Abandoned cars on Lake Shore Drive just north of Fullerton Parkway. (Credit: Steve Miller/WBBM 780)
em>Updated 2/2/11 8:00 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) – Lake Shore Drive was a disaster area overnight, as motorists found themselves stranded for up to 12 hours and ended up in the hospital.
As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, many motorists were just trying to get home, but the blizzard made that impossible.
VIEW A SLIDESHOW OF LAKE SHORE DRIVE MESS
Initially, Lake Shore Drive was moving smoothly as the evening rush began, but conditions began to deteriorate following several accidents. There were three accidents between 7:15 and 7:45 p.m., one of them involving a CTA bus. Shortly afterward, there were two more accidents just south of North Avenue.
The accidents caused cars and buses to back up, and as the snow piled up, vehicles became immobilized and off-ramps became impassable. Lake Shore Drive was closed at 7:58 p.m., and fire and police personnel worked to move as many cars as possible off the highway and remove people who could not get out on their own.
Newsradio 780 was flooded with calls from stranded motorists who said they had been stuck on Lake Shore Drive for over seven hours and saw people abandoning their cars.
Newsradio 780′s Lisa Fielding reports Sue Baker left her Hyde Park office around 5 p.m. and nearly seven hours later, she remained in the same spot, “We haven’t moved. It’s kinda scary. There are snow drifts on our cars now.”
Mayor’s chief of staff Raymond Orozco said first responders tried to get to stranded motorists as quickly as possible, but winds of 60 to 70 mph and snow falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour made that extremely difficult.
The city shut down Lake Shore Drive, for the first time since the Blizzard of 1999.
Before the city shut down the Drive, traffic had been crawling; it took upwards of an hour to travel only a mile. Many cars were without a full tank of gas, and ended up running out.
Evanston attorney Craig Roeder says he got on Lake Shore Drive at 6 p.m. and headed north. He says he crept and crawled until just south of Fullerton Parkway, when traffic ground to a halt around 9:30 pm.
And there he sat, in whiteout conditions for six hours, until 3:20 a.m. when WBBM Newsradio 780’s David Roe was interviewing him on the phone.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s David Roe reports
“There are some emergency people now coming with flashlights between the cars,” Roeder said. “What we had been hearing is that they were taking people out into fire trucks because the buses couldn’t get through, so it looks like this could be our rescue here.”
Jim Glonke was stranded near North Avenue for 11 hours. He told CBS 2 he left his office in Chinatown in the late afternoon Tuesday, and it was backed up. He arrived at North Avenue around 7 p.m., and traffic stopped completely for an hour or two. Glonke was told a jackknifed bus was to blame.
Many cars ran out of gas, and were abandoned, as Glonke sat and exchanged text messages with his girlfriend, sister and mother.
“The next thing you know, it’s 4:15 in the morning, and I was one of the last cars to come off who actually had a few fumes left in his tank to get to the gas station,” Glonke said.
Another driver remained stranded on Lake Shore Drive at 5 a.m., and said he had been all but abandoned.
“We’re at North Avenue right now. It’s a standstill. They told us about an hour and a half ago that we’d be off the exit. There’s a car that ran out of gas, and that was about 1 o’clock and we’ve been sitting here ever since,” he said. “Nobody’s come by. Nobody’s told us anything.”
A CTA bus driver told CBS 2’s Vince Gerasole he had been stranded on Lake Shore Drive since 5:40 p.m. Tuesday. That was at 5:15 a.m. Wednesday.
The city ended up being sharply criticized for its response to the emergency on the Drive. On the one hand, they wanted to get people off the roadway, but on the other hand, they wanted them to remain in their cars so plows could attack the snow buildup.
The Fire Department set up a mobile command center along North Lake Shore Drive, and came to each vehicle to check on people with water and granola bars. Windshield wipers were left up for cars that were empty.
As for those who were rescued, many were taken to St. Joseph Hospital for cold exposure. Others were taken to warming centers or placed on warming buses.
St. Joseph Hospital reported that 185 people had been brought in from Lake Shore Drive. Most were cold, and merely needed dry socks, blankets, slippers and towels.
About 137 hospital employees are lodging at the medical facility.
Orozco said all the people who wanted to leave their cars were off the Drive by around 7 a.m. The plan is to reopen Lake Shore Drive when they believe it’s safe to do so, but it’s not known when that will be.
“We know that hundreds do people were very inconvenienced, and we’re sorry about that,” Orozco said.
Orozco emphasized that the city was monitoring Lake Shore Drive from the beginning and responded as swiftly as possible.
“In 31 years with the city, I haven’t experienced anything like we did last night with Lake Shore Drive,” Orozco said.
137 Comments
Chicago is a disgrace, my elderly father is stuck and he needs dialysis…he is right before north ave, this is a disgrace, he has been there since 6pm
February 1, 2011 at 8:32 pm
you are a tool, they should let the ones that are trapped in there get off instead of locking them in there
February 1, 2011 at 8:43 pm
peter, i usually take lsd home. i had enough logic to check local traffic cameras. i saw michigan ave was wide open, hence, i took it. i stayed on local streets and got home to edgewater rather quickly.
