Hundreds of Cars Stuck on Long Island Expressway.

[elleng]

Source: nyt/ap

PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. (AP) — Police in New York say hundreds of cars have gotten stuck on the Long Island Expressway during a massive snowstorm and dozens of disabled motorists are still on the road.

Suffolk County police say cars began getting stuck Friday afternoon because weather conditions have been so bad. Authorities say vehicles are backed up and can't pass one another, and mounds of snow from plows have made it difficult for them to exit the highway.

Police say disabled motorists remain on the road early Saturday, and officers are working to get them off the road and make sure they're safe.

The Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway are both shut down in Suffolk County except for emergency vehicles.

Authorities say no injuries have been reported.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/02/09/us/ap-us-northeast-snow-long-island-expressway.html?hp

[Warpy]

1. "World's Longest Parking Lot" when the roads are dry

and it's a warm, sunny day.

Any commuter who was stuck putting in a full day in the city should have gotten a hotel room rather than trying to drive home, especially on that road!

[elleng]

2. Right. Hope everyone's OK.

Road was damaged in Sandy; was wondering how it would be in the future, and now this! Glad I visited in September.

[Warpy]

5. Fortunately, until you get way out on LI, there are houses close

enough to the road for people to slog over and get some help and/or shelter for the night.

Rte 128 around Boston was a mess for many days after the blizzard in 78, making plowing nearly impossible after people had finally been dug out and rescued.

This one doesn't seem to be that bad, not so far. It's almost over in western CT and much of LI and tomorrow morning will tell the tale about the rest of the area.

[marybourg]

13. That might be a solution in other

places, but really in Manhattan, especially for working class people.

[Warpy]

37. Working class doesn't live in the burbs on Long Island

Working class lives in the outer boroughs and don't drive to work.

[marybourg]

38. That's not true, Warpy. The central spine of L.I.

(as opposed to the North and South Shores) is filled with working class people, and many do drive because the cost of driving can be 1) shared, 2) is often less immediately noticeable than paying the astronomical cost of a monthly L.I.R.R. ticket, and 3) may be the only practical way for one who doesn't live near a station, has odd, nighttime hours, needs to pick up kids from closer-in daycare or school, or any of of the thousands of reasons that can impinge on the lives of tens of thousands of very working-class commuters.

[Danmel]

41. Totally not true

Especially in Suffolk County. There are many working class and poor communities on Long Island. It is not all wealthy. Not even close.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. Maybe it was difficult to find a hotel room

And hotels rooms in The City can be quite pricey-- even the roach specials are $100 or more.

[Beacool]

32. Yeah, the LIE sucks on a good day.

I can't even imagine it on a snowy day.

[Warpy]

36. You mean LID

Long Island Distressway

The last time I tried to manage it, it was sunny, dry, warm, and a weekend with no traffic. I was still late to where I was trying to go.

If any part of the country cries out for a high speed rail line, it's Long Island. Only high speed rail would persuade people out of their cars and off that stinking road.

[Beacool]

39. I was almost late to a wedding once.

Although we had left with what we thought was plenty of time to spare.

[longship]

3. Don't drive! Stay home!

And whatever you do, do not set out on the Long Island Expressway.

How many hours ahead of time did people know not to do what they have apparently did anyway.

I don't know whether to feel sorry for these stranded people or to shrug.

I know people have to do what they have to do. But when there's a major storm forecast, you would think that people would use their heads for something other than a place to put a hat.

I hope all those people get home safe and sound.

[elleng]

4. You make good points but

article says 'cars began getting stuck Friday afternoon because weather conditions have been so bad,' Sounds like people returning home from the city who tried to beat the storm were surprised by early severity of conditions

[longship]

6. Yup. I know.

But if I were a boss in town, I would have sent people home early. I know this isn't exactly practical, but for Christ sakes, didn't fucking Sandy teach anybody anything?

I just hope that this nor'easter isn't as bad as they predicted. I hope people get home safely.

[Sherman A1]

7. Not all Bosses were so generous as you would have been

My daughter works in the city and their office preparation for the storm was to make Friday casual day.

In the late AM they were sent an email by the bosses and department managers who were "surprisingly" working from home that anyone who lived outside the city could leave early.

She made it home, said that the wind, freezing rain and or snow was just stinging her as she got off her train.

[Gormy Cuss]

30. Yup. I worked for jerks like that

and ditto on the jerks "working at home" who were the ones who wanted everyone else at their desks.

[Ikonoklast]

21. Yes.

Taught me to always use protection.

[orleans]

8. chicago had a bad time on lake shore drive

in the blizzard of 2011
the city didn't close the drive soon enough
(oopsie?)
people were stranded for 12 hours
900 cars had to be towed

when shit like this happens the city officials always seem so unprepared. why? they get the weather reports like the rest of us.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. So the experience of 2011,the fact some NJ and Mass governors declared NO driving,

did not sink in for people who got onto a crowded highway in the face of a bad storm that had been predicted for 2 days in advance.

