Page 8 - HOSPITAAL

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 22 March 2018

Northeast gets clobbered with fourth snowstorm in 3 weeks

he had a shovel, a blan- ported more 240 traffic ac-
ket and other emergency cidents since midnight. In
items. "I just hope this is fi- West Virginia, more than
nally it." 5,000 customers were with-
On the other side of the out power in the evening.
country, a storm brought New York Gov. Andrew
heavy rain to California, Cuomo declared a state
and tens of thousands of of emergency for New
people in Santa Barbara York City and its suburbs
and Ventura counties were and said 5,500 utility work-
ordered to flee their homes ers and 300 National Guard
because of the danger of members were standing
mudslides on slopes burned by. The state also sent gen-
by recent wildfires. erators, light towers, plows
In New Jersey, some streets and salt to areas that have
were flooded along the already endured multi-day,
shore, including one in Point storm-related power out-
Heavy ocean surf crashes over the seawall between 7th and 8th Streets in Avalon, N.J., Wednes-
day, March 21, 2018. An early spring coastal storm brought wintry conditions to the southern part Pleasant Beach where a ages this month.
of the state, with high winds, coastal flooding, rain, sleet and snow. pair of ducks cruised back Cuomo said he was told
(Dale Gerhard/The Press of Atlantic City via AP) and forth through an in- the utilities were better pre-
tersection where a plastic pared this time.
Continued from Front Pancho Ortega, who was on the block to do it later." garbage can bobbed in "We have had assurances,"
At least two traffic deaths clearing the sidewalk out- The storm was just the lat- the waves. he said. "Frankly, I'm not sat-
were reported in New Jer- side his soon-to-open res- est to come off the assem- More than 1,200 flights in isfied with the assurances."
sey and on New York's Long taurant in Philadelphia. bly line in the Northeast the New York City area Not everyone was sick of
Island. "I don't like the shoveling since March 2. Many peo- alone were canceled, with the snow.
Up to 8 inches of snow had part. I'm ready for it to kind ple's tolerance for wintry a ripple effect on air travel In Orwigsburg, Pennsylva-
fallen in some Philadelphia of go away." weather was already worn around the country. On nia, about 90 miles out-
suburbs by the evening, Roberto Sims expressed thin, after repeated power the ground, Amtrak scaled side Philadelphia, 10-year-
and more than a foot near frustration with how quickly outages and lots of white- back service on the North- old siblings Talia and Miles
Allentown, Pennsylvania. his just-cleared Philadel- knuckle driving. east corridor between Broadhurst made their own
New York had at least 5 phia sidewalks became "I didn't think I'd still need to Washington and Boston, fun on yet another day off
inches and braced for a snow-covered once again. keep storm stuff in my car and some states banned from school, climbing onto
total of 6 to 12. Forecast- "I give up and now the cor- in late March, but what are trucks from major highways. the family SUV and slid-
ers said Boston could get 6 ner store doesn't have any you going to do?" Wilson The storm also unloaded ing down the snow-slicked
inches as the storm moved salt left," he said. "I'll just Collins, of Toms River, New snow on Virginia and West windshield and hood be-
into New England. have to take my chances Jersey, said as he checked Virginia as it pushed into fore plopping onto the
"Winter will not relent," said and hope for someone else his car trunk to make sure the Northeast. Virginia re- snow.q

Powerful storm puts California towns at risk of slides

By AMANDA LEE MYERS fed by a long plume of sub- of Montecito and killed 21 last year. tion shelter.
JOHN ANTCZAK tropical moisture called an people. Carolyn Potter, 59, evacu- Meanwhile her husband
Associated Press atmospheric river. "Right now it looks like the ated from her home in Alan is staying home, just
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It also moved eastward, storm will enter its most Casitas Springs in Ventura like he has the other three
A strong Pacific storm bringing the threat of flood- threatening period Thurs- County on Tuesday, but re- times Potter has evacu-
dropped heavy rain ing to the San Joaquin Val- day morning," the National turned the same day when ated because of fires or
Wednesday on a swath of ley and Sierra Nevada, Weather Service said, add- no rain materialized in her storms since September.
California where thousands where winter storm warn- ing there could be a nine- neighborhood. "If something happens
of people have been ings for new snow were in hour period of moderate to "I thought, 'This is silly. I'm maybe I'll zip on down and
evacuated because of the effect on the second day heavy rain. going to go home and get dig him out," Potter said.
threat of debris flows and of spring. Mud and rockslides closed something done," she said. With the storm expected
mudslides from wildfire burn Authorities kept a close several roads in the re- Potter evacuated again to last through Thursday,
areas. watch on Santa Barba- gion, including Highway 1 when she woke up to rain there was concern about
The storm came ashore ra County, hoping there at Ragged Point near Big Wednesday morning and the combination of rainfall
on the central coast and would not be a repeat of Sur, not far from where the plans to sleep in her car in rates and the long dura-
spread south into the Los the massive January debris scenic coast route is still a grocery store parking lot tion, Suzanne Grimmesey
Angeles region and north flows from a burn scar that blocked by a massive land- to avoid hotel costs and said, a spokeswoman for
through San Francisco Bay, ravaged the community slide triggered by a storm the bustle of an evacua- Santa Barbara County.q