lasted 10 days or so. Many roads were blocked by fallen trees and wires. In Buffalo 200 streets
were blocked, some for several days. A major problem was flooding of basements when electri-
cal sump pumps became inoperative. This storm was probably the most costly ever and affected
the most people. Damages were estimated as follows: Erie County million, Chautauqua
million, Livingston
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million, Genesee
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million, Wyoming 0,000, and Monroe 0,000.
From 110,000 to 150,000 homes were without power for heat and light. Water utilities lost power
and at least 10,000 homes were without water.
3/23/76
PENNSYLVANIA--Western
Erie County
[1]
(Ice Storm)
IC3
March 1976
Ice coated everything; trees and power lines down, causing power outages in more than 11,000
homes. Houses and cars hit by falling trees. The number and scattered locations of power outages
in Erie area probably has not been equaled since the late 1950s, according to local authorities.
Bridges over West Fork branch of French Creek washed out, plunging a car into the creek. Driver
not seriously injured.
January 825, 1979
ME: ice storm coated trees and power lines with more than 2" of ice
heaviest ice storm in many decades
130-mile swath from Portland to Vanceboro, inland from the coast, was most
severely affected
more than 45,000 homes without power for an extended period
NH: 1 to 2" of ice on trees and power lines
major disruption to power and transportation
PA: freezing rain and sleet followed by snow caused power outages over most
of western PA
Key:
ice load (in.), wind speed (mph)
x = no weather data
61
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