline transport-rated pilot and nine passengers were fatally injured. The flight last departed from Kissimmee, Florida, on January 5, 1994, at 1801.

“Representatives from Kimura International, Inc. stated the flight originally departed Opa Locka Airport, Opa Locka, Florida. The purpose of the flight was to go to Kissimmee, Florida, and pick up eight passengers, who were relatives of the pilot, and return to Opa-Locka. The pilot and pilot-rated right front seat passenger were the only persons onboard for the flight to Kissimmee. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) communication transcripts from the Opa-Locka Tower indicated the flight departed Opa-Locka Airport at 1652.

“A lineman at Marathon Flight School, Inc., at the Kissimmee Airport stated N230TW arrived on the morning of January 4, 1994, with 10 or 11 passengers, who deplaned and stayed in Kissimmee. On January 5, 1994, N230TW arrived on the ramp about 1750. The Japanese pilot remained in the left front seat and kept the engines running. The non-Japanese right front seat passenger went to the rear door and opened it. The eight Japanese passengers, who had been waiting about an hour, boarded the aircraft with only carry on luggage. After they boarded, the door was closed, and the non-Japanese passenger returned to the right front seat. The aircraft immediately began to taxi and went to the nearest intersection for runway 15. The flight then immediately performed an intersection departure on runway 15 and made a straight out departure at about 1800.

“At 1818:38, a person with no Japanese accent made a radio call as King Air N230TW to Miami Radio, which was received at the FAA St. Petersburg Flight Service Station (FSS). St. Petersburg FSS did not reply and no further transmissions were received. Representatives of Kimura International, Inc. stated the pilot and eight passengers who boarded the aircraft at Kissimmee were Japanese, and spoke with a Japanese accent. The pilot-rated right front seat passenger was not Japanese and did not speak with a Japanese accent.

“A pilot in another aircraft who was landing at the Okeechobee Airport heard on the unicom frequency, 123.0 mhz, a person with no Japanese accent, calling as King Air N230TW, just before 1830. The person stated the King Air had an indicator problem and they were going to make a precautionary landing at the Okeechobee Airport; however, they could not locate the airport. The person then talked to another pilot who was airborne and then stated they were changing to the emergency frequency 121.5 mhz. This pilot switched to 121.5 mhz and listened to the person on N230TW talk to the pilots of another aircraft, a Cessna Citation.

“A flight instructor and student in another aircraft, in flight north of the Okeechobee Airport, heard on the unicom frequency, 123.0 mhz, the person on N230TW talking to the aircraft which was landing. The instructor then contacted the person on N230TW and gave him directions toward the Okeechobee Airport. He then flew over the airport with his landing light on to help the pilot of N230TW locate it. The person on N230TW reported that he had him in sight and that they were at 1,100 feet, loosing altitude and didn’t know why, and were switching to 121.5 mhz. The instructor then switched to 121.5 mhz and heard the person on N230TW talking to the pilots of a Cessna Citation. The instructor and student then flew north and located the burning wreckage of N230TW.

“The pilots of a Cessna Citation flying at 43,000 feet, about 80 nm east-northeast of Palm Beach, Florida, reported hearing a person with no Japanese accent transmitting on the emergency frequency 121.5 mhz, as King Air N230TW. The person reported that the flight was having engine trouble and that they were trying to land on a road. The person reported descending through 200 feet and that they were going into trees. The person then reported they were contacting trees. The pilots then heard the sounds of an emergency locator transmitter for about 3 seconds. The pilots reported the conversation to FAA Miami Center at 1828:46.

“Witnesses on the ground near the crash site observed N230TW circle several times at low altitude to the west of Highway 441. The aircraft then appeared to approach a dirt road from west to east for landing, with the landing lights on. A car was going west on the road and the aircraft appeared to pull up and make a steep left turn. The aircraft was flying at a low speed and engine sounds were audible. As the aircraft flew to the north the right wing dipped down toward the ground. The aircraft then descended nose down, right wing down until ground impact. The aircraft exploded on impact.

“Recorded radar data from the FAA Orlando Approach Control and the FAA Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center was reviewed after the accident. An aircraft was observed to depart the Kissimmee Airport at about 1801, and proceed south-southeast bound. This aircraft climbed to 7,000 feet, reaching this altitude at 1809:06. The aircraft immediately began a descent from this point. The aircraft continued in a descent and was lost from radar at 1825:06, at 1,100 feet, at a point 5 nm north of the crash site of N230TW.

