thickness. Traffic was severely hampered as even sanded roads soon were recoated with ice.
Many roads were closed to traffic. The greatest effect was the destruction and damage to forest,
shade, and fruit trees as branches or whole trees broke under the weight of ice. Falling trees and
branches blocked streets, crushed many cars, and damaged homes. But the most devastating
effect was their falling onto power and phone lines. Power was lost to well over 50,000 homes.
Some whole towns lost power. Some homes remained without heat or light for four days or
more. Residents took refuge in public emergency shelters set up in schools, etc., or with relatives
and friends elsewhere. The extent of tree damage was remarkable especially as the storm was not
accompanied by strong winds. Some tree experts stated that the 1964 drought may have weak-
ened the trees. Trees experts and power company officials stated that the destruction was the
worst in some areas since the extremely severe glazing of November 2629, 1921, which in
some areas had coated wires by ice up to 2 in. in diameter. At other places the storm was compa-
rable to the severe glaze storm of December 2730, 1942. Though no direct storm death or injury
was reported, numerous injuries resulted from falls on extremely slippery streets and walks and
from auto skidding accidents. Several deaths also resulted from auto accidents during the storm
and one man died while clearing his sidewalk.
12/36/64
NEW HAMPSHIRE Central and southern portions [NH03>07] IC3 (Glaze, sleet, snow)--
Periods of freezing rain or drizzle, sleet, and/or snow occurred on December 35, changing to all
snow on the 6th. Glazing was most serious in the southern portion where roads quickly iced over
again after being sanded. Foot and vehicular travel became very hazardous. Damage to trees and
utility lines from heavy ice loading did not reach major proportions. Total snowfall ranged most-
ly from 8 to 12 in.. In northern New Hampshire, snowfall totals were generally somewhat less.
12/36/64
VERMONT State [VT01>05] IC3 (Glaze, sleet, snow)--Periods of freezing rain or drizzle and
of sleet occurred mainly on the 4th and 5th but in a few areas in southern portion on the 3rd and
at a few stations on the 6th. Glazing caused very hazardous roads and walks, with many minor
accidents resulting. Ice coatings on trees and wires did not reach seriously damaging proportions.
Precipitation was mostly as snow. Snowfall totals ranged mostly from 6 to 12 in.
12/45/64
NEW YORK East Central [NY12,19,20] (Freezing rain)--One of the most devastating freezing-
rain storms of record. Storm damage concentrated in eastern Mohawk and upper Hudson Valleys
from Canajoharie east to New England border and Albany north to Glens Falls area. Rain total-
ing from 0.8 to 1.5 in. fell over most of two-day period and froze on objects to a thickness of
more than one in. while temperatures ranged between 26 to 31 degrees. Trees, limbs, and power
lines were downed in great numbers. Some 30,000 homes were without power in Albany,
Schenectady, Troy area alone with states of emergency declared by authorities in these cities as
well as in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and a number of smaller communities. Highways and
streets closed throughout area because of fallen wires, trees, and limbs as surface travel became
extremely hazardous; air travel was halted until end of storm. Widespread damage to buildings,
cars, etc., from broken limbs and trees. Nearly two weeks required to completely restore power;
schools remained closed through most of week following storm. Dairy farms, many commercial
and industrial establishments suffered damage to goods and hardship due to power failures.
54
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