If I could figure my way in, I'd go down to NYC with my snowblower

[Tab]

and a bunch of gas (presuming tanks will be hard to get) and charge $50/clear. However, if I can't drive into NYC, the best I could do is snowblow my way in, and that would take forever and I'm not up to it.

Curiously, Long Island isn't undergoing the same kind of restrictions or anything. Seems to be clear there, and I'm north of Boston and usually if you're going to get a 40" snowstorm, it'll be here, and we have nothing predicted, so that's just odd.

Hope everyone says safe!

Oh: Generator note: If you have a portable generator that you got in time to save your ass in a power outage, make sure it vents to the outside and doesn't blow back in, unless you want to die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Actually it wouldn't hurt to get a CO sensor for $15 ANYWAY, but don't run a generator in your attached garage, on your porch, and certainly not in the house or basement.

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

1. Amtrak hasn't totally shut down.

[CTyankee]

2. where would anybody be going in the immediate area anyway?

Might as well hunker down...

[Warpy]

3. Southern New England is getting buried

but there are just bands of it in Boston. It looks like DC up to NYC are getting the worst.

More than a foot of snow at a time sucks everywhere but Alaska, and then only if you've got plenty of gas for the sowmobile.

[Renew Deal]

4. Snow totals have been increased a lot in the last 24 hours.

Yesterday morning was 8-12. Yesterday afternoon was 10-16. This morning was 15-20. Last I saw was 18-24.

[Siwsan]

5. That carbon monoxide thing almost happened to me, 2 years ago

We had a week long power outage. The wind shifted, blew fumes back into my house. I was spending most of the time snuggled under a couple of feather comforters so the only time I was near the build up was when I got up to check the generator. I thought the dizziness was caused by gas fumes. Then my brother came over to spell me, so I could go and get a shower and some food. He realized what was happening, opened windows, and as soon as I got back he raced out to get me a carbon monoxide detector. The gas had built up to a level where, had we not realized what was happening, I probably would have died that night.

It was an older generator and was OUTSIDE, but the wind was strong and it is an older house. I now have a new generator with its own little shelter, and a carbon monoxide detector that is plugged in, at all times.

[malaise]

7. Freaking wow

Give thanks your brother came over

[Siwsan]

8. He definitely save my life

That happened on Christmas Day, too.

[malaise]

9. Best Christmas Present Ever

[Doctor Who]

6. Not only that....

I'm an electrician. I been to customers house after they try to "hot wire" their panel to a generator with out turning off the main breaker. When the power comes back on, fireworks happen. For the layman, I cannot stress enough, do not attempt this.

[Tab]

10. I don't fool with anything more than 110v outlets/switches/appliances

and certainly not circuit breakers, whatever I know about electricity notwithstanding. I mainly know you can hurt or kill yourself if you don't know what you're doing and I know I don't know enough at that level. You need to run a cut-off switch, as you've pointed out. And then - particularly on blustery days, make sure it's well away from the house (it can come up through ceiling boards and such).

Every year there's some tragic report about some such thing, and I don't doubt we'll see one this year, unless everyone's paying attention to these posts.