While this book is not a difficult read, there are so many ways this storm affected the US, not just at that time, but in the future too. A three day storm starting March 12, 1888 was not the worst snowstorm to ever hit the country nor was it to be the last. It's devistation would be profound. There would be storms which were greater, but America had learned her lessons about the need for city services, protecting the government and the president, expanding the knowledge and need for weather forecasting and services, and making sure communication lines and a train system would go underground. Quite and interesting little book. Lots of great pictures too. ( )

Good account of a Blizzard near my hometown that I knew nothing about.
Apparently, drawings were heavily used in the newspapers at the time - I didn't know that. Interesting that there were photos of the Blizzard too.
Of course, forecasting was in its infancy & the weatherman of the day were looking at a scientific approach, where the farmers and seamen would have been a whole lot more knowledgeable, if the forecasters would have listened. ( )

Short book that tells the history of a severe blizzard that hit the Northeastern US in March, 1888. Though the storm covered many states, from Virginia to Maine, the story is focused on the area around New York City. It contains stories of individuals who miraculously survived and many who did not. Back then, weather forecasting was still pretty primitive, and telegraph communications were easily disrupted. Near the end, the author recounts some of the improvements that were made in disaster planning as a result. It provides enough historic details to give readers a good idea about how people lived in those days and how different it is from today. ( )

Blizzard describes an unbelievebly huge blizzard which hit the U.S. East Coast in the late 1880's.

We tend to criticize the weather bureau today when their forecasts are slightly off, and some storms may miss us, others may possibly impact us unexpectedly, but we're generally aware of what to expect in our region. Blizzard points out what can happen when there's absolutely no warning of a major storm. Today, we'll hear about major storms like Katrina or Hurricane Sandy days in advance. In the late 1880's, as this book points out, forecasts were far from the sophistication of today. When the storm of the century hits, before the days of effective snow clearing or advance warning, you can only imagine the consequences. And if you can't quite imagine the consequences, this book will give you a good idea of the impacts on people's lives.
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