NW Indiana Feels Brunt Of Winter Storm, More Than 1,000 Flights Cancelled
UPDATED: 9:59 p.m. 2/24/16
(CBS) -- Parts of the Chicago area, particularly Northwest Indiana, felt the brunt of a major winter storm that cancelled more than 1,000 flights at the city's airports and dumped more than a foot of snow on some places.
Cedar Lake received 13 inches of snow, Crown Point 12.5, Hobart 8.5 and Hobart, Portage 9.5, St. John 10 and Merrillville 8 according to the National Weather Service.
At Midway, 1.7 inches of snow accumulated as of 4:30 p.m. and 1.2 inches at O'Hare. Southern parts of Cook County and parts Will and Kanakee counties received higher amounts, with 7 inches of snow in Beecher and 4.5 inches in Homewood.
The snow combined with strong winds throughout the Chicago area, with gusts over 30 miles an hour reported throughout the area, including a 67 mph gust in Gary.
As of 9:45 p.m., ComEd reports about 10,000 customers were without power. NIPSCO reports 19,000 are without power in Northwest Indiana.
Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation has deployed its fleet of nearly 300 snow plows to clear main routes and Lake Shore Drive. In Indiana, some roads are extremely dangerous, with the Indiana Department of Transportation warning drivers to stay off the road. Travel advisories are in effect in Lake, Porter, Jasper and White counties.
CBS 2's Audrina Bigos reports more than dozens of cars were stranded on U.S. 231 in Crown Point, and rescue efforts were not easy.
"We found about 30 cars stuck in the snow with people still in them," said Crown Point Assistant Fire Chief Gerard Abraham.
Officials say the backup started when a semi jackknifed, causing live wires to fall onto the road.
"For over an hour and a half, we were sitting there and we had no idea what was going on," said Karlene Oram.
Karlene's Mustang was one of more than a dozen cars stuck. As they backed up, the wind and snow picked up.
"The whole two hours, my car was just shaking the entire time from the wind," said Steven Motsinger.
Officials say this is some of the worst conditions they've seen on U.S. 231 with up to 2, 3 and 4 feet in areas.
Firefighters got out and started walking stranded drivers to safety.
It took several hours and two fire departments to rescue more than 30 drivers.
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CBS 2's Marissa Bailey spoke with veteran snow plow driver Bernard Jansen said it's the worst he's seen so far this winter.
It's been non-stop, gusts of winds, I mean it's pretty slippery too and I'm having a hard time pushing this stuff with this big machine so uh it's been pretty bad," said Jansen.
In Whiting, Tom Lincoln was out with is snowblower while the snow continued to fall and helping out his neighbors.
"Get it now while it's easy and it will be a lot easier later on," he said.
CBS 2's Jeremy Ross spoke with Jaime Hernandez, who endured to pain to shovel out his neighbor's drive.
"It hits you in your face and it hurts," he said.
Elba Flores was one of those neighbors and the storm knocked out her power. Until utility workers have it restored, she is using a generator to power part of her home.
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The storm created major problems at Midway and O'Hare,. As of 8:30 p.m., the Chicago Department of Aviation reports more than 975 flights have been cancelled at O'Hare and more than 310 at Midway, with Southwest cancelling all of its departures.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports Midway was pretty empty Wednesday afternoon. Fortunately most passengers were alerted by text and email and didn't bother traveling to the airport. Those we did run into were looking for creative ways to continue with their travel plans, whether trying to taxi to O'Hare where some flights were getting out, or catch a train or bus to Milwaukee's airport.
"You can't control the weather so I mean I'm safe, I'm warm, I got food so I'll be alright," said Donnie Burton, from Dallas.
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"I just want to be on solid ground where it's warm because I don't have a coat with me," said Mary Durst from Potosi, Wisconsin.
The high winds from the storm created high waves in Lake Michigan. Over at 51st Street and the lakefront, the Chicago Park District put a barricade in place at the bike path entrance to keep bikers and joggers away because of the high waves.
At Calumet Park, strong winds and blowing snow, created white out conditions.
