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US snowstorm: 'Full-blown bread and milk freak out' erupts as blizzards threaten East Coast | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Around 75 million Americans are bracing themselves for potentially life-threatening blizzard conditions as the season’s first major Atlantic Coast storm begins to sweep across the East Coast. | Around 75 million Americans are bracing themselves for potentially life-threatening blizzard conditions as the season’s first major Atlantic Coast storm begins to sweep across the East Coast. |
At least five states have declared emergencies as the potentially historic blizzard, expected to begin on Friday, threatens to dump up to 75 cm of snow in some regions, ITV reports. | |
The warnings have sent millions of residents in the storm’s path into, what has been dubbed, a “full-blown freak out”, as shoppers hurriedly gathered supplies in preparation for the wintery weather. | The warnings have sent millions of residents in the storm’s path into, what has been dubbed, a “full-blown freak out”, as shoppers hurriedly gathered supplies in preparation for the wintery weather. |
Supermarket shelves were stripped of bread, milk and other essentials, with people posting pictures of empty shelves from as early as Wednesday. | Supermarket shelves were stripped of bread, milk and other essentials, with people posting pictures of empty shelves from as early as Wednesday. |
Consumer watchdogs warned against illegal price gouging for such essentials as generators, batteries, flashlights and hotel lodging. | Consumer watchdogs warned against illegal price gouging for such essentials as generators, batteries, flashlights and hotel lodging. |
Bread and milk appear to be the most popular essentials with stocks running exceedingly low across shops in the affected areas. | Bread and milk appear to be the most popular essentials with stocks running exceedingly low across shops in the affected areas. |
One supermarket has even been forced to put up signs saying they had sold out of milk, amid what has been dubbed a “snowpocalypse”. | One supermarket has even been forced to put up signs saying they had sold out of milk, amid what has been dubbed a “snowpocalypse”. |
Shops in Arlington, Virginia reported long lines and high demand for milk, bread and toilet paper, ARL Now reports. | Shops in Arlington, Virginia reported long lines and high demand for milk, bread and toilet paper, ARL Now reports. |
In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, outside Philadelphia, supermarkets struggled to replenish shelves with bread, bagels, milk and eggs before the latest round of shoppers snapped them up. | In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, outside Philadelphia, supermarkets struggled to replenish shelves with bread, bagels, milk and eggs before the latest round of shoppers snapped them up. |
Cherry Hill resident, Doreen Haenick, told ABC 6: “They didn't even have the milk I wanted. Just plain skim milk, but what are you gonna do.” | Cherry Hill resident, Doreen Haenick, told ABC 6: “They didn't even have the milk I wanted. Just plain skim milk, but what are you gonna do.” |
The frenzied stock-piling appears to be a seasonal pre-blizzard ritual on the East Coast. Around the same time last year the threat of a blizzard in the New England and mid-Atlantic regions also cause panicked hoarding. | The frenzied stock-piling appears to be a seasonal pre-blizzard ritual on the East Coast. Around the same time last year the threat of a blizzard in the New England and mid-Atlantic regions also cause panicked hoarding. |
The frenzied shopping even resulted a much-mocked shortage of kale in New York City supermarkets, CBS reported. | The frenzied shopping even resulted a much-mocked shortage of kale in New York City supermarkets, CBS reported. |
The National Weather Service described the weekend storm as "potentially crippling" for a swath of the Northeast. | The National Weather Service described the weekend storm as "potentially crippling" for a swath of the Northeast. |
A blizzard watch was issued for New York City and parts of Long Island and New Jersey starting early on Saturday. | A blizzard watch was issued for New York City and parts of Long Island and New Jersey starting early on Saturday. |
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which includes the second-busiest US. subway system, took the rare step of suspending operations from late on Friday through Sunday. | The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which includes the second-busiest US. subway system, took the rare step of suspending operations from late on Friday through Sunday. |
The Virginia National Guard said it planned to bring in up to 300 troops to assist in response operations. | The Virginia National Guard said it planned to bring in up to 300 troops to assist in response operations. |
Airlines have cancelled Friday and Saturday flights, with many of the 2,200 cancellations for Friday, most of them at airports in North Carolina and Washington, according to FlightAware.com. | Airlines have cancelled Friday and Saturday flights, with many of the 2,200 cancellations for Friday, most of them at airports in North Carolina and Washington, according to FlightAware.com. |
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, Alex Sosnowski, said the storm taking aim at Washington could rank among the biggest snowfalls on record, eclipsing the "Snowmageddon" storm of 2010 that dropped 45.2 cm. | AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, Alex Sosnowski, said the storm taking aim at Washington could rank among the biggest snowfalls on record, eclipsing the "Snowmageddon" storm of 2010 that dropped 45.2 cm. |
Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |