Long Island Buried

Dangerous conditions and historic snow snarl communities

The winter storm that hit the northeast over the weekend had a tremendous effect on Long Island, New York, especially Suffolk County and Town of Brookhaven.

People joked about stocking up on supplies before the storm, but it became no joke when roads became unusable and residents could not leave their homes for days.  Schools were closed early Friday and eventually Monday and Tuesday since streets were still not plowed.

"The storm hit at a time commuters were making their way back from the city," said Suffolk county Executive Steven Bellone. "The snow just swallowed them up. It came down so hard and so fast." 

Read the rest of the story on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website!

—Kid Reporter William Russell

Photo: Snow buries Kid Reporter William Russell's bloc in Sound Beach. This was the scene all over Brookhaven Town in Long Island, New York, after the winter storm. (William Russell)
 

Snow covers Connecticut

On Thursday evening, weather reports predicted a little more than seven inches of snow would fall in Westport, Connecticut. Those weathermen were in for a shock.

Storm Nemo dropped a foot and a half of snow on Westport, a coastal Connecticut town.

Schools were open Friday morning, but suddenly the skies opened up.  Thick snow rained down on the town.  Students arrived at school through the treacherous conditions, but were soon notified that there would be early dismissal for the Westport Public Schools.

After school let out, kids took to the biggest hills they could find armed with their sleds.  Everyone enjoyed shooting down the slopes with their friends. Friday night brought heavy winds, but Saturday morning the children were back at the town’s best sledding spots.

The 18 inches of snow were the most in two years.  Most kids said that they spent the weekend sipping hot chocolate, skiing, sledding, and enjoying the snow.

—Kid Reporter Cooper Boardman

Blizzard dumps massive amount of snow on Long Island

A place still recovering from Hurricane Sandy gets hit with nearly three feet of snow

The Town of Brookhaven was hit the hardest by the blizzard Nemo. Some neighborhoods -- including my community of Sound Beach -- got 32 inches of snow!

It all started Thursday night as people started to prepared for the storm.  We all lived through Hurricane Sandy, and a lot of people feared they would lose power during this storm, too. There were also long lines at gas stations and gas was running out -- just like what happened with Sandy. People waited in long lines at grocery stores to get supplies.

On Friday, we woke up to light snow but still went to school. By 12:45 my school was closed and we all got to go home! The snow was getting heavier. Weather stations kept saying it would turn to rain but it never did.  All night the snow got heavier and heavier. We could hear branches cracking outside.  Cars were getting stuck on roads. People we knew were trapped in cars or at train stations trying to figure out how to get home!

The snow got so high that we couldn't open our front door. The branches on trees we hanging all the way to the ground.  We just kept our fingers crossed the power would stay on.

By Saturday morning, the snow had ended and we could see our winter wonderland! Although some people were not happy to shovel! The sound of snow blowers fill the air.  Kids are snowball fighting and sledding.  The snow is so high that its difficult to walk in some spots.

The town of Brookhaven has issued an emergency executive order that states nobody is allowed to be out on the roads starting at 10:00 a.m. until further notice.  The roads are really dangerous for travel.

I plan in spending my day building a snowman and drinking lots of hot chocolate!

—Kid Reporter William Russell

Photo: Snow blankets cars an streets in Sound Beach, Long Island. There is so much snow that tree branches are sagging under the weight. (Courtesy William Russell)

Blizzard Bears Down

Northeast braces for historic storm

In recent years, the Boston area hasn't been hit by any major snowstorms. But that is all about to change.

A major winter storm has begun moving dropping heavy snow, ice, and rain on the northeastern part of the United States. The storm has been named Nemo by the Weather Channel, and it could bring one of the largest blizzards this section of the country has ever seen.

Read the rest of the story on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website! And share your stories and experiences of the storm in the comments section below!

Photo: Kevin Quick plows a slushy mix during a winter storm in Buffalo, New York, on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

—Kid Reporter Coleman Hirschberg 

Nature's Halloween trick: Snow!