Personnel Information

“….The pilot’s family could not locate a pilot logbook after the accident. The pilot’s flight time could not be verified.

“Representatives of Kimura International reported that the pilot had attended two ground schools on the King Air, as part of the certification process to place the aircraft on a 14 CFR Part 135 air taxi certificate. He did not complete either of the ground schools. The instructor for the last ground school the pilot attended stated they did not teach engine overspeed or propeller overspeed emergencies during the 15 hours he taught the school. The pilot was reported to have received 13 hours of dual flight instruction in the King Air. He also was reported to have flown 117 hours as pilot-in-command in the aircraft. Before this the only turbo-propeller powered aircraft experience the pilot was known to have received was 272 flight hours in turbo- propeller Aero Commanders.

“FAA records indicated that on November 4, 1982, the pilot was involved in an aircraft accident at Doraville, Georgia, in a Cessna 152, when all fuel was exhausted and a forced landing was made. On March 26, 1984, the pilot was involved in an incident at Boulder City, Nevada, when he landed on a road following loss of electrical power at night in a Cessna 172. The pilot was involved in an incident on October 13, 1992, at Hialeah Gardens, Florida, when engine power was lost in a Cessna 152 due to a oil pump malfunction and a forced landing was made in a field….
Aircraft Information

“Aircraft logbook records indicated the aircraft was last inspected on November 25, 1992, at aircraft total time 6,909 hours. The aircraft was on a Beech Aircraft Corporation progressive inspection program. The program requires that the aircraft be inspected each 150 flight hours. At the time of the accident the aircraft total time was 7,072 total flight hours or 163 flight hours since last inspection. The aircraft engines received a motoring compressor wash on December 28, 1993, at aircraft total time 7,066.

“On April 21, 1993, Pratt and Whitney issued Service Information Letter 1052, applicable to all model PT6 engines. The letter recommended that operators of model PT6 engines remove the Bendix manufactured fuel controls on the engine at mid-life to fuel control overhaul, or 3,000 flight hours, and have the drive body inspected and the driveshaft bearings replaced in accordance with Bendix Service Information Bulletin No. 057. Logbook records for N230TW showed no indication that this bulletin had been complied with. The fuel control installed on the right engine had accumulated 3,610 flight hours since being installed on January 3, 1979, after overhaul. The fuel control installed on the left engine had accumulated 2,212 total flight hours since being installed on December 8, 1983, after overhaul. Postaccident examination of the fuel controls on N230TW indicated that the controls were installed on the opposite engines from which logbook entries indicated they were installed.

“Representatives from Kimura International, Inc. stated after the accident that the aircraft had several open maintenance items at the time of the accident. The pressurization system would not maintain cabin altitude and therefore the aircraft was flown below 10,000 feet. The cabin heater was inoperative. Finally, the engine generators would not operate with even loads. The flight crew who flew the aircraft before the accident flight reported that they experienced no problems with the aircraft other than the open items listed above. They indicated engine performance was normal….
Wreckage and Impact Information

“The aircraft crashed on U.S. Highway 441 at 354th Court in Fort Drum, Florida. Fort Drum is located in Okeechobee County and the mailing address for the area around the crash site is Okeechobee, Florida. The crash site is located 19 nautical miles north of the Okeechobee Airport.

“Examination of the crash site indicated the aircraft struck a pine tree located on the west side of Highway 441. The aircraft was on a northeasterly heading and in an estimated 45-to 60- degree right bank angle during tree impact. Components from the aircraft’s right wing outboard section were found at the base of this tree along with severed 3 to 5 inch tree limbs. The aircraft then crashed nose first, right wing low, on Highway 441, became inverted, and came to rest at the top of a ditch on the east side of Highway 441. A postcrash fire consumed the aircraft.

“All components of the aircraft which are necessary for flight were found within 150 feet of the main wreckage. All separation points within the flight control system were typical of overstress separation. Actuators for the wing flaps and landing gear were found in the flap and gear retracted position. All instrumentation and switches were destroyed by fire.

“Examination of the left engine indicated it separated from the aircraft during the crash sequence. The engine was found in two sections. The propeller exhibited extensive mechanical damage but remained attached to the propeller flange. Teardown examination of the engine revealed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction of the engine rotating assembly or accessory components. Rotational signatures to the engine internal components indicated the engine was operating at high power at the time of ground impact.

