Fierce snowstorm shuts down Washington

Reporting from Washington – A ferocious blizzard, dubbed the “snowpocalypse” and “snowmageddon,” descended Friday on Washington, shutting federal offices early, closing schools and sending residents scurrying to stock up on supplies to carry them through the weekend.

Forecasters predicted 30 inches or more of snow, which would easily break the area’s all-time snowfall record of 28 inches set in 1922. The area has seen more than a foot of snow only 13 times since 1870, according to the National Weather Service.

There were lines that went around the block to get into some grocery stores. Hardware and liquor stores were mobbed, and many shops had already run out of items for their customers.

“I tried to stock up, but the shelves were empty,” said Beth Davies, who went to the Giant supermarket in suburban Silver Spring, Md. “There was only pig feet left” in the meat department.

With snow coming down hard by midday, some federal employees, released from work four hours early, grumbled that they had to come in at all.

“They should have just shut down today,” said Internal Revenue Service employee Jessie Cole as she watched her commuter bus whiz past. “It’s full, again.”

“It’s just no point commuting two hours and just spending three, four hours at work,” said Thanh Pham, who was in front of Cole at the bus stop outside the Department of Justice on Pennsylvania Avenue. “I’m from Central Texas. I’m just not used to this.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) canceled a Friday morning appearance at the Democratic National Committee winter meeting in downtown, apparently to be sure of getting out of Washington before airports closed.

Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), chairing a meeting of Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, appeared to use the storm to poke fun at the committee’s absent Republicans, though Democrats were sparse in attendance as well.

“My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, because of the snow, have asked unanimous consent to have their statements placed in the record. And we may have some others coming on the Democratic side, but many people have left because of the snow warning,” she said.

Not every politician was leaving town. President Obama is hosting a Super Bowl party at the White House on Sunday with 30 to 40 people attending, including Congress members from Louisiana and Indiana and military personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A year ago, the newly minted president made a snide comment about schools closing in the nation’s capital after just a dusting of snow and ice. But much has changed both politically and meteorologically in the last 12 months.

“Even a transplanted Hawaiian to Chicago has sufficient respect for a forecast of up to 2 feet of snow,” said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.