"Look outside!" my cousin shouted from the window in an astonished tone. It was around 5 p.m. on October 29, and I was spending the weekend with my cousins. I automatically began thinking of possible issues, but never would I have guessed the true commotion. I made my way to the window, ready to see something useless, when I saw what he was looking at — SNOW! I had heard here and there that there would be early snow, but when is there ever snow in October?! The reality of this abrupt change of weather hit me hard. Not even 24 hours ago, the birds were chirping in the sunlight filled sky! I had never seen snow fall before Halloween! 

Soon after the snow discovery, we lost power. Sitting inside, you could hear the crackling sound of falling trees. After about two hours, I ventured outside to see how bad it really was. I was surprised. There was so much snow and damage! The snow was halfway between my knee and my ankles — a lot considering it had only been snowing for a short period of time. Since we were in an area with a lot of trees, naturally many would fall down. Because most of the leaves haven't fallen, let alone changed color, the extra weight of the snow caused the trees to fall. It was quite scary seeing so many trees all over the place. I was tempted to build a snowman, with the snow the perfect blend of crunch and iciness, but quickly brushed that thought away after learning that there were many electricity polls had fallen and could cause electric shock. I then went inside, and fell asleep longing for a sip of hot cocoa.

Immediately after waking up I rushed to the window. It was still snowing! I reached for the light switch to find the power was still out. With the morning light, I could see that the snow had risen higher. It was a few inches higher that it was when I went to sleep. My aunt informed me that the storm had already claimed 25 lives. I was astonished, and decided to stay inside for safety. I also learned that Worcester, Massachusetts, where we were, was the hardest hit city and that more than 800,000 homes were without power. According to the weatherman, this was the worst snowstorm to ever hit Worcester!

Today, almost a week later, thousands of houses are still without power. Schools have been closed and some might not to open until next week. As for Halloween, it has been rescheduled in Worcester and many other badly hit cities for Thursday, November 3.

—Kid Reporter Wanjiku Gatheru

Photo: A large tree falls on top of a car after an early snowfall in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 30, 2011. (REUTERS/Adam Hunger)

The New York City view of Hurricane Irene

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s evacuation plans were put in place for low-lying areas of New York City. The evacuation areas were called “Zone A” and included Coney Island in Brooklyn, parts of the Raceways in Queens, the Staten Island coast and Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan. 

A total of 370,000 New York City residents evacuated. Many evacuees went to stay with friends or family or hotels outside the danger zone.  The city also provided hurricane shelters throughout the five boroughs.

Mass transit, including subways and buses, were shut down throughout the city for more than 24 hours. 

“We hope for the best, but we prepare for the worst," said during one of his press conferences.

Both New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declared states of emergency as Irene as it battered the Bahamas and continued moving toward the United States. President Obama said Irene had the makings of an "historic hurricane."

Tropical storm Irene formed on the coast of Bahamas and proceeded towards the United States. Irene accumulated power as it got closer to the United States. At one point, Irene had become a Category 3 hurricane. Irene was massive. The diameter of the storm according to NASA satellites was almost one-third the length of the whole U.S. Atlantic coast line measuring up to 700 miles wide.

As a resident of “Zone A,” I also prepared for the worst.  My parents and I packed up and took a taxi to a hotel in “Zone B” a less vulnerable part of the city.  My friend Olivia, 14 years old,  was at the same hotel as me. Olivia was with her parents and her little dog named Gracie.  I did not know what to expect from this weather event, but, It was good to spend time with friends and family during the storm.

Fortunately, by the time Irene hit New York City, it was no longer a catastrophic storm and it was downgraded to a tropical storm. 

The storm surge from the Hudson River, however, flooded parts of Manhattan, including Zones A and B. A storm surge is the rise of water that occurs as the result of a storm. Flooding in the city was about a foot deep.  

