U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 11

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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FRIDAY, MARCH 11: KILLER STORMS

Profile America -- Friday, March 11th.  The calendar says spring is close, but it doesn't pay to let your winter guard down.  Two of the nation's most potent winter storms occurred at this time of year. Eighteen years ago this weekend, the so-called "Storm of the Century" blasted the East Coast.  Even though predicted, the warm weather just before made people less concerned -- and more than 250 of them lost their lives.  And in 1888, New Yorkers were digging out from the worst blizzard ever to hit their city, before or since.  Some 50 inches of snow, driven by wind in the city streets, left drifts up to 40 feet high, killing 200.  Normally, New York City has some 4-1/2 inches of precipitation during an average March.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 169

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 392

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau