More than 100 motorists stranded on Thruway

The Buffalo News ^ | 12/11/09 | Lou Michel and Peter Simon

[OldDeckHand]

More than 100 motorists are stranded on the Thruway between Dunkirk and the Pennsylvania border, locked in by blowing snow since 1:30 a.m. when the Thruway closed.

State police have managed to make contact with many motorists, and "there are no medical emergencies at this time," one trooper told The Buffalo News.

Many motorists stuck in the snow have been in contact with state police by cell phone. State police on ATVs and Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies on snowmobiles are trying to reach the stranded motorists.

"We can't get aviation up in the air because of the poor visibility. But anyone who knows of someone stranded with a serious medical condition should call our headquarters at 716-836-0240," State Police Capt. Michael P. Nigrelli told The Buffalo News.

[dragnet2]

SUVs? lol

I can drive an hour or so from sunny and 70 degrees, up to the snow in the local Southern California mountains, and watch tourist in their SUVs, Hummers etc stuck up to their axles in the snow. That's always good for a few laughs.

I hate cold/snow/ice expect when it's in my margarita or on postcards.

[bayliving]

I also remember the MSM telling us we were going into a 2nd ICE AGE.

I remember actually holding that "Time Magazine" issue in my hands as a child that had the photo of NYC being overtaken by a glacier.(at least as best I can remember it was Time Magazine.)

It was a LONG time ago.

You weren't alone in that blizzard by the way.

I live in Maryland and if my memory serves me correct it was either 1977 or 78 when we too got three feet of snow.

I remember trying to play in it but the snow was sooooo deep that it came up to my neck.

So I did the next best thing... I made snow tunnels!!

[Mrs. Don-o]

My hero! (Beaming smile.)

[DollyCali]

Dunkirk bump

[VastRWCon]

I grew up in Orchard Park,NY(south of Buffalo). It is impressive when that lake effect snow comes off of lake Erie. It can snow 3” in an hour = 2-3 feet in a day. The Thruway(I-90) runs right along the lakeshore and they get total whiteout conditions on that highway. I remember the Blizzard of 1977. Three feet of snow and 75mph winds. Schools were closed for a week. We were out on snowmobiles , ripping right down the steets and roads. I remember driving right over a car that was buried in the snow. I also remember the MSM telling us we were going into a 2nd ICE AGE.

I will hasve to show this post to my daughter. She is planning on attending MercyHurst College in Erie next year 2010.

[woodbutcher1963]

I also remember the Time Magazine cover telling us we were going into the second iceage.

I also remember my high school science teacher saying that was BS because all the major glaciers in the world were retreating.

However, “journalists” never let little things like FACTS get in the way of selling magazines.

[woodbutcher1963]

I went to Syracuse. It actually snows more there because Lake Ontario never freezes completely over.
One of the worst colleges for bad weather is SUNY at Oswego, NY. It is right on the southeast lakeshore of Ontario. They actually have ropes and tunnels between the buildings.

[Buckeye McFrog]

if you’ve never driven this, you have to realize that you are within a couple hundred yards of Lake Erie at all times. Even in nice days it is so windy you fear large vehicles are about to take off and fly to Syracuse.

I thought perhaps from the headline that the Seneca Indians had closed the Thruway. They’ve threatened to do so because it runs through their land and Uncle Sam is shutting down their mail order cigarette sales.

[windcliff]

LOL

[chris_bdba]

This is bad folks. I lived on Chautauqua lake in the early 80’s for several years and it is very unusual for the interstates to close. I pray that everyone in those cars knew to pack extra blankets for winter travel in that area but I fear that many wouldn’t have had a clue.

[OldDeckHand]

"I thought perhaps from the headline that the Seneca Indians had closed the Thruway."

I can see it now - Barack Obama, the first US President to have a frontier war with the Indians in 130 years. Good times.

[Taffini]

Describe a 72 hour kit

[surrey]

My husband left a business meeting in Toronto at 11 am yesterday. When he reached Buffalo, he couldn’t believe the roads and visibility. It took him 4 hours to go 38 miles. He said cars were blowing past him only to wind up overturned in a ditch. Once he hit Syracuse, he was home free. He arrived home, south of Boston, at 9 pm.

[AirForceMom]

Crazy patch of snow yesterday, we left the house under a blinding sun, went about a 1/2 mile to the grocery store into a white out.

[ansel12]

Describe a 72 hour kit

It depends on the climate that you live in and the time of the year, but one suggestion that I make for most climates is to start with a sleeping bag (not a blanket) and water as the root (everyone already has auto chargers for their cellphone right?).

In a place like the southeast, a cotton sheet and a mosquito head cover (and water) is the root for summer nights, in the desert, lots of water, sleeping bag and a couple of reflective "survival blankets" with twine to cover your car roof is the root.

If you live in very cold places and you don't already have a 72 hour kit (which can be very involved for places that drop below 20 degrees, then you really need to start visiting survival threads, breaking down at 20 below zero, wearing sneakers, bluejeans, and having a stylish jacket draped over the seat takes some real preparation to survive, even for a night if your heater isn't working.

[houeto]

[The Mayor]

I was in the middle of it.

I left Tennessee sunny and 63 degrees beautiful day all the way up into Ohio, it turned nasty on the 90 - 45 miles away from Erie PA. The snow started lightly but within what seemed like minutes, the roads were covered with snow and then came the blinding, blizzard like snow.

Avg speed to Erie was 20 mph, I filled up with gas in Erie and started driving again. Within 10 miles I saw a tractor trailer off the road in the median. Then another that I thought was just stopped, I almost ended up with him in the ditch, thank God I have 4WD in my Explorer.

After that I pulled over, I could not see anything at that point. I waited almost an hour and then decided to follow another truck, I did and followed him right to a truck stop where we got snowed in and the thruway was closed down. I stayed in my car from 10 PM until 6:30 trying to at least snooze a little between restarting my car to get it warm, I woke up every 15 - 20 minutes, so I really didn’t sleep. My car chilled right off that quick. It was 14 degrees and windy.

In the AM instead of getting back on the 90 in PA, I decided to go route 20. It was snowy, slick and bumpy but stayed on the road until I saw the thruway was open. What a night, a situation I will not forget anytime soon.

[lysie]

Are you home? Stay warm and safe, my friend.

[The Mayor]

Yes! It was a very cold night.

[chris_bdba]

Glad to hear you made it home ok!