First day of winter leaves the East Coast dealing with snow storm aftermath (video)

First day of winter leaves the East Coast dealing with snow storm aftermath
John Dispigno takes turns digging out his driveway with his brother, Danny, background, on Route 25A in Oyster Bay, N.Y. after snow plows piled snow along the sides of the road from a blizzard that hit the Long Island, N.Y. area throughout the night on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

The East Coast saw record breaking snowfalls this weekend, and today marks the first day of winter. With holiday travel grounded and flights delayed, many are struggling to clean up the snowstorm’s aftermath and prepare for the Christmas holiday. Schools that weren’t shut down for the holidays are now closed, along with federal agencies and businesses.

The aftermath of the wintry storm will be felt for the next week to come, as airlines play catch up and the East tries to dig their way out of the snowy mess.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed with 250 cancelled at New York’s LaGuardia Airport alone, Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. was closed as some areas saw as much as 26” of snow fall. For many travelers, the dream of being home with family for the holidays turned into long lines and camping out in airports, struggling to find a place to sleep. As the snow ceases, this first day of winter sees those stretched across the East Coast essentially playing catch up in order to make their holiday plans a reality.

Shopping was hard hit as many stores depending upon the boon the Christmas sales would bring surrendered to the intensity of the blizzard and shut down. Today, retailers are hoping that consumers will shovel their way out of their homes, follow the paths led by snow plows, and find their way into shopping centers, where their Christmas dollars will hopefully boost a lagging economy. Meanwhile, temperatures across the East have dropped to freezing. One thing is certain: it will be a White Christmas for the East Coast.

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