Same behavior we see down here in hurricane country.
A hurricane is a known danger for several days before it hits, and most def for 24 to 48 hours before landfall.
Cities and towns in its path repeatedly warn people to evacuate, police actually go to problem areas,
knock on doors to get people to evacuate, and warn resident NO rescue is available during the storm because flooding and winds make it too dangerous to be out in it.
Not to mention tornadoes and killer lightening, falling trees, etc.
So what happens? 911 switchboard is lit up until the power goes out, with people wanting police to come and help get them out of their houses at the height of the storm.
And highways become clogged with people who wait until the last minute to leave, so folks get to sit in their cars on a 4 lane parking lot and ride out the 12 hour storm.
Time after time after time after time.

[OrwellwasRight]

31. Why don't they just stay at work?

At least there is heat, and most probably some kind of furniture and possibly access to food and water. And definitely bathrooms. Why would they risk freezing to death in a car in a snowstorm?

[alcibiades_mystery]

50. You forgot the part where city officials begged people not to use Lake Shore for three days

prior to the snowstorm.

Just sayin'...it is part of the story.

[AtheistCrusader]

9. I wonder if the Police can use those giant APC's they have for hostage recovery

to tootle on down the road, through the snow? Would only be able to grab a few people at a time, but it shouldn't get stuck.

[PotatoChip]

10. Years ago, some co-workers and I got stuck

at the bottom of an long, icy, un-sanded hill on our way home from work. There were about 10 cars and trucks ahead of us whose drivers had attempted to make it, but ended up in various states of chaos. Some stuck sideways, some in snowbanks, others in the wrong lane.

It was a mess, and we knew we'd be stuck for awhile since since state transportation workers had that day off for state budgetary reasons (1 of 5 pre-planned 'furlough days' IIRC). Also, going back and trying to find a detour presented other obstacles, not the least of which was that there were approximately another 10 or 15 vehicles behind us, and hills just as bad in other directions.

County workers eventually got us all safely over the hill, but it took over 3 hours before they arrived.

Anyway, the point of this long boring story is that it actually was kind of fun! For me anyway, since I was not driving. Most of the stranded were other co-workers along with a few delivery trucks. A beer, a soda, and a snack truck were among them.

The beer truck driver was the first to say f**k- it, and pull out a case which he offered to our little section of the mess. We all tried to pay him fearing he'd get in trouble, but he seemed unconcerned and wouldn't take a dime. Then, to our surprise, the soda and snack truck drivers followed suit for the benefit of the beer guy and everyone else driving who (obviously) couldn't drink alcohol. We had quite a fun little party going on by the time we got out of there!

I just hope that the delivery truck drivers didn't face any disciplinary action for what they did.

[callous taoboy]

11. Cool story. Does anyone remember that "All in the Family" episode where

Archie and Meathead get stuck in Archie's cellar, they find a bottle of alcohol and get snockered? They end up singing and their bad relationship is put on hold for a while. Beautiful episode.

[PotatoChip]

12. No, I don't remember that one

but always loved the program. Great character writing and comedy in it! Archie must have been snockered to have set aside his scorn of poor 'Meathead'.

Thanks for the reminder of that show. I now suddenly have the urge to see it again. Maybe I can find it on Hulu or something.

[valerief]

17. I do! nt

[Ikonoklast]

23. Archie talked of his modest upbringing, not really having much as a kid.

Mike Stivic: What did they call you in school?

Archie: Different things.

Mike Stivic: Tell me, what did they call you in school?

Archie: Well, I remember one winter during the Depression when we didn't have any money because my father lost his job, we was all bust. And I wore out a shoe. One shoe. So I couldn't go to school with only one shoe. But my mother found a boot, so I had a shoe on one foot there and a boot on the other. A shoe and a boot. So the kids call me 'Shoebootie'.

Mike Stivic: They used to call you 'Shoebootie', huh? [laughs]

Archie: They used to holler, "Tutti fruitti, here comes Shoebootie." They called me that until they learned my name was Archibald and they thought that was funny. And then I wished they'd go back to 'Shoebootie'.

[blaze]

25. Hahaha!!! That was great!

I don't remember that episode, but thanks for the quote! It was easy to picture in my mind!

[callous taoboy]

27. Which reminds me of an argument they got into over shoes:

It was about which makes the most sense, dressing "sock, sock, shoe, shoe" or "sock, shoe, sock, shoe." One of the most brilliant sit-coms ever.

