You don't have to look far to see a snow storm bringing out our best
PITTSBURGH — A little more than 75 years ago, my father and a handful of friends, all sons of Italian immigrants, hitched up their sleds and rode them from the top of the city of Pittsburgh’s Summer Hill neighborhood slopes onto East Street during what was later called the Great Appalachian Storm. That superstorm on the Thanksgiving weekend of 1950 was one for the books, causing tremendous suffering and hardship. But it brought out the best in humanity, too.
TL;DR
- The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950 was a Category 5 event with record snow totals and extreme cold.
- The storm caused widespread suffering, including fires, exposure, flooding, and an estimated 212 deaths.
- Major events like the Pitt-Penn State football game were postponed, and institutions like the IRS closed offices.
- Despite lawlessness concerns, communities demonstrated resilience with neighbors helping each other and essential services like dairies and police providing crucial support.
- Modern observations of people in grocery store lines during potential disruptions show a similar sense of unity and camaraderie.
- The article suggests that the fabric of communities coming together remains strong despite modern challenges.