“Examination of the right engine indicated it separated from the aircraft during the crash sequence. The engine remained in one piece. The propeller separated from the engine at the propeller flange. The flange separation was typical of overstress. Teardown examination of the right engine revealed no evidence to indicate failure or malfunction of the engine rotating assembly. Rotational signatures to the engine internal components indicated the engine was operating at high power at the time of ground impact….

Medical and Pathological Information

“….The pilot and nine passengers died as a result of injuries sustained during the crash sequence or postcrash fire….” (NTSB. “NTSB Identification: MIA94MA048.”)

June 16, 1995, Ocala Star Banner: “West Palm Beach – Federal investigators say they believe pilot error probably caused the crash of a small plane in Central Florida last year that killed all 10 people on board. The Beechcraft B90 King air, piloted by Toyoshi Kimura, 43, of Opa-Locka, was carrying a newlywed Japanese couple and their visiting families back to Dade County after a visit to Walt Disney Work on Jan. 5, 1994.

“Investigators said that Kimura tried an emergency landing on U.S. 441, near Fort Drum, about 24 miles north of Okeechobee, after having problems with one of the two engines. The plane slammed into the shoulder of the road, hit a tree, then flipped and exploded. ‘He had a simple mechanical failure – that’s no reason to crash an airplane,’ said Jeff Kennedy of the National Transportation Safety Board. Investigators said Kimura had at least 10 to 15 minutes to deal with a minor problem, a jammed fuel line that caused the right engine to surge during the flight.” (Ocala Star Banner, FL. “Pilot error blamed in deadly plane crash.” 6-16-1995, p. 9.)

Sources

Aircraft Crashes Record Office (Geneva, Switzerland). Florida 1990-1999. Accessed 3/4/2009 at: http://www.baaa-acro.com/Pays/Etats-Unis/Floride-1990-1999.htm

Associated Press. “Newlyweds die in plane crash.” Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, 1-7-1994, p. 5. Accessed 3-15-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=296840996&sterm

Kebabjian, Richard. “Accident Details…January 05, 1994. Planecrashinfo.com. Accessed 3-15-2016 at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1994/1994-2.htm

National Transportation Safety Board. “NTSB Identification: MIA94MA048.” Accessed 3-15-2016 at: http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20001206X00674&ntsbno=MIA94MA048&akey=1

Ocala Star Banner, FL. “Pilot error blamed in deadly plane crash.” 6-16-1995, p. 9. Accessed 3-15-2016 at: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19950616&id=rMdPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zAcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4949,77182&hl=en

— ~17 Blanchard tally of State breakouts below.
— >13 AP. “East gets whacked by storm.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. 1-5-1994, p. A10.

New Hampshire ( 1)
— 1 Boy on sled slides into traffic and is killed.

New York (~3)
— ~3 Western NY. Automobile accidents. NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, p. 39.
–1 Male contractor slipped on ice and hit his head on a plow.

Pennsylvania (~10)
–~10 State. Blanchard estimate.
— 10 Western PA. Heart attacks. Gelber, Ben. The Pennsylvania Weather Book. 2002, p. 65.
–~10 Western PA. Heart attacks. NCDC, Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994, p. 43.
–1 Butler Township, Butler County, Jan 4. Male, 50, after shoveling snow in driveway.
–1 Clearfield, Clearfield County, Jan 4. Male, 79; heart attack after shoveling snow.
–1 Homer City, Indiana County, Jan 5. Male, 76, collapsed after shoveling snow.
–1 New Kensington, Westmoreland Co., Jan 5. Male, 68, after clearing his sidewalk.
–1 South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Jan 4. Male, 77, digging out driveway.
— 1 Loyalsock, Lycoming County, near Williamsport, Jan 8. Automobile accident, male, 59.
— 1 Moore Township, Northampton County, Jan 4. Male, 35, when car slid off slick road.

West Virginia ( 3)
— 3 National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994, p. 53.
–1 Sharples, Logan County. Tree falls on male, 70. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, p. 54.
–1 Cabin Creek, Kanawha County. Landslide causes tree to fall on man, 51. Ibid.
–1 Wirt County. Hypothermia, male, 65. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, p. 54.

Narrative Information
General

NCDC Storm Data, “Outstanding Storms of the Month. 1. ‘Nor’easter’ Affects East Coast – January 4 & 5.

“A strong low pressure system, a nor’easter, brought a variety of winter weather to the east coast in early January. As the storm moved on a northeasterly track from near Atlanta, Georgia to Raleigh, North Carolina, rain turned to snow in many locations. Some locations received snow accumulations of more than one inch per hour during the early morning hours of the 4th. Charleston, West Virginia received 5 inches of snow in an hour. Other stations in West Virginia reported similar snowfall fates. Heavy snow also fell later in the day across portions of western New York state. Syracuse reported 10 inches of snow between noon and 2 P.M. and Ithaca had over six inches in one hour! The heavy snow resulted in traffic problems and the closing of schools.

