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The blizzard was economically devastating, too. Detroit's auto-industry analysts estimated potential losses at $130 million, with 300,000 workers idled and production schedules snafued. Utilities were hard hit, paying overtime to crews repairing downed power lines, which left more than 150,000 in Ohio and 160,000 in Michigan without heat or electricity. The Chicago Black Hawks, who average about 10,000 for their home hockey games, had only 527 fans cheering their 5-0 victory over the Cleveland Barons. About the only beneficiaries of the blizzard were hotel and motel operators, who filled their rooms and lobbies with suburbanites unwilling to risk the long plow home.
If last week's erratic weather outside the Midwest is any indication, the region should now brace itself for floods. Along the Eastern seaboard, January thaws (the New York City temperature rose to 57°) and heavy rains sent creeks and rivers over their banks, inundated some towns, caused power failures in Washington, D.C., and left hundreds of cars swamped everywhere.