February 2, 2011 at 12:08 am
I am born and raised here. Lake Shore Drive should not have been open. And once there was a crisis, it should not take 5-6 hours to come up with a rescue operation. Shame on the city.
February 2, 2011 at 12:10 am
shame on the city because people did not listen to the weather reports for THREE DAYS??? all i know is this. the people who prepared ahead of time are not the ones crying about how bad the city is. for the people who “had” to stay at work because they were told they could not leave, shame on them. my employer is not going to play chance with my life. i understand some people had no choice. doctors,teachers etc,,but this is Chicago. it is the old game of people not listening and then blaming the city for it.
February 2, 2011 at 12:23 am
what is your elderly father doing out in a Blizzard at 6pm? Don’t you own a TV or radio?
February 2, 2011 at 12:38 am
and i am the tool because i took care of my mon and Peter wants to blame othere because he did not do the same? i will take being a tool who took care of my mom, who took the rest of the work week off( i actually shut the office down, paid my 11 employees for the rest of the week paid leave, just to make sure every one was safe and home with their loved ones) then being a tool who is crying about how it is the city’s fault that my dad is stuck!!! MORON! people should not make uneducated comments!
February 2, 2011 at 12:50 am
sorry for the typo’s. i am typing in the dark. now i wish i paid the extra 175 for the back lit keyboard on this new laptop! :)
February 2, 2011 at 12:52 am
“( i actually shut the office down, paid my 11 employees for the rest of the week paid leave”
Can I come work for you? I hate my current job. I’m a great data analyst.
February 2, 2011 at 1:00 am
KROUNDED- LOL. you do NOT want to work for me!! my own niece turned down a summer job making cold calls and some data entry! she decided to work at Noodles instead!
February 2, 2011 at 1:07 am
He is just another dopey homegrown chicago guy! Let’s face it the locals arent too smart.
February 2, 2011 at 1:29 am
You’re a disgrace. You should have been taking care of him. It was known to stay off the roads. You should be taking care of your elderly father.
February 2, 2011 at 7:27 am
It’s idiotic to blame a snowstorm on the city. People have had 7 days notice that this was coming..went home early, filled tank with gas, made arrangements for family in need. Peter..look in mirror and you will quickly find who really is to blame.
February 2, 2011 at 9:54 am
i hope you used protection, you can get things from cats…
February 2, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Squirrel AIDS!
February 2, 2011 at 3:44 pm
It’s not “Chicago”s problem. Bad things can happen even when everyone does what they’re supposed to do.
I think we’ve all learned a lesson from this: do not drive on Lake Shore Drive when a major snowstorm is in effect or even on its way.
February 2, 2011 at 4:46 pm
You’re a fool to let your elderly father out of the house when everyone knew this was coming. Shame on you!
February 2, 2011 at 4:46 pm
ALL I CAN SAY IS,,,I LIVE IN WISCONSIN…CHICAGO AREA AS WELL AS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN KNEW THAT THIS STORM WAS COMING 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE..IF YOU CHICAGO PEOPLE ARE FRIGGIN DUMB ENOUGH TO NOT LISTEN TO WARNINGS YOU DESERVE TO GET STUCK ON LAKE SHORE DRIVE….NO WONDER THE CHICAGO BEARS ARENT IN THE SUPER BOWL..NO BRAINS SOUTH OF THE BORDER…..NEEDLESS TO SAY…I HOPE THE MAN W/ DIALYSIS NEEDS IS OK..WITH ALL THE 24/7 MEDIA GOING ON…HELLOOO CHICAGO ILLINOIS….WAKE UP!!!
February 2, 2011 at 7:12 pm
All the fools out there got what they deserved. They have been forecasting this for days. Down to the hour!
They need to charge everyone that will be towed
Better yet get bulldozers and push em all in the lake
February 2, 2011 at 11:12 pm
I got off the drive at 39th south around 7pm and barely made it off. There are snow drifts that you cannot see. I got stuck and so did the car in front of me. I rocked myself out. The street lights are out in the area also.
February 1, 2011 at 8:35 pm
That’s how all those cars got stuck during the Blizzard of 67 on lsd. Now Snowing 3 inches per hour.
February 1, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Yeah, people are just sitting there in their cars not knowing whats going on. Why don’t they make announcements so these people know what the hell is going on…not cool.
February 1, 2011 at 8:46 pm
If only they woulda told us there was a blizzard coming…
February 2, 2011 at 10:46 am
I’m sitting in my nice warm house, kids are playing away, left work early like 1/2 the people arounf town did, got plenty of food (and beer) generator in garage in case power goes out, duraflame logs for the fireplace for back up heat, could care less about shoveling and salt….
It’s all about planning ahead my friends. Oh by the way, I’ll let my neighbors tap in to the power too, it’s all about looking out for your friends as well!
February 1, 2011 at 8:49 pm
You sound incredibly selfish!! Some things were unavoidable. I’m wondering how many REAL friends you have with that attitude. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been home for hours,food, warmth, safety,but my heart goes out for those less fortunate! The hands on the clock don’t hit every number at once, so you have your time of need coming. Better to sympathetize than lift you nose!!!
