MONSTER WINTER STORM IMPACTS USA’S MIDWEST AND

NEW ENGLAND STATES

From ice in Texas to more snow in New England

FEBRUARY 1-2, 2011

Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, University of

North Carolina, USA

MONSTER WINTER STORM (FLORIDA IS LOWER RIGHT): FEB 1

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

OHIO

MONSTER WINTER STORM

100 million people across the country were impacted as a result of the system's 3,300 km (2,100 mi) reach.

Parts of nine states — Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois,

Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio — were covered by a blizzard

warning Tuesday morning (Feb 1st)

THE MONSTER STORM BROUGHT EVERYTHING

• Whiteout conditions• Up to 60 cm (24 in) of snow • Up 5 cm (2 in) of sleet and ice• Wind gusting up to 100 km/hr (100 mi/hr) • Bitter cold (Below zero F)

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE MONSTER STORM

• Impassable icy roads• Overwhelmed train stations• 9,000 flights canceled • Widespread power outages

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE MONSTER STORM

• School districts, universities and legislatures closed•Community and state budgets strained to the limit • Spike in healthcare needs