North East coast of America on unprecedented lockdown: 60million people hit by shutdown as roads, tunnels, trains, bridges and businesses brought to standstill and THREE FEET of snow threatens country’s most densely-populated areas –Driving bans, threats of arrest, canceled planes, closed railways and metro systems and tunnels froze giant cities | 27 Jan 2015 | Tens of millions of Americans were caught in an unprecedented blizzard lockdown today, with residents of five states effectively banned from going outside as states of emergency were declared. A storm threatening to dump three feet of snow from New Jersey to Massachusetts prompted states of emergency to be declared, with metro systems in New York City and Boston shut, and threats of 500 fines for drivers on roads which were barred in the evening to all but emergency vehicles. A fifth of the population of the U.S. was advised to shelter from the storm, with a large swath of New York state, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts forced from the roads by driving bans to make room for plows, police and ambulances. Governors and mayors told people to stay for all but the most vital reasons, while panicked residents cleaned out stores in anticipation of days trapped behind huge drifts of snow before the rigorous emergency measures kicked in.
Governors Declare States of Emergency in NY, NJ, CT as Potentially Historic Blizzard Bears Down on Tri-State –New York City shut down all streets and subway service at 11 p.m. | 27 Jan 2015 | The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut declared states of emergency ahead of a paralyzing blizzard expected to wallop the tri-state with more than 2 feet of snow, coastal flooding and heavy sustained winds that will cause power outages and make even the slightest travel hazardous. The New York City subway and bus system shut down at 11 p.m. after a National Weather Service blizzard warning went into effect for New York City. MTA officials initially believed they could keep the underground subway service running through the blizzard, but Cuomo said worsening conditions necessitated the closure.
Connecticut Gov. Malloy Declares State of Emergency, Issues 9 P.M. Travel Ban | 26 Jan 2015 | Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy declared a state of emergency Monday and is opening the state Emergency Operations Center to prepare for the winter storm headed into the region. Malloy ordered the center to be activated at 4 p.m. Monday. The Emergency Operations Center will remain open throughout the storm. The state is under a blizzard warning from 1 p.m. Monday until midnight Tuesday. A travel ban is also being issued for the entire state starting at 9 p.m. Monday.