“’Worst blizzard,’ Rhodes says”
They say if you don’t like the weather in Ohio, wait an hour and it will change. In the January of 1978, this was not the case. From January 25-27, 1978, snow fell and wind blew, not letting up- the perfect storm for the Great Blizzard of ‘78.
“76 mph winds, snow paralyze area; no letup until tonight”
Communities across Lake County and the state were operating on emergency power and supplies, with emergency services combatting emergencies as quickly as they could. The governor, James Rhodes, declared a state of emergency and even deployed the National Guard while president, Jimmy Carter, declared Ohio a “…federal emergency area.” Winds blew roofs off buildings and shattered windows at Shoregate Shopping Center in Willowick. Many community services opened their doors to residents without food or power, but for many the best advice was simply to stay home to wait out the storm.
Despite the state of emergency and freezing temperatures, some Lake County residents met the storm with our well-known good-natured humor. A sign declaring “Snow for Sale” could be seen on Pelton and Lost Nation. It was probably a slow sales day with the excess of snow in the region, but we admire the spirit.
Tragically, many people lost their lives in the storm. More than 50 residents of the area died in the blizzard, many from abandoning their cars in an attempt to walk to shelter. Though it has been nearly 50 years, their loss still echoes through our community.
The Great Blizzard of ‘78 stands out for many reasons, however since the snow has melted and the years have rolled on, we have seen more severe weather notably with lower death counts. What has changed, you may wonder? Well, the Great Blizzard of ‘78 taught us several things about preparedness and emergency response. These lessons have become standard operating procedures when the weather has turned fierce over the decades. Improvements include more accurate forecasting, better plows, and improved mass emergency communication.
Though our current winter is far from over, echoes of winters past whisper through our community. Much of what is standard now came as a result of that fateful blizzard. Because of this, we are able to trudge through the storms more prepared and celebrate in the colder months.
References/Further Reading:
News Herald Archives
Revisiting the Blizzard of ’78: Ohio’s worst winter storm
How the Blizzard of ‘78 changed the way we react to winter storms
Blizzard ‘78 After Action Report
Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978 by Michael J. Tougias
Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do by Michael J. Tougias
