5:55 p.m. EST January 25, 2016 WASHINGTON — The massive storm that began its unrelenting march across the East three days ago continued to hamstring the region Monday as most schools and government offices remained closed, transportation spotty and secondary roads socked in with still-unplowed snow.
Airports struggled to recover, with more than 1,500 flights canceled Monday, according to the FlightAware tracking website. The five-day cancellation tally was close to 13,000, causing a ripple effect across much of the nation and even around the world.
The dig-out was churning full speed across the region. Baltimore, which set a record with almost 30 inches of snow, had some subway service and a few bus lines operating Monday. Schools and government offices were closed, and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake pleaded for patience.
"Over 3K neighborhood streets to clear," Rawlings-Blake tweeted Monday. "It's a process — can't just plow — have to move snow to alternate locations.
In Washington, D.C., public schools would remain closed until Tuesday, tweeted Mayor Muriel Bowser, thought the local government would reopen on Tuesday, she also said.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio lauded the efforts of city workers for their efforts in clearing streets, but drew an outcry from many Queens residents who posted complaints and photos of unplowed roads on social media.
The city's schools opened Monday, but not everyone could get there. The city's public advocate, Letitia James, criticized de Blasio' decision to open them, saying they should have remained closed "for the safety of students and educators."
"We needed to do better in some parts of Queens – and it’s different depending on neighborhoods," deBlasio told public radio WNYC on Monday. "We definitely need have to finish this today, get these streets in better shape."
In Washington, D.C., Bowser was out among 2,000 volunteer snow shovelers Sunday, working to dig out neighbors. Federal offices were closed Monday. Schools were also closed, although 10 buildings were open to serve breakfast and lunch to students. Much work remained to plow neighborhood streets and make the transit system fully operational.
"We are going to get to every street," Bowser assured residents Monday. "We are working through our methodical process ... to get to everybody in the most effiicient way possible."
Suburbs also struggled. In Arlington, Va., main roads were plowed Monday but most neighborhoods remained untouched. The county of 225,000 said on it website it would take until Tuesday night to reach all streets. The county already had canceled school through Tuesday.
The storm is also blamed for at least 30 deaths, according to the Associated Press.
In Greenville, S.C., an elderly couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside their home, The Greenville News reported. The couple had lost power during the storm and a family member had helped them set up a generator inside their garage, officials said. Somehow a door propped open to vent the deadly gas became closed, and carbon monoxide filled the house.
A number of people, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer in Delaware, died of heart attacks after shoveling snow.