February 1, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Jake, love your response to Dan. Obviously Dan is too perfect for the rest of us, I’m surprised he even brings himself down to our level to speak to us. (snicker)
February 2, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Dan, you probably don’t do anything important, that’s why you can sit around your house when other people are still working.
February 2, 2011 at 4:43 pm
When you leave work from the suburbs at 2pm and you are still stuck on LSD, that is not being “prepared.”
February 1, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Prepare? Yeah bc this economy would actually let people take off work? Your oblivious.
February 1, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I am sorry, but my life or your life is not worth the risk. I work for the DOT, and I have seen how tragic these storms can be. I am not oblivious, just responsible. I say this because, when you go driving in weather like this, your not only risking your life, you are risking all those people around you not to mention emergency responders and the people trying to get a handle on the situation to clean up the mess. The more people on the roads and stranded vehicles, the longer it will take the city to get everything back to normal. You can’t always just think about yourself. No city could cope with snow coming down at 3 to 4 inches an hour and blizzard conditions. For the city of Chicago, this is a once in a lifetime event, and you could have prepare for this by not being on the roads in the afternoon. City and state officials have been begging you all for days to stay off the road, so now when you get stuck, you have no one else to blame but yourself! Period.
February 1, 2011 at 9:03 pm
amen!
February 2, 2011 at 12:26 am
If I don’t go to work tomorrow I will be fired. Are you going to support my kids? You have a cushy government job so you don’t understand what we go through in the corp world
February 2, 2011 at 1:04 am
I thought it was weird when I was driving through Kansas and they had road blocks at every on-ramp. I later found out that it was because they didn’t want people getting on the road during blizzard conditions, because it takes the plows twice as long to clear the roads where there are stranded cars.
Unfortunately, everything thinks they can “make it” and they take risks. The city should have put up physical barriers on LSD at 2 PM. It sucks that it takes that much for people to actually do what they are told, but that’s how humans work.
I just saw a Taurus trying to drive down my block in what had to have been 14 inches of unplowed, drifted snow. It’s 2 AM. WHY. ARE. YOU. DRIVING?
February 2, 2011 at 1:48 am
Who said take off work. I’ve been hearing for 24 hrs that LSD is going to be a mess. Take a different route.
February 1, 2011 at 9:14 pm
This is in reply to Mar. You have no clue. Your the one that is oblivious. If you read what I wrote, I work for the D.O.T. If I don’t get to work, your roads won’t be plowed, hello!!!! The D.O.T are the people who plow the roads, and I am required to risk my life to ensure that the roads are cleared and when things get as bad as they have in the last 24 hours, some times you have to make a choice whether the job is more important than your life. I have no wife and kids, so if I die, there is no great loss, but since you have a family to support, your family has everything to loose. You can always find another job, you can’t get another life. Furthermore, when states of emergencies are issued, and local government is begging you to stay off the road and mass transit is unavailable, it is illegal for an employer to fire you over such a thing. If it happens, file a lawsuit.
February 2, 2011 at 6:50 am
Some of us sitting on lakeshore are teachers that were required to be at school today. When Daley doesn’t close schools early we can’t leave early. Please refrain from making comments that aren’t constructive
February 1, 2011 at 9:01 pm
I agree, I left school at 3pm and didn’t get home til 8pm using lakeshore drive. Thank goodness CPS is closed for tomorrow.
February 1, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Yeah, it’s all someone else’s fault, because they kept you at school. We all know that the only way to get home in one of the largest cities in the US is driving in the middle of a blizzard. No buses, no trains. You HAAAAD to drive. Sure, moron.
February 2, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Lakeshore drive is horrible. I got stuck about 4 times and was scary as hell..no visiblility and huge drifts..took my 5 hours to drive to rogers park from midway airport.!
February 1, 2011 at 9:01 pm
That’s terrible. Maybe you shouldn’t drive in the middle of a blizzard, moron. Ever heard of the CTA?
February 2, 2011 at 12:09 pm
The CTA buses were jackknifed on Lake Shore. You my friend are ignorant.
February 2, 2011 at 10:38 pm
HARRP IS ON
February 1, 2011 at 9:06 pm
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My gf is stuck on LSD. She did plan ahead but her boss did not let her out early. Glad you’re safe and sound John C. Good for you!
February 1, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Hello, I work for the D.O.T!!!. I am the one that plows your roads, and when your on the roads like tonight, you make my job a hell of a lot harder not to mention it takes, in the case of tonight, 4 times longer to clear the mess. You have absolutely know clue.
February 2, 2011 at 7:01 am
With that spelling, it’s not hard to believe that you’re job is to push snow around in a truck…
February 2, 2011 at 10:48 am
SpellingIsHawrd, you didn’t spell “your” correctly in your post. Stop casting stones brother. Also, plowing snow can be loads of fun.
February 2, 2011 at 2:49 pm
The reason people are trapped is because of a bus accident that they still have not cleared. Sorry, nobody should be blaming themselves if they did what they had to do today and ended up in a situation out of their control.
