A Nice White Blanket

By: Mr. Wilson on October 26, 2007
I've been waiting for the Journal Star's coverage of the October 1997 snowstorm as my cue to reflect on one of Lincoln's all-time greatest weather events. That storm was awesome. Sure, there was plenty of damage and inconvenience, and two Nebraskans were killed. I especially don't want to minimize the impact of the deaths. But as a weather event, you really have to admire Mother Nature for that one. It was a doozy. Then again, I love dramatic weather events. When I happen to get caught in the middle of such an event, even better. I still can't believe my poor Ford Tempo made it through Lincoln's dark streets that night. These days it can hardly drive through a rain storm, much less through snow. I remember finally pulling up to the University parking lot, only to realize that even if I were to make it through the snow-packed driveway, how was I supposed to know where the parking spots were? I eventually opted for the "gun it until you hit a snow drift" method of entering the lot and parking. The method worked pretty well, except it took me forever to unbury my car later that week. Can you imagine being a visitor to the city that weekend? Ha! Those people are probably scarred for life, swearing to never again to return to Lincoln. If you weren't in Lincoln at the time, you really missed out. Now you have to put up with everybody else referring to "The October Snowstorm" and waiting for them to finish their stories -- which you've heard 100 times -- any time it comes up. No worries; every generation has its great weather event. Hang around for a while and you'll find yours.

Comments

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Moses
October 26, 2007 at 3:33PM

My lovely wife and I were dating at the time and she was living in Bellevue.  She came to Lincoln that evening because I was hosting a Halloween party. We ended the evening with five out of towners stuck at my house for the next three days.  We survived that so we decided a week later that we could survive marriage.  Never will we forget that storm.

Duffman
October 26, 2007 at 4:05PM

I remember that storm.  I was still in high school and we lived out in the country.  We didn’t have power for 5 days and couldn’t get to town for 4.  We ended up cooking a frozen pizza on the grill.  On the 5th day we ended up going to town and getting a hotel room for the night because the house was getting to cold.  It was pretty fun.

Gene
October 26, 2007 at 4:50PM

Moses, that’s one of the better stories I’ve heard.

CS
October 26, 2007 at 9:01PM

I had been taking a class at HC and my then GF was going to Dana. I went up there for the weekend after working third shift College security. Did’nt come back for a week, my room mate thought I had died or something. Ha ha…...same as Duffman, too. Still married, 9 years this year.

Karin
October 27, 2007 at 3:37PM

I moved here in Feb. of 1998. I hope to leave Nebraska before I have my own horror stories to tell. 😊

OK, maybe not. At least I hope that if I’m here, my house keeps power. 😛

I wish Flickr was around back then, it would be fun to browse all the pictures….

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