& PATRICKMCPEAK
white•out / (h)wčt,out/
noun a surface weather condition in a snow-covered area which no object casts a shadow, the horizon cannot be seen, and only dark objects are discernible; also : a blizzard that severely reduces visibility
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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION
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BEFORE THE STORM
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9:00 PM
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THROUGH THE NIGHT
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DIGGING OUT
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OPEN AND SHUT
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THE AFTERMATH
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INTRODUCTION Philadelphia woke up to fresh fallen snow three times in the last week. Just this week alone ushered in three different snowstorms that crippled the Greater Philadelphia area. Reportedly, this winter has now broken a 130-year-old record making this season the first time ever Philadelphia has ever seen four 6+ inch snowfalls. With all this snow, how does a community progress? Snow is simply water vapour that is frozen into ice crystals, so how can it stop daily life so easily?
Monday 3rd February 2014. Wednesday 5th February 2014. Sunday 9th February 2014. Thursday 13th February 2014.
Snow totals reached 8 inches across the area. Ice storms rocked the Greater Philadelphia area, leaving 600,000 in the dark. Snow fell late on Sunday evening, into early Monday morning leaving behind 2-3 inches across the area. As of early Friday morning snow totals hit 13 inches, cancelling bus routes and regional rail lines.
Just a little over a week has gone by and Philadelphia has accumulated close to 24 inches of snow. Along with the snow totals, the area has seen one of its coldest winters, making it nearly impossible for the snow to melt. This book covers the nor’easter that hit the area Thursday 13th February 2014. It started at 9 p.m. and lasted until 6 a.m. Friday 14th February 2014.
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BEFORE THE STORM 8
As local meteorologists updated residents with more information about the storm, the region braced for impact. Temple University primitively closed their main campus and all satellite campuses early on Wednesday afternoon giving many students a reason to celebrate. On the other hand road crews and service personnel got geared up for another round with winter weather. With the state and city’s winter storm budget stretched to its limit, many roads were left untreated due to a shortage of salt in the region. Doing their best to clear as much as possible, city and state officials warned motorists to avoid the roads. Many of them were eerily quiet during a normal rush hour since many workplaces let their employees out early. As night fell, Philadelphia hunkered down to face yet another storm.
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The dispatch board lists calls from customers that are coming in. While the average call volume is roughly 1 thousand calls on a normal day, this January was significantly higher, ranging around 14 thousand calls per day.
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Perry Stanger, Director of Club Fleet Operations for Mid Atlantic, makes a phone call to the dispatch center to check on preparations for the upcoming storm. Wednesday, February 12, 2014.
BEFORE THE STORM
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Drivers perform routine checks on their vehicles before hitting the roads to start their shift for the day. February, 12, 2014.
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AAA provides their workers with a wide range of different trucks depending on the job at hand including vans, tow trucks, flatbeds, and even snow plows. February 14, 2014.
BEFORE THE STORM
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Slightly frozen Delaware River from Penn’s Landing on February 3, 2014.
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The Delaware River starts to thaw on February 3, 2014 as temperatures rose before they plummeted once more.
BEFORE THE STORM
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Snow plows start to form piles that obstruct views on Aramingo Drive on February 13, 2014.
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Snow piles started to reach all time highs as the snow kept coming through February 13 and 14, 2014.
BEFORE THE STORM
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Predicted to start at 9:00 PM, the winter storm colloquially named “Winter Storm Pax” caused a flurry of activity right up until flakes started falling. Gas stations were reminiscent of the 1970’s and the infamous “Gas Lines.” Some stations even ran out of the precious liquid that many Americans would be hoping to power their homes. Although gas was being pumped in gallons per second, the snow began to fall and crews sprung into action. A swarm of motorists scrambled to get home and road crews scrambled to get out on the roads to clear the fast accumulating snow. Pax was showing his opening performance. With snow accumulating in inches per hour, the city was going to be buried by morning.
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9:00 PM 19
The gas lines of the Montgomeryville, PA Wawa range from 2 to 3 cars long. Gas prices have risen almost twenty cents this week but this did not deter Montgomery County residents from filling their vehicles gas tanks.
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Towmencin resident Mike Kush fills up a gas can at the Wawa on Forty Foot Road in Hatfield, PA. Kush had lost power in last week’s ice storm for 12 hours. He was feeling more positive about this storm since he was “more prepared.”
9:00 PM
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The West Point Gulf Deli pumps are deserted after the station ran out of gasoline earlier in the evening. Pump attendant Frank Summers said it had been at least 14 years since the station had run out of gas. Summer also commented on how today was possibly the worst day in his 14 years of servicing customers at his Lansdale, PA location.
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The West Point Gulf Deli sits empty on a busy night for gas. The popular local gas station had run out of gas after going through 1,200 gallons in two hours. Pump attendant Frank Summers, originally of Seattle WA, says this has been the busiest day he has seen in years. Summers was expecting a delivery of gasoline between four and seven but the Gulf truck never showed.
9:00 PM
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Snow plows begin work as snow begins falling late in the night in Fishtown on February 12, 2014.
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Streets were hard to keep clear on February 12, 2014 as the snow began to fall.
9:00 PM
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Snow falls faster in Northern Liberties as the night wears on, February 12, 2014.
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People brave the inclement weather in Fishtown to make it home before they get snowed in on February 12, 2014.
9:00 PM
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THROUGH THE NIGHT 28
As the night went on, Pax’s fury grew. Snow started falling at several inches per hour and the city was slowly blanketed in a sea of white. Whiteout conditions began to affect the last few brave motorists and multiple plow crews on the roads past midnight. As the city slept, hundreds of men and women fought Pax head on. Winds whipped up vortices of white and clung to any cold surface it could hold on to. Cars buried, sidewalks blocked and roads quickly became slick. The winter weather had done it’s worst and with the warming temperatures, snow quickly turned to sleet, sleet turned to rain. Cleared city streets quickly became rivers and street corners quickly became swamps of standing water. Although most of the city had the day off, many winter service employees geared up for the coming day of hard work.
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Initial snow starts to fall in the suburb of Upper Gwynedd, PA at 11:38 PM. Stiff winds in the Montgomery County suburb create a potential risk for snow drifts and even more power outages. 11:57 p.m.
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At midnight on February 13, 2014 the snow continues to fall outside of Annenberg Hall School of Communication and Media in Temple University.
THROUGH THE NIGHT
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View down 13th St on Temple University’s campus as the storm picks up the pace.
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The snow begins to fall so quickly it appears as if it is fake, generated snow.
THROUGH THE NIGHT
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Regional Rail lines in and out of the city were delayed heavily early in the morning on February 13, 2014.
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Visibility on Temple University’s campus worsens later into the night on February 13, 2014.
THROUGH THE NIGHT
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The day started warmer than predicted for most of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Residents emerged from their shelter for the night to a crisp blanket of snow laid by Pax. The work was just starting. All over the city residents worked their way through ten inches of the white stuff armed with shovels and salt. One dedicated resident Loraine of Park Avenue, just north of Temple University’s Main campus shovelled her whole side of the street with the help of her neighbor. Loraine was concerned about the well being of her community unlike many of the Temple students, whose houses were clearly identifiable by unshovelled walks. As the day set in, the work continued for most residents but many businesses decided to call it a “snow day.�
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Digging Out 37
Greg, a proud worker from the National Park Services, works alongside others to shovel out Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and Washington Square. They began working at 6 a.m. on February 13, 2014.
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Crews shovel and salt on 16th St and Walnut St as the city braced for round two of the Nor’easter on February 13, 2014.
DIGGING OUT
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Kevin Quinn shovels snow on Market Street, in Center City, Philadelphia, on Monday, February 3, 2014.
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Tom Swift uses on snow blower on a sidewalk in the Old City section of Philadelphia, on Monday, February 3, 2014.
DIGGING OUT
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A man shovels snow off the sidewalk on Market Street after the storm.
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A man stands waiting for a SEPTA bus that never came due to SEPTA suspending all bus routes at 10 a.m. on February 13, 2014.
DIGGING OUT
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Open and Shut 44
With Philadelphia School District closing and all Philadelphia local universities and college closed, the city became a ghost town of adventurous souls looking for some snow day fun. Although most businesses remained closed through Pax’s rage, some stores decided to offer refuge and savings to shoppers. Diesel, a high fashion jeans manufacturer, opened their doors on Walnut Street at 11 AM. United by Blue, a brand news coffee shop and clothier on 2nd street in Old City offered snow day deals and warm drinks to customers who were out exploring. Although many schools were closed, commerce did not come to a halt for Pax.