[Skittles]

46. if I recall

it was the first time Meathead understood the hardship Archie faced while growing up and his real dedication to his family - lovely episode

[callous taoboy]

48. Very poignant, indeed. That show had it all. n/t

[obxhead]

15. I hope those people were packed for the trip

Full tank, blankets or sleeping bags, flashlights, cell phone charger, cb radio,.... the list goes on and on of stuff you would want in the car with you while stuck like that.

If it were me I would probably be desperately wishing for a backup pack of smokes (yeah, I know), a gaming device of some kind, and someone to be stuck with me so I wouldn't be freaking out.

Hope they all get somewhere safe soon.

[elleng]

52. Water is my major necessity; don't go anywhere without it.

Gas, of course. Phone charger always in the car. And hope car battery is up to a few hours of radio: http://www.weta.org/fm

[obxhead]

53. Yeah

With my job I always have a mix of 30 or so bottles of water and Gatorade in the back. I can hydrate and put fires out (the Gatorade has that fire retardant in it)

[elleng]

54. HA!

The green Gatorade???

[valerief]

16. More fallout from the "generosity" of employers who babble free market bullshit.

Employers knew the storm was coming yet either demanded or allowed their employees to remain working in the city. Sure, some of these people stuck are knuckleheads but I'll bet most are folks just trying to keep their jobs. Well, no harm to the free marketeers! They got their pennies' worth from their employees.

[EastKYLiberal]

19. Yes. It needs to be illegal for employers to force employees to stay during severe weather... nt

[mike dub]

22. I was wondering the same thing, EastKYLiberal

I hope employees were allowed to leave early/work from home, instead of having to fight traffic/snow on their way home.

We had a mere freezing rain turned sleet storm here in our part of North Carolina a few weeks ago, and our employer said in the morning, once we knew it was gonna hit: anyone who feels they could have trouble getting home later, leave work at your discretion.

I hope some folks using the Long Island Expressway were given that option. And I don't think being Southerners (we don't see near as much scary-driving winter weather as Northeasterners) had everything to do with it: my boss is just straight-forward, and courteous to his employees.

We're a private workplace/ salaried, but my boss'd rather write off some free hours for employees than have us wreck, or be stranded. I realize there are millions more cars in NYC though, also. Harder to get everyone home and off the roads.

[blaze]

29. Nice boss

Love hearing about bosses who put the safety of their employees first!

[2theleft]

45. I'm a boss (mid level manager) at a large company

I never wait for the "corporate memo" telling us to use our discretion regarding coming in or leaving early. My team laughs at me because I tell them the day before something is forecasted, any concerns, WORK FROM HOME. If you come to work, when the first flake falls, get out. NO ONE is getting hurt on my watch. Just not worth it. To me, these people are not just workers, they are my team members - I have a vested interest in their health, safety, security. Sixteen years so far at this company and I haven't gotten in trouble yet. I just wish the other managers would do the same. Makes me so mad.

Go figure that I have a very low turnover rate on my team

[Auntie Bush]

49. When the gov. says stay off the highway...that should override any bosses wishes/orders.

Maybe next time they should ticket anyone on the road unless they have a damn good excuse. Boss saying they will be fired if they don't come to work...isn't a good enough excuse. Then maybe bosses will learn not to make such requests. Maybe bosses who require workers to come in, or else, should be heavily fined. That should help diminish traffic with the next emergency.

[SummerSnow]

51. It should be called...

The Jack frost is nipping at your nose law

[Festivito]

18. Dangerous. People could die of carbon-monoxide poisoning.

It's cold. They leave the car running. They tall blown snow blocks the tail pipe and the affluent travels along the bottom of the car and gets pulled into the passenger compartment.

That's for just trying to stay warm.

I hope they are successful pulling those people out of all those snow banks.

[kiri]

33. effluent = exhaust

The affluent are snug at home.

[Jackpine Radical]

35. Effluent also = the idle rich.

Or any other similar discharged waste product.

[Festivito]

42. The engine effluent exits the exhaust, streams to the fan motor, affluent to the cabin feeder ducts

It makes sense to etymology as I read it, but it's entomology that usually bugs me.

[bitchkitty]

24. Oh, man!

I was feeling sorry for myself this morning when I took the dogs to the park, because my nose and hands got a little cold. Those poor people.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

26. I still have to wonder;

didn't these drivers hear the snow was coming? To be on the freeway, stuck, means being out in the storm well after it started, doesn't it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. Maybe they had to work

Not everyone can afford to take the day off.

[elleng]

34. A REAL mess, folks still stuck!

On the Long Island Expressway, Cold, Hungry and Stranded

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/nyregion/on-the-long-island-expressway-cold-hungry-and-stranded.html?hp&_r=0

[CTyankee]

40. Sad, very sad...

[Beacool]

43. That's like normal weekend traffic in summer, the only difference is the snow.

[elleng]

44. HA!

[Beacool]

47. Hi!!!