Giannini: How Rhode Islanders Weathered the Storm, Then and Now
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
Although the Blizzard of 2015 named "Juno" has come and gone, its effects will certainly last for days. Many forecasters were predicting a monstrous storm with larger snow accumulations, stronger winds, and massive power outages but thankfully we in Rhode Island weathered the storm.
When I was a child, I remember massive snowstorms with power outages and waking up on a school morning to hear Salty Brine on the radio with the no school announcements. We all remember Salty's famous words, "No school, Foster, Glocester." I listened anxiously to the radio to hear those welcome words, "No school in Providence."
We relied on the radio and television to give us the no school announcements, blizzard conditions and called each other on the telephone to talk about the storm. There was no internet, no cell phone, no iPads, computers or automatic robo calls like we have today.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOur lives were based on simple measures and we were happy with that. After the much awaited no school announcements usually came a day of eating a big breakfast and then dressing up in snow suits from head to toe to go play outside. My sisters and I would join our cousins, who lived next door, where we went sledding, built snowmen, and igloos.
We would spend a full day outside with only a break for lunch, which usually was soup and a meatball sandwich.
We never were bored or looking to watch television or stay indoors because the whole neighborhood was outside. Those were the days when you knew all your neighbors and everyone congregated outside after a snowstorm to shovel or play in the snow.
We were fortunate that most of our neighbors were our relatives. My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all lived in houses around us. We were blessed to have the opportunity to be with our close relatives on a daily basis. And we were fortunate to always have the strength and comfort of knowing we had each other in times of storms and crisis.
We never had to run to the store for milk and bread. Grandma made bread daily and we had a milkman who delivered milk weekly. We also had a fish man, a vegetable man, and Sam the peddler who sold home goods such as linens, towels and sheets. All made regular stops by our house to sell their goods.
If we needed food, we simply walked next door to my grandmother's house and go in her cold room. Yes, grandma had a spare cold room in her tenement that was like a grocery store. In it was fresh made macaroni, (gnocchi or linguine), jars of preserved tomato gravy, Italian sausage, preserved peppers, and always fresh made bread. We never had to panic to go to the supermarket because grandma was always prepared in a storm.
But times were different then. My grandmother didn't work. And she was always at home where she cooked and baked daily. There was no takeout food or Burger Chef at grandma's house and my mom followed the same traditions.
Life was different because many moms were home or did not work until their children were older. Today, many moms work and struggle to make ends meet. They contribute to the household and multitask in so many ways. They have become providers, caretakers, breadwinners and homemakers as well.
The snowstorms and blizzards of yesteryear really were no different from the blizzards of today. But the way we handle the storms and blizzards of today is very different. We rely on government to provide us with the best information and snow removal possible. We rely on the Internet and television to update us with reports and information. We rely on weather forecasters to have accurate information so that we can make the proper decisions regarding work, school and daycare.
But maybe we have become too dependent on all these parties and all the new technology of today to help us make decisions we should be able to make ourselves. We all know now, just as we did years ago, when to react and how to protect ourselves and families.
We can't blame Governor Raimondo if she had to impose a travel ban because roads were impassable in blizzard conditions. And we can't blame our weather forecasters if the storms are not as hazardous as predicted. It is better to err on the side of caution and to be prepared for the worse scenario. I was stunned to watch national news and hear forecasters in other states apologize for being accused by the public of what some viewers called "over predicting the storm."
Thank you to all the people who worked so hard to keep us safe and healthy during the blizzard.
Governor Raimondo did a good job preparing us for the storm and implementing policies to keep us safe. The only things missing were the jeans she wore in her commercials and a red flannel shirt.
Thank you to all the government leaders, law enforcement, news media, emergency workers, hospital workers, public works employees and emergency management personnel who worked long hours during the storm. It is at times like this that people are at their best and ready to help each other.
Things may not be the same as years ago, but one thing still is. Rhode Islanders still have a unique way of caring and looking out for each other and we will always weather the storm.
Joanne Giannini served as a RI State Representative from Providence from 1994 to 2010. She has previously written commentaries for the Providence Journal and the Federal Hill Gazette. During her tenure in the General Assembly, she made appearances on CNN, Primetime News, and American Morning regarding legislation she filed in Rhode Island.
Video Wall Photo: City of Boston Archive/Flickr
Related Slideshow: Top 10 Blizzards in RI History
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