The Holland Tunnel, a highway tunnel under the Hudson River connecting the island of Manhattan with New Jersey, was closed due to flooding. Irene caused water and wind damage in New York and hundreds of thousands of people were without power.  Furthermore, the storm killed at least 15 people as it swept up the East Coast over the weekend.

—Kid Reporter Cecila Gault

Photo: A bike on the streets of New York is partially submerged by flood waters caused by Hurricane Irene. (Courtesy Cecilia Gault) 

Joplin still recovering after devastating tornado

Recently, my family and I took a road trip from our home in Louisiana to Buchanan, Michigan. On our way there, we passed through the small town of Joplin, Missouri. 

On May 22, the city of 48,000 was devastated by a massive tornado. It ripped through Joplin with 166-mile-per-hour winds. And when the storm ended, it left 25 percent of the town damaged in a one-mile-wide, four-miles-long path of destruction.

Months later, Joplin is still recovering. Driving through the city, my family and I saw the scale of destruction first hand. It was an unforgettable experience. While I was in the part of Joplin hit by the tornado, I felt surrounded — stuck, even — in the debris and literally broken homes. The scope of the damage is unimaginable.

Who knew a tornado like this was possible? Writing about the experience of visiting Joplin is very challenging for me. I get very emotional thinking of how a family’s whole life can change in a split second. I took photos when I was in Joplin, but no picture can capture how amazingly large this event was. Damage goes on farther than the human eye can see! There were many, many damaged homes, and I was able to walk through a few.

One house seemed to be a normal family’s home, but there was something special about it. Quite a few items remained. There was a refrigerator in the living room with items like eggs, chocolate syrup, hot sauce, and, believe it or not, an unopened six-pack of Diet Coke! These everyday items looked normal — expect they were covered in dirt and debris. Also in the kitchen, on the counter, were three tubs of peanut butter. The couches in the house were turned upside down, but shoes were completely undamaged. 

Joplin has been through more than pictures can show or words can express. Many people survived, and some people even escaped the wrath of the storm. But everyone in Joplin will always remember May 22, 2011 — the day disaster struck their town.

—Kid Reporter Tori Feaster

Photo: A truck sits upside down in a house that was destroyed by the May 22 tornado. (Courtesy Tori Feaster) 

My Relatives in Japan

Kid Reporter talks to her grandparents and uncle after earthquake.

I have relatives in Japan who experienced the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

“I haven’t slept well since Friday, but I am grateful that everyone in my family is fine and I have a roof over my head,” my 74-year-old grandmother told me by phone this week. She lives in Yokohama, Japan. “I can’t bear to watch the television; devastation in northeastern Japan is unimaginable. So many people just washed away by the tsunami. My heart bleeds for them and their families.”

Yokohama and the nation’s capital of Tokyo are in the Kantou area, which now has scheduled blackouts to conserve energy. In the Yokohama area where my family lives, their scheduled blackout means four to five hours without electricity each day.

Subways and trains in Tokyo and Yokohama are affected by the blackout. Many lines have been suspended. As a result, my uncle now spends two to three hours each way to get to and from work. My aunt spends two hours walking to work every day.

“It is nothing, compared to what is going on at the Fukushima nuclear plant and the disaster area,” my uncle Masa told me. “I am very afraid of what is going to happen next.”

Uncle Massa has prepared “go bags” for his family, complete with energy bars, water, and passports.

There is a lot of confusion and uncertainty for residents in Kantou area. Gas stations have long lines at the pumps. Foods and daily products in supermarkets are scarce. The fear of radiation is spreading very fast after a leak was detected in Tokyo, 150 miles (240 kilometers) to the south from the Fukushima power plant. The discovery triggered a food, water, and gasoline buying panic.

“I try very hard to keep my children to feel safe and stay positive,” Uncle Massa said. “I am aware of the danger of the power plant, but at this point, but there is nothing I can do to change it. I try to bring them back to normal.”

