BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Next week marks 20 years since on of Western New York’s most memorable winter events – the October Surprise Storm of 2006.
On the evening of Oct. 12, 2006, 20 inches of heavy, wet snow fell