A Year After Blizzard, Lessons Learned

A year later, and the facts and the numbers are still staggering:

• 34 inches of snow
• Millions of dollars in cleanup costs
• Trucks and ambulances stuck in snow drifts
• Tens of thousands of calls for help

The blizzard that rolled in during the late afternoon hours Dec. 26, 2010 was one for the books. The storm lasted until late morning the following day, and many residents from the Manasquan and Belmar areas weren't able to leave their homes for several more days. The Routes 35 and 71 bridges were both shut down for a time.

Few pieces of equipment were spared. In the end, out-of-state crews were brought in to help many streets become passable again, but not before many Jersey Shore residents became upset about what they saw as a too-slow response - despite the storm's historic power.

A year later, there have been some changes. New vehicles have been purchased, and new plans have been established.

Let us know how you were impacted. Do you feel prepared for this winter? Let us know in the comments.