“The storm also brought high winds, coastal flooding and ice to the Northeast. New York state experienced a mixture of precipitation. Over the interior sections of New York, snow and ice accumulated between 3 and 6 inches, with local amounts of 8 inches. With persistent onshore winds, tides rose 3 to 5 feet above normal which caused serious beach erosion. High winds also downed numerous trees and powerlines.

“Rapid barometric pressure changes (gravity waves) within the overall storm circulation generated a brief period of high winds in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Boston’s Logan International Airport recorded wind gusts to 66 mph from the northeast shortly after 10 A.M. The Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, Massachusetts reported a pressure drop of 9 millibars (0.27 inches) in 8 minutes with a wind gust of 60 mph from the northeast! The NWS Office in Providence, Rhode Island observed a pressure drop from 1000.0 mb (29.56 inches) at 8:50 A.M. to 990.5 mb (29.25 inches) 28 minutes later. Winds gusted to as high as 46 mph at Providence and to more than 50 mph at Newport…” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994, p. 7.)

New York

NCDC Storm Data, Western NY, Jan 4: “Low pressure developed over the Southeast United States and tracked northeast along the Eastern Seaboard. The low dumped heavy snow across the entire Western New York area. Snowfall amounts ranged from six to eight inches over the extreme western counties to 12 to 18 inches over the Eastern Lake Ontario Counties and the Eastern Finger Lakes Region. Travel quickly became difficult across much of the region. Numerous automobile accidents, some with fatalities, resulted. The New York State Thruway was closed from Rochester east. States of Emergency were declared in Tompkins, Chemung, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Lewis, Ontario, Yates, Steuben, and Schuyler Counties. Emergency shelters were set up throughout that eleven county area for stranded travelers and motorists. In Syracuse ten inches of snow fell between 1200EST and 1400EST and in Ithaca over six inches of snow fell in an hour.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, p. 39.)

Pennsylvania

Gelber: “Snowfall rates of to 5 and 6 inches per hour were recorded at Pittsburgh and Williamsport on the morning of January 3, 1994. The greatest snowfall in Pennsylvania was 33 inches at Waynesburg, Greene County, southwest of Pittsburgh….

“In northern Pennsylvania the average snowfall was 6 to 12 inches, while the southeastern counties were dealt a nasty blow in the form of an ice storm. Hundreds of thousands of residents in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey lost power from the storm.

“The snow fell so quickly that traffic came to a stop along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstates 70 and 79. On January 6, Governor Robert Casey declared a state of emergency for Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania National Guard was called on to assist in the arduous task of snow removal.

“The sheer weight of the snow caused roofs of barns and outbuildings to collapse. An NOAA storm summary, citing a Pittsburgh newspaper, reported 10 fatalities due to heart attacks in the region and 185 injuries in southwestern Pennsylvania, mostly from falls.” (Gelber 2002, 65.)

NCDC Storm Data, Western PA, Jan 4: “A major east coast winter storm left a track of heavy snow from the southern Appalachians into New England. The storm, which developed over the Gulf Coast States, tracked northeast along the Atlantic Coast. Heavy snow was deposited along, and just west of the Appalachian Mountains. The heaviest of the snow in western Pennsylvania fell in the extreme southwest corner of the State where 33 inches of snow was observed in Waynesboro of Greene County. Other snowfall reports included 26 inches at both Labelle and Irvin, 24 at Charleroi, 20 in downtown Pittsburgh, 18 at Clymer, 16 at Somerset, 15 at the Pittsburgh International Airport, 12 at St. Mary’s, 11 at Bradford, and 6 at Erie.

“The fast accumulating snow forced the closing of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and halted traffic on both Interstates 70 and 79. Traffic was backed up on Interstate 70 from Washington to Yukon, or about 25 miles. The Pittsburgh International Airport was also closed for the day, and did not resume limited operations until the 5th. On the 6th, Governor Casey declared a State of Emergency for Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties. A force of 111 soldiers and airmen from the Pennsylvania National Guard assisted in snow removal.

“The weight of the heavy snow was responsible for numerous roof collapses to outbuildings, garages, barns, and carports….