John C.-If your safe at home, good for you. Get a life.
February 1, 2011 at 9:30 pm
Hello, I work for the D.O.T!!!. I am the one that plows your roads, and when your on the roads like tonight, you make my job a hell of a lot harder not to mention it takes, in the case of tonight, 4 times longer to clear the mess. Everyone was warned to stay away from LSD. People could have chosen a different route. LSD is absolutely one of the worst road when you have heave snow and strong NE winds off the lake. You have absolutely know clue, and I am glad you are not my DR. Not all government jobs are cushy, some are down right dangerous!
February 2, 2011 at 7:03 am
Why was the city bus on Lake Shore Drive if the city felt it was unsafe for travel?
February 3, 2011 at 11:48 am
Hey, don’t you cbs bloggers listen to skilling? Winds from The EAST! lake shore drive is the last place you want to be! Plan ahead for crying out loud.
February 1, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Wise comments. With gale force winds, you know that the waves will be huge and threaten Lake Shore Drive just like the snow drifts. Surprised why anyone would take Lake Shore Drive under these conditions.
February 1, 2011 at 10:03 pm
They took it hours ago. They’re trapped because of the city’s poor response to a bus accident.
February 1, 2011 at 11:29 pm
Took so long because people were still getting on the bus 4 hours after the accident, on their attorneys advise, It’s the Chicago way
Really for two days they have been warning LSD would be a mess. Duh!
February 2, 2011 at 9:01 am
i’ve been sitting here for 3 hours stuck like everyone else, people look piissed. I just ran out of chips so now i’m board, there is many streets they could let us excape from but here we sit, perfict
February 1, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Any update on this? Does anybody know if they’ve been able to clear at all? My friend is stuck just north of fullerton, he meant to get off, but visibility was so bad that he and the other cars crawled past it
February 1, 2011 at 10:00 pm
No, it’s 10:09 pm and our friends are being stuck at Fullerton, nothing happens. everybody’s stuck there.
February 1, 2011 at 10:11 pm
If they’re willing to abandon their car, there’s hotels within 30 mins walkng distance.
February 1, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Does anyone have an update on LSD. My son is still stuck there. Running out of gas. Cell phone is just about dead. He is between North Avenue and Fullerton…just heard on the radio that the cars are not getting out tonight. Is there a way to rescue people?
February 1, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Tell your son stay away from LSD the next time there is a once-in-a-lifetime blizzard. The city said that LSD was going to be a disaster, but people gambled and lost.
February 2, 2011 at 1:00 am
Did the CTA bus driver gamble and lose? I guess the bus driver didn’t listen to the city either. The city dropped the ball. Awful response.
February 2, 2011 at 1:10 am
hi my friend is struck at LSD he is there from 3.45 PM i was talking to him over the phone he was telling the situation is really worst, he has to pee and he does not what to do. he is struck really bad. could you tell me when the LSD will be cleared.
February 1, 2011 at 10:19 pm
hello! my friend is struck at lake shore drive shez pregnant n she really needs to pee n shez juz trying to control it since 6 pm. i wanna knw when the traffic wil b cleared.
February 1, 2011 at 10:27 pm
When I got on lake shore drive 7 hours ago things weren’t bad, but thanks to a bus accident at Belmont I am now stranded in the blizzard. I called 311 and they said they still have to clean up the accident, and then they will have police cars and tow trucks to help us out. No word on how ling it will take, though.
February 1, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Greed is what has you out here in this mess,wether it be you or the company you work for. If it is you then you got what.s comming, if it’s the company your working for,shame on them ! You can bet the Real large companies big wigs never came in to work or don’t even live in the area . If you would have shut down today and maybe some or all of tomrorrow would your company have gone under being closed two days ? Look at it this way, two days down would have givin your good workers a safe place to be so they could resume work when it is safe to do so. This will now set your work back more days,as people will now need more time to recover. The Karma of Greed.
February 1, 2011 at 10:47 pm
i left for san juan. i love the snow but it does not sound like too much fun.
February 1, 2011 at 10:54 pm
I am praying for you all and hope you make it home safely. I CANNOT believe there are people still stuck out there. Where are the police? Where are emergency crews? This is totally crazy!
February 1, 2011 at 10:57 pm
I live right at Lake Shore and Division and I can help. Please reply if you know anyone who needs help and is nearby.
February 1, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Laura, yes my son is out there think he’s maybe a little north of there in a burgundy red 2009 Honda……..he’s only 3 miles from his apartment but stranded
February 2, 2011 at 12:28 am
If you know anyone stuck on the road, please tell them NOT to leave their car running the entire time due to the slight possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. I’m from the Lake Tahoe area in California and three women lost their lives when the exhaust pipe of their car froze. The possibility is very slight, but it’s not impossible and it’s something people don’t consider if they are stuck in the car and it’s cold. See the story at the link below.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2008-12-17/bay-area/17133582_1_monoxide-poisoning-exhaust-pipe-placer-county
February 1, 2011 at 11:13 pm
My mom’s a cancer Doctor and is stuck on the drive because she couldn’t turn away her patients. She’s been stuck since 5pm. She left the hospital as soon as she could after seeing her last patient. I’m very worried about her and don’t know when she’ll make it home tonight. :’(
February 1, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Why did the city close the drive without a plan to get motorists off the road? They’re just letting them sit there with no regard for their safety. What country is this? Shame on you Chicago! You let this people down.