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The store, Bettie Page, closes on Walnut St due to the inclement weather on February 13, 2014.
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A hand decorated sign hangs in the window of Bettie Page on Walnut Street announcing the closure after the storm on February 13, 2014.
OPEN AND SHUT
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Temple Ambler shuts down after the storm hit and left a lot of snow and ice in its wake.
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Cheltenham Elementary School closed on February 13, 2014 after a nor’easter hit Philadelphia.
OPEN AND SHUT
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Retail store, Diesel, proudly announces that they remained open on February 13, 2014 with a hand drawn sign on Walnut St.
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Lululemon Athletics closes after the nor’easter hit Philadelphia in a clever way, staying true to their yoga backgrounds on February 13, 2014 on Walnut St.
OPEN AND SHUT
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Food trucks along Montgomery Ave shut their doors in response to the University closing on February 13, 2014.
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Resident food trucks on Norris St in North Philadelphia closed up shop after the nor’easter hit Philadelphia on February 13, 2014
OPEN AND SHUT
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The crepe truck, which is usually open everyday, shuts down after the storm on February 13, 2014.
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Temple University’s regional rail station sits idly as major delays were seen on February 13, 2014.
OPEN AND SHUT
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Even after Philadelphia had accumulated ten inches of snow, Pax was not ready to release his grip on the snow stricken city. Around 10 PM on a bitter Valentine’s Day, Pax had begun to anger again. Starting slow, the storm filled in all of the shovelling, salting and plowing that had been done not twelve hours before. The city of Philadelphia will have to push for another clean up. With city budgets stretched to breaking and schools unable to close for another day, this city will have to fight through the rest of winter. Philadelphia will not take this constant battering lying down In the words of Eagles head coach, Chip Kelly, “we’re from Philadelphia and we fight.”
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The Aftermath 57
An unkept street, with trash cans thrown about, in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
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Snow covered steps of the courthouse in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
THE AFTERMATH
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A SEPTA bus drives through the snow and slush on Market Street.
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A narrow street in the Old City section of Philadelphia.
THE AFTERMATH
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Tree branches freeze over in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
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Frozen trees in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
THE AFTERMATH
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Birds fight over a forgotten meal on Temple University’s main campus in North Philadelphia.
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A car is burried under mounds of snow in South Philadelphia.
THE AFTERMATH
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An empty, snow covered parking lot on Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia.
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Mountains of snow are pushed to the edges of an empty parking lot on Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia.
THE AFTERMATH
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APPENDIX
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Stellato Interview Joe Stellato, Manager of McCafferty’s Markets in Yardley, PA. 12 years a manager. Basically we accelerate our delivery schedule so that we have extra product in the store, you bring extra employees in to bring in the influx of customers and pray that it doesn’t get too out of hand. Well for most snowstorms it’s the French toast holiday, it’s the bread, milk, eggs, that’s usually the highest volume of items. But most people do their regular shopping just to get the staples. But bread milk and eggs are the headliners. It’s more a tribute to the dedication to the employees that are there, because they’re the ones driving through the snowstorm to get there to make sure that we can operate. We tried to [order more firewood] but a lot of times with the loss of power there are complications that come with delivery schedules because your suppliers aren’t’ table to get because they’ve lost power or aren’t able to get out. But yea, with the power being out we couldn’t keep firewood in the store, we couldn’t keep Dura flame logs in the store, as fast as we were getting it in, is as fast as we were selling them. We have a generator that is capable of, a diesel-run generator, that will run all of the components in the storm, the refrigeration, the lighting, the electronics. So if we were to be out for an extended period of time we would continue operating on a normal basis. The store has a big dining area upstairs where it became a hangout for people who had lost power. They would sit up there; recharge their electronics, just keeping warm. They would buy food from the food court, sit up there and hang out and have a nice warm comfy place to gather themselves. Well during snowstorms, there’s an increase in sales prior to the snowstorm, but the increase in sales almost always you give it back the next two or three days. If we increase our sales by 50% because of the snowstorm that day, we tend to give up those extra sales the day of the storm or the day after the storm.