“No deaths were directly related to the snowfall, however, there were a number of heart attack victims from people trying to shovel snow. According to a Pittsburgh newspaper, there were approximately ten deaths due to hear attacks and 185 injuries from people falling on ice and vehicle accidents.” (NCDC, Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994, p. 43.)

West Virginia

NCDC Storm Data, Jan 4: “The effects of this storm impacted the lives of many thousands of residents for days after the snow had stopped. Rains of the previous evening [Jan 3] turned to wet snow after midnight, as a storm moved from near Atlanta to Raleigh. Heavy snow began falling during the predawn hours as the storm center reached near Danville, Virginia. A burst of snow developed over the Kanawha Valley and moved north during the morning. Charleston received five inches of snow in the one hour ending at 0500EST. Elkins reported nine inches of snow in the two hours ending at 0700EST. Parkersburg had 12 inches of snow in the eight hours ending at 1100EST. In Middlebourne of Tyler County, 11 inches of snow had fallen by 0645EST, by 0930EST 11 more inches fell, resulting in 22 inches on the ground. These snow rates were among the greatest ever reported from a West Virginia snow storm.

“Snow decreased by noon, but light snow continued to accumulate until evening. The region from Charleston north, to Parkersburg, Wheeling, and Morgantown were left paralyzed….

“With the snow burst coming after as much as an inch of rain, thousands of trees were uprooted. Trees on sloping hillsides were especially vulnerable….Fallen trees damaged many parked cars and roofs to dwellings. Travel in rural sections of Pleasants, Tyler, Ritchie, Wetzel, and Doddridge was still nearly impossible two days after the storm, due to fallen trees. Electricity was out to an estimated 170,000 customers on the 4th, including many radio and TV stations. Even on the 8th, four days after the storm, electricity was still out to around 25,000 dwellings.

“A state of emergency declared by the governor on the 4th, lasted till noon on the 13th. Emergency shelters were established throughout the lowlands, due to the loss of electricity. Army National Guard personnel used Humvee vehicles to evacuate people or to deliver supplies like kerosene or propane to rural areas. Most stores were sold out of shovels, generators, kerosene, and sleds. Many grocery stores ran out of staple items….” (NCDC, Storm Data, 36/1, Jan 1994, pp. 53-54.)
Sources

Altoona Mirror (Kay Stephens), PA. “Don’t relax, another storm lurks on Thursday.” 1-5-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-15-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=258078968&sterm

Associated Press. “As state braces for more bad weather, Casey declares a state of emergency.” News-Herald, Franklin, PA, 1-7-1994, p. 2. Accessed 3-15-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=296843426&sterm

Associated Press. “East gets whacked by storm.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. 1-5-1994, p. A10. Accessed 3-15-2016: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=27952647&sterm

Associated Press. “Thousands are without power after ice storm.” News-Herald, Franklin, PA. 1-10-1994, p. 2. Accessed 3-15-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=296843462&sterm

Gelber, Ben. The Pennsylvania Weather Book. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2002. Google preview at: http://books.google.com/books?id=34RKv9fMFo4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 1, Jan 1994. Ashville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Accessed 3-15-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-98574E47-152A-4F56-98AF-4EE35CB4DA86.pdf

The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Residents digging out; One area death reported.” 1-5-1994, p. 1. Accessed 3-15-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=151324231&sterm

–633 CDC Wonder. (Average hypothermia death rate was 0.24 per 100,000 population.)

Death rate for hypothermia per 100,000 population, where noted.

Alabama 13 0.30
Alaska 18 2.98 Highest loss of life per 100,000 population of any State.
Arizona 16 0.38
California 24 0.08
Colorado 20 0.54
Illinois 32 0.27
Indiana 12 0.21
Iowa 10 0.35
Kentucky 18 0.47
Maryland 17 0.34
Michigan 31 0.32
Mississippi 16 0.59
Missouri 15 0.28
Montana 11 1.28
New Jersey 22 0.27
New Mexico 22 1.31
New York 38 0.21 Highest loss of life of any State.
North Carolina 29 0.40
Ohio 19 0.17
Pennsylvania 35 0.29
South Carolina 10 0.27
Tennessee 16 0.31
Texas 14 0.08
Virginia 28 0.42
Washington 13 0.24
Wisconsin 18 0.35

Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Compressed Mortality File 1979-1998. CDC WONDER On-line Database, compiled from Compressed Mortality File CMF 1968-1988, Series 20, No. 2A, 2000 and CMF 1989-1998, Series 20, No. 2E, 2003. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd9.html on Aug 31, 2021 2:46:28 PM