Historic Winter Storm Hits Most Populous Areas of the Northeast
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| This week, the most populous areas of the Northeast U.S. were hit with a historic blizzard that was predicted to drop as much as three feet of snow, as well as torrents of freezing rain, on cities like New York City and Philadelphia by its end.
According to a January 26 Reuters article, the blizzard resulted in thousands of flights being canceled and the crippling of public transit systems. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts all declared states of emergencies, urging tens of millions of residents to stay in their homes. In New York City, private cars were banned indefinitely from using city streets as of 11 p.m. Monday. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio even closed the nation’s largest school system for Tuesday, a feat he earned criticism for refusing to do during last year’s “polar vortex,” giving more than one million school children a snow day. Cities like Boston and Philadelphia took similar actions, instilling travel bans and closing schools in advance. Even the normally level-headed National Weather Service used terms like “life-threatening” and “historic” to describe the blizzard, according to CNN. A slew of entertainment events were shut down in response to the storm, with sports, comedy shows and Broadway events all cancelled for Monday evening. The storm didn’t just putting the region’s packed entertainment schedule on hold — homeowners throughout the Northeast could find their homes damaged by the heavy snowfall. The National Weather Service predicted wind speeds exceeding 55 mph will hit New York City and its suburbs. Naturally, such high wings are capable of toppling power lines and causing trees to fall on homes. “Concerned property owners with typical insurance coverage should not have to worry about the damage that may occur due to this massive storm. With high winds and heavy snow loads, it is important to keep an eye out for any leaks or sags in the ceiling or roof. Weight of snow and ice is covered under most insurance policies,” said David Miller, Licensed Public Adjuster at Miller Public Adjusters, LLC. “Once the storm is over, if possible, remove as much snow from the roof without damaging the roofing material. Furthermore, having your property inspected by a licensed professional may help uncover signs of damage.” Considering as many as 58 million Americans will be impacted by the storm, with winter weather warnings being sent out from Maryland to Maine and even into Canada, it will be extremely important for homeowners throughout the country’s Northeast region to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. |