February 1, 2011 at 11:23 pm
If you tune into a scanner site, you’ll see that they are still working to get help to people. No one closed the road and are ignoring the problem.
http://www.chicagoscanner.com/
February 1, 2011 at 11:54 pm
They closed the drive south bound because it’s not safe… LSD north bound has been blocked by a CTA bus for numerous hours… read the reports before you make your “Shame on you” comments…
February 2, 2011 at 12:53 am
I read the reports. Why does it take hours to respond to a bus accident? The storm wasn’t as deadly at 5pm. No excuse. Poor response from the city.
February 2, 2011 at 1:00 am
If anybody’s looking for shelter around belmont, there’s two hotels within 15 minutes of walking distance, probably more than 30 mins worth of walking in this weather. One is called City Suites Hotel for $60 a night. Does anybody know what would happen when it opens if you abandone your car there?…..
February 1, 2011 at 11:24 pm
Ok, so how about when you are an attorney and your firm makes you go to a deposition, what are you supposed to do then dude? you are an ass.
February 1, 2011 at 11:32 pm
I don’t know who you are referring to, but depositions can be an are postponed all the time for emergency situations like this. Any good attorney would have postponed it when asked and your the ass if you didn’t bother to ask!!!!
February 2, 2011 at 7:09 am
Hello All,
I am one of the many individuals that have been stuck on LSD since 6pm. We have not moved one inch in over two hours. I have called 311 to find out information but was only told they are trying to get us out. Not sure what else is going on but I find it hard to believe that LSD was closed the so many people stuck on it. God willing, everyone will make it home soon. All in all, everyone is well just a little ready for bed!
February 1, 2011 at 11:35 pm
WLS said the fire dept has snowmobiles and is rescuing people to warming busses
February 1, 2011 at 11:39 pm
What’s Joliet got to do with it? Go cuss out a Packer fan or something.
February 1, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Don’t abandon your car if you can help it, it makes the jam worse. Shut it off and get in someone else’s car. I heard plows are coming from the opposite way and having everyone turn around.
February 1, 2011 at 11:43 pm
I agree about thinning the herd. Every time I turned on the TV they said there were going to be 25 ft wave crashing on LSD and it would be impassable.
February 1, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Please keep the updates coming. It’s really helpful when feeling so helpless.
February 1, 2011 at 11:52 pm
What does Joliet have to do with anything? you’re nothing but ignorant, Joliet is not all trash. As a matter of fact they most likely have more class than you do.
February 2, 2011 at 12:13 am
Someone from Joliet made some vulgar, disturbing comments. They since been removed. He had no respect for human life.
February 2, 2011 at 12:18 am
Has anyone seen a car get towed yet? I called 311 and they said everyone should get out tonight. Police scanner also said tow trucks were working on LSD. Has anyone seen anything yet?
February 2, 2011 at 12:15 am
Enough about this joliet nonsense. I’m making the multi-mile trek out of my house to bring my girlfriend, and anyone else who’s near, food, water, and blankets. I am concerned for both her safety and my own, but it looks like there are no other options at this point.
February 2, 2011 at 12:18 am
“Enough about this joliet nonsense. I’m making the multi-mile trek out of my house to bring my girlfriend, and anyone else who’s near, food, water, and blankets.”
Dude, you better have 4X drive with high clearance. Otherwise, you will be stuck. Why wouldn’t thiese people have these things if they are home? Don’t create another recuse call for the FD.
February 2, 2011 at 12:48 am
They are yelling for buses now to save people on LSD. Scanner feed:
http://www.chicagofd.org/
February 2, 2011 at 12:21 am
Wow!!! so many people are upset about this weather, things happen and mother nature is always going to win. We all have choices and we sometimes make the wrong choice, it happens. I pray for all the people who are stuck and can’t get to thier love ones. We all just have to pray and use our common sense, it’s call survior♥
February 2, 2011 at 12:23 am
Please keep this in mind when pointing the finger at the motorists… It was a CTA bus that lead to the backup. If the motorists are being ridiculed for not heeding warnings, why is a CTA bus on Lake Shore. Sorry, the city’s response was awful. I’m glad we don’t have to worry about hurricanes here. Heck of a job Daley!
February 2, 2011 at 12:33 am
“why is a CTA bus on Lake Shore.”
The express busses always take LSD. It’s a regular bus route..
February 2, 2011 at 12:43 am
DB-and if Daley shut down transportation for ALL of Chicago, you would be crying about that! people need to get a grip. and were you on site for the accident? how do we not know for sure some idiot that waited to leave at the last minute did not cut the bus off? or a car in front did not stop suddenly? come on. why is every one so fast to blame Daley? it is a BLIZZARD.
people were warned to stay off the roads, PERIOD.