APPENDIX
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Terrance Leach, Manager of Time The attendance tonight, I don’t expect too many people. I think people are rushing home to their houses in the ‘burbs to hunker down for tomorrow. It all depends on when the storm hits and it seems like it’s going to hit in the middle of the night, so it looks like it’s going affect us negatively. Well if the snowstorm happens in the middle of the day or on a Monday or a Friday, people tend to know they’re off work and they’re drink tons. I think it’s a lot more for the neighborhood bars. So people can walk to their bar and they usually get a lot more drinks in them than at a normal happy hour. On snowy days we sell a lot more bar food, burgers, fries. I think the sophisticated diners wouldn’t come out and have dinner on those nights. Well after the storm is all night long, and it’s going to snow into the day. I think that with the closings of City Hall is closed now, City Council, I think all of the schools around here will be closed, we definitely will not do our normal happy hour business. It’s definitely going to hurt overall.
APPENDIX
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SNOW SHELTERS
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Winter Storm Pax has many Philadelphians hulled up in the comfort of their homes enjoying a snow day. With the city crippled, our first instinct is to seek shelter from freezing cold temperatures and accumulating snowfall. Legislation has taken appropriate measures to ensure that homeless individuals have refuge from such natural disasters including the Code Blue program. However, there are no such measures taken for homeless animals. Smaller organizations, such as animal shelters, need just as much help during inclement weather.
With their trendy location bringing in an incredible amount of foot traffic, Street Tails is flooded with possible adopters, as well as customers looking for used accessories as the space doubles as a pet thrift store. The amount of responsibilities including dog walking, laundry, cleaning, and socialization are nearly impossible for the limited staff alone. “It’s like a kid that doesn’t get hugged,” Kelemen said. On any given day of summer there can be 15 to 20 volunteers who come in to share the responsibility. However, the winter provides much more dismal, yet manageable numbers (three to four people). When it snows, the shelter is barren.
Street Tails Animal Rescue (STAR), owned and founded by Lindsey Condefer, is a small rescue located in Northern Liberties just a block away from the Piazza at Schmidt’s. Although this location caters only to dogs, they also partner with local “One volunteer if I’m lucky.” animal grooming boutique, Chez Bow Wow, to house their adoptable felines. These numbers also have an adverse effect on the adoption numbers. In Devon Kelemen, 33, is the acting July 2013, eleven dogs were able to manager at Street Tails Animal Resfind homes. Many of these placements cue. Juggling the daily administrative were because of volunteer interaction. tasks along with general care of the “Some of the volunteers are a huge shelter’s animals (which ranges bereason these dogs can find homes,” tween 7-9 dogs at a time) are made Kelemen stated. In December 2013, even more challenging due to the the number dropped to five. snow. The problems that come from the “We get less help, and we have more snow stems well beyond a lack of work,” Kelemen said. volunteers. The dogs get salt in their paws (which can be dangerous and
APPENDIX
painful), every walk takes twice as long, some dogs will refuse to walk in the snow, and there is ten times more cleaning than usual. The saddest problem is the calls that the shelter gets when it snows. Concerned citizens call Street Tails about stray animals or animals that are left outside by their neighbors. The stories you hear are heart wrenching. Unfortunately, tales of abuse and neglect are pedestrian.
in the frigid temperatures and gives them the chance of finding a home. Then again, people are sitting inside their homes — and it is cold outside.
“We once got 18 calls in one day,” Kelemen exclaimed. STAR pulls their animals from ACCT (The Animal Care & Control Team), the only government intake facility in the city of Philadelphia. It is legally required for all area shelters to acquire their animals from ACCT as a means to ensure that they are not a huge behavior liability or have a contagious disease such as mange. Therefore, STAR does not have the ability to help strays directly. Now it’s up to the people. Taking an animal to ACCT ensures they will not freeze 73
CONTRIBUTORS Patrick McPeak Marissa Nicole Pina Charlotte Jacobson Courtney Marabella Alexis Wright-Whitley Danielle Parsons Kathryn Stellato Kelsey Dubinsky Kelsey Stanger Matt Leister Paul Imburgia Maggie Andresen Harrison Brink Hua Zong