My two cousins, who are ages 10 and 5, have been back in school since Monday, March 14. My grandfather Shujiro told me that as he felt an aftershock, “Everything will be okay, there are people working very hard. They are a godsend.”

—Cecilia Gault

PHOTO: Instant noodles have disappeared from supermarkets in Japan.  (Photo by
Masa Ikeda, Yokohama, Japan)

Learning Japanese

Language class in Ann Arbor sending messages of hope to kids in Japan.

I’ve been taking Japanese as my language class for a year now at Emerson School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I really enjoy it! My Japanese teacher Kayo Nakamura has given me such a wonderful opportunity this year to learn and appreciate all-things-Japanese.

Ann Arbor has a large Japanese community. I recently attended a Japanese cultural celebration at the University of Michigan so I could learn about the Japanese culture along with the language. The last celebration I attended was Oshogastu, which celebrates the Japanese New Year. I had the chance to pound sticky rice (mochi) with a wooden mallet (kine) in a bowl (usu).

When the earthquake hit, my teacher told us how bad the earthquake and tsunami had affected Japan. Her family lives in the southern part of the country. The earthquake hit in the northeastern part.

Radiation has been leaking from nuclear reactors at one of the main power plants. Kayo told her mother not to go outside in the rain because it might contain radiation. Many people from the Tokyo area were told to evacuate.

I saw the YouTube videos of the tsunami sweeping across the country leaving a trail of destruction. Cars and houses were tossed around like miniature toys. Many people in Japan are bracing for earthquake after-shocks, some of which have registered over 6.0 magnitude. The original earthquake was a 9.0.

Emerson school just announced two ways that students can pitch in to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. First, we can bring in our own money to donate to the American Red Cross. Second, we are writing letters of support to schoolchildren in the Sendai area.

Ms. Nakamura showed us how to write HOPE in Japanese: 希望.

Now, my class is writing cards filled with hope to send to the kids in Sendai, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake. A Deputy Consul General to the Japanese Government will hand deliver our letters, notes, and cards upon her return to Japan.

I’m hoping that these letters will lift spirits by showing the Japanese people that schoolchildren from across the globe are thinking of them.

—Molly Pribble

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Molly Pribble with her Japanese teacher Kayo Nakamura in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo Courtesy Molly Pribbble)

Snow in the South

An unusual winter storm hits Hot-lanta!

Recently, snowstorms have hit many states across the United States, from New York to Mississippi. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, which doesn’t normally receive snow. In fact, Atlanta's nickname is Hot-lanta for its steamy climate.

Even when it does snow here, it doesn't usually stick around for long. On the evening of Sunday, January 9, as Atlanta braced for a snowstorm, I doubted that there would be much buildup. When I woke up the next morning, I saw immedaitely that I was wrong!

Atlanta was entirely covered in a lush blanket of white after one night of snow. It was the most snow I had ever seen in my hometown. But there’s a downside. The snow made roads treacherous and the city only has 11 snow plows.

Schools and businesses were closed, so I had the day off. The snow was a whopping six inches deep outside! I couldn’t see my feet since they were buried in the snow.

This wasn’t the only snowstorm of this winter. Atlanta just had its first white Christmas in 128 years!

The Atlanta airport, the busiest in the world, is the largest hub for Delta Airlines. Hundreds of passengers were stranded there with the majority of flights being delayed or cancelled. I had just flown back from China and my plane arrived only an hour before the snow storm started. As soon as I arrived home, I got a welcome home present of snow!

I was more fortunate than many people. But looking at the bright side of things, snow means play for kids, and I’m a kid! So I made snowballs and even improvised a sled by using my surf board to slid down a nearby hill. I had to control the board just right and if I let go on accident, it meant I would turn into a slushy mess.

Tomorrow is another day without school and I am going to build a ginormous snowman! It is a heck-of fun to be lying in the cold snow and to marvel at the world of white, a miracle that has come to Atlanta. 

—Andrew Liang

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Andrew Liang in a southern winter wonder land in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo Courtesy Andrew Liang)