February 2, 2011 at 12:44 am
My point was if Lake Shore is ok for the CTA it’s ok for motorists. The city responded slowly to the bus accident. There’s no excuse for people to be stuck in their cars for hours. Awful response.
February 2, 2011 at 12:54 am
DB-”Please keep this in mind when pointing the finger at the motorists… It was a CTA bus that lead to the backup”
that was not your point! look what you typed. you are ASSUMING that is was the cus that caused the accident!!! were you on site? do you have video showing the bus was at fault? stop blaming the city. it is a blizzard! there is only so much one can do !
February 2, 2011 at 1:21 am
2 people just went down out street on snowmobiles! Yikes!
February 2, 2011 at 12:39 am
My sister is still on LSD near Diversey. I’ve called 911, 311, the 18th police district, and numerous calls to the 23rd district, as well as WGN radio and WBBM radio. All she wanted to do was pick her son up from school at 4 pm. Thankfully, he is with a friend’s family, but she’s on LSD and no one can tell me anything about what’s going on out there. The Trib’s reporting that they’re rescuing people, but that’s not what she’s observing. She’s staying in her car and I know help is coming, but this is crazy.
February 2, 2011 at 12:45 am
OK we had warnings for days, this mourning you could tell the blizzard was going to hit, if you needed medical care you call 311, city services where available for emergencies. So when do we as citizens not have a responsibility to use common sense, for those blaming everyone but the person you should be blaming, the person you see in the mirror…
February 2, 2011 at 12:54 am
I’m listening to http://www.chicagofd.org/ and that bus driver blocking the highway is now having trouble breathing, i feel so bad the city is sucking.
February 2, 2011 at 1:00 am
i just got home from being stuck on LSD, they turned me around. I was a few blocks south of North Ave exit. Even when i got off, it was a terrifying drive through the city trying not to get stuck on my way to lincoln park. I was let out of work at 3:30 by a boss who said it didnt look that bad outside yet. Needless to say i am ticked off at him.
February 2, 2011 at 1:07 am
Sounds like CHI Police are having trouble getting onto LSD. Ramps are still icy and plows haven’t been able to help. Only two units currently on the scene. Could be awhile until things start moving. Good Luck.
btw – Listening to http://www.chicagoscanner.com
February 2, 2011 at 1:11 am
i guess some one does not like being called out on their uneducated comments. 2 of my comments were pulled. NICE, i guess i hurt some ones feelings. oh well. i hope all the people who are stuck get out asap and back home to their loved ones.
February 2, 2011 at 1:14 am
This is most assuredly the work of our criminal government and there association with HARRP weather modification. Look it up educate yourselves alll you sheep.
February 2, 2011 at 1:20 am
While I feel bad for her son land everyone else stuck on LSD, they all made a poor decision. The snow started downtown by 2:00 pm and there was no reason for them to take LSD other than to take the most direct route even though they were warned against it. The city made a poor decision in putting buses on LSD, but that doesn’t make the people’s decision to take LSD any better. They all made a terrible decision, and now they’re stuck. I’d be willing to bet that the next time there is a major snowstorm that they’ll take another route like they should have done tonight. The city pleaded with people to stay off the drive due to 50 MPH winds and 25 foot waves, but these people thought that it would still be okay for them because they have a SUV. Photos of the blizzard of 1967 have been popping up for days, and all of them show cars being abandoned on the LSD due to the huge drifts.
February 2, 2011 at 1:29 am
I once experimented with LSD.
I think it was around the same time as the ’67 blizzard.
Those were the days.
February 2, 2011 at 1:50 am
Hippie Rus: I laughed when I read your post.
Those WERE the days, huh?
Thanks for the chuckle!
Laughter will rescue everyone!!
February 2, 2011 at 3:24 am
The best comment so far!!! Everyone needs to stay calm and not get crazy…..what happened, happened and arguing over what should have been done is not going to change that. If you live by the drive and have some snow pants and a shovel then go down there and help. Otherwise I don’t see how all of this banter is helpful, productive or even worth anyone’s time!!! Hope everyone out there stays safe!
February 2, 2011 at 1:39 pm
I feel sorry for people walking in this blizzard right now. I keep seeing people walking up Clark street. It is so dangerous…snow plows, Emergency cars and other cars can barely see…the last thing they need is people in the middle of the street.
February 2, 2011 at 2:09 am
They’ve been rescued and are at Illinois Masonic!
February 2, 2011 at 3:48 am
Just rescued by the fire department!
February 2, 2011 at 4:23 am
Yay! Now please leave your name and home address here so we can send you the bill. The rest of the taxpayers don’t appreciate paying for your stupidity.
February 2, 2011 at 12:16 pm
They should of shut down Lake Shore Drive earlier. They know damn well people gone keep driving on Lake Shore Drive if it’s still open. I blame these stupid employers for not letting some of these people leave early or not come in at all. People should of used better judgement as well. But the City of Chicago could of prevented this all if they would have re-routed traffic earlier. Lake Shore Drive shouldn’t be shut down from 67th St to Hollywood Ave that’s crazy. When it all boil down to it LAKE SHORE DRIVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN EARLY I DON’T CARE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DO. STREETS & SANITATION HAS THE POWER TO THINK AHEAD FOR PEOPLE, SO WHY DIDN’T THEY DO IT. CAUSE THEY WANT TO EARN A BUCK OFF OF PEOPLE.
February 2, 2011 at 4:51 am
explain to me how the city is going to make money off of the people being stuck? if you are intelligent enough to read/understand a weather report,then you woulld of know that a BLIZZARD was on its way. if you decided to stay at work and tested fate, your problem. i am sorry, no one is going to make me stay at work or any where for the fact, and rish my safety and others. You can not just shut down a major street artery. The traffic was fine untl there was an accident. People decided to still enter LSD AFTER the accident was reported. That is the city’s fault? I know, they wanted to make a buck. Another uneducated comment by one of Chicago’s finest!
February 2, 2011 at 6:48 am
what we needed is a monster like godzilla to attack the city coming up from one of those giant waves…..run ,….it’s the monsterrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
February 2, 2011 at 7:35 am
It must be Bush who caused this!
February 2, 2011 at 8:21 am
Good one B.O. Yep, him plus ‘Global Warming’.
February 2, 2011 at 8:55 am
I had to leave my car and rescue picked us up at about 2, I finally made it home at about 4 in the morning. I blame CDOT. LSD should have been closed at 5 if not earlier. I turned on to LSD at 5:10 and it was already a mess, but there ws no way to get off.
February 2, 2011 at 8:48 am
Nice pictures. I thought you people never shut down for weather and ‘know how to drive’ in snow. The ever unattractive midwest is a toilet. Why do you people live there? Siberia-like in the winter. Flat, depressing, no natural beauty at all other times. Til this day I still can’t figure out all of the people that have a half a brain and move to the southeast or southwest and then rave on and on about how great it is ‘back home’. Yuck! You won’t catch me in that armpit of the country unless my company forces me to go and pays for it.
February 2, 2011 at 8:50 am
We lived in Chitown when the “Byrne beats Bilandic” storm rolled through. Folks were caught off guard bigtime. Given an additional 30 years of devolution, why would response be any better now ? I’d love to see footage of how many fools drive with windshields covered. Better yet, how many have basic emergency preps in their vehicle … water, boots-hat-gloves, food, blankets, a candle, lighter, extra batteries … ? I’m thinking not too many.
BTW, “John Crowley’ states the obvious. Pay attention. Dolts.
February 2, 2011 at 8:56 am
You all in Chicago need to man up. Last February, Baltimore got 30 inches and two days later received another 18″! When you’re gonna have a blizzard and they’re warning you for days, STAY OFF THE ROADS!! Take responsibility for your own actions!
February 2, 2011 at 9:28 am
I sent my eldery father who uses an O2 tank and is on dialsys to get me a pizza at 4pm. He almost died after 9 hours stuck in traffic in the snow. I woke up after being online all night to find out he was in intensive care in the hospital with frostbite, possible brain damage from the O2 tank not working due to the cold, and kidney failure. At least the hospital food is good and that makes up for the pizza I never got, thanks Chicago!
February 2, 2011 at 9:37 am
What? You sent your elderly father out in the middle of a major blizzard to get you food and it ended up poorly? And somehow that’s someone else’s fault?!?!? My god, please leave your name and address here. I’d like to come over and pound on the air bubble in between your ears.
February 2, 2011 at 12:21 pm
These are the same kind of idiots that did not get out of the way of Hurricane Katrina. Leaving the office a five o’clock in the middle of a blizzard is insane
February 2, 2011 at 10:23 am
What is supposed to happen when this kind of winter storm comes is you are suppose to have plenty of provisions in your house, a way to heat without external energy grid sources, and plenty of Jack Daniels ole’ number 7. You don’t come out of your house until it’s all over and you will have had a very enjoyable staycation.
February 2, 2011 at 10:43 am
The real question is, what kind of moron would try to get on LSD at 6:00 pm? Do you live in a cave? They have been talking about this storm for a week. Darwinism at work.
February 2, 2011 at 10:48 am
If only we would let it happen….
February 2, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Fake global warming and carbon taxes, yet another violation of our rights. Add it to the list of gov’t violations of our right:
They violate the 1st Amendment by placing protesters in cages, banning books like “America Deceived II” and censoring the internet.
They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns.
They violate the 4th and 5th Amendment by molesting airline passengers.
They violate the entire Constitution by starting undeclared wars for foreign countries.
Impeach Obama and sweep out the Congress, except Ron Paul.
(Last link of Banned Book):
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000190526
February 2, 2011 at 11:11 am
You people who are complaining need to take some responsibility. We were warned for several days about this storm. Move to a warmer climate of you don’t like the cities response.
February 2, 2011 at 11:55 am
BUNCH OF CRY BABIES , WE WERE ALL WARNED !!!!!!
February 2, 2011 at 12:40 pm
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I’m in Malibu Beach for another 12 days then I have to drive back home to Arlington Heights – outside of Chigaco. Did I miss anything? Oops, I just spilled my Mai Tai.
February 2, 2011 at 4:19 pm
You stupid armchair mayors! If you’re unhappy in Chicago, then please leave, and don’t let the snow hit your big backsides as you leave.
READ. The article clearly states that the problems on LSD were caused by accidents. The accidents caused the backups. There was no way for Daley or the rest of the city government to predict this. They could not shut down LSD pre-emptively, then you stupid armchair mayors would have complained that they were being paranoid. You’re probably the same stupid people who said “Storm?What storm? We’re only going to get a couple of inches!”.
There are many people who are not allowed to leave work early else they risk losing their jobs, but there are also people who need to stay on the job because they perform critical community services, like nurses, doctors, police, firefighters, traffic personnel, news reporters and readers, etc. Don’t criticize people for not being at home when you were, they were probably doing something important, unlike you!
February 2, 2011 at 4:42 pm
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John you obviously hate your job if you spend all this time degrading the people you supposedly” risk your own life” for. First of all if your job really is to plow snow, the gtf off the computer and get to work. Secondly, I hope you’re using your real name so you get swiftly fired for being such an insensitive prck. With your demeanor, its not a shock you’re not married with children.
February 2, 2011 at 9:59 pm
I was watching the 6:00 PM news tonight and went to your web site. I was happy to see those who were helping others with the snow and I personally know there are many people who help those in need. I am disabled and am often the recipient of help when I am having difficulty doing things. People even want to help me when I don’t need it because most people enjoy helping others. I believe people are truly wonderful. That’s why I was a surprised to find some people very inconsiderate this week because of the snow.
I have a Handicapped Parking Space in front of the house because I have extreme difficulty walking even with crutches and have to use a wheelchair if I am going more than about 30’. I will admit I am fairly housebound and get out seldom now-a-days. Maybe that is why others felt it was OK to bury me deeper with the snow. (Although my partner is 68 and also has difficulty walking because of arthritis and she goes out almost daily and often uses my car.)
One of our neighbors was parked behind my van on the street in front of our house. On Thursday she went out to try to dig her car out of all the snow. I will admit it must have seemed a daunting challenge. She was doing a good job of shoveling but she was throwing the snow she removed from on and around her car into my parking space. I don’t understand why people do that. (It happened in 1999 also.) She was unable to get her car out and left.
She came back hours later with a friend and continued to work on digging out her car. Again she was throwing the snow into my parking space. This time my partner, Linda, went out and asked her not to do it. The woman said there was no place else to put the snow. Linda told her she could throw the snow on the grass. Thankfully she finished digging her car out by putting the snow in the grass.
We had to pay someone to dig us out and they had a more snow to shovel because we seemed to be an OK place for others to throw snow. Two other incidents happened.
One was behind our house in the alley. The people in a house across the alley dug out their cars from parking spaces in the back of their house. They went out of their way to walk shovels full of snow across the alley to put it in front of our garage door. When they were through there was really a lot of snow burying the garage door. I keep a heavy duty wheelchair in there for going for walks in town. The wheelchair is able to go over small amounts of snow and it walks over ice like it isn’t there.
The other problem we had with people liking our area for snow occurred when people who are contracted to shovel snow at the house next door did a wonderful job for them but they threw the snow on our walk.
I’m glad we were able to hire someone to clear all the snow from our parking spot and our sidewalks; including the side of the house, the back yard from the door to the garage and , of course, to dig out the garage door.
Thank you for giving me a forum to vent and, hopefully, people will learn to respect the disabled a little more when travel becomes even more difficult due to bad weather.
February 4, 2011 at 10:28 pm
I’m reading all these comments and wondering to myself, “What is going wrong with society?” Most of these comments are negative towards people who maybe had no choice at all but to be out in the blizzard. Why call people names and make such destructive comments? What if this were you? Societies are suppose to come together during disasters and tragedies but most of you just want to downgrade the unfortunate. I sometimes am ashamed of being an Illinoisan and an American with how society here is just so negative. It just keeps getting worse and worse. You people making the nasty comments to others are probably the ones that are out looting and laughing during a tragedy. Why do you think God brought the floods and destroyed the Earth killing everything and everyone on it except for Noah, his family and the animals aboard his ark? Because nothing but evil was showing it’s ugly face. What happened to “Love thy neighbor” in the ten commandments? If everyone was more considerate of others, society wouldn’t be the way it is now? What if you were the ones that had to deal with hurricane Katrina as it was going on or the people stuck in the twin towers of New York? I suppose those people in the towers should have stayed home even though there were terror threats that we have everyday. Or maybe the people that lived in Louisiana should have sold their houses and moved out quick right before Katrina struck. Come on people! Instead of spending time on here running people down just cause they got stuck, you should maybe have been a good Samaritan and tried to help as much as you could. Even saying a prayer for these folks would have been help. It’s time we all grow up as a society and help one another rather than fight, call names or be destructive individuals in any way you can. Only then can we expect to find life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
February 5, 2011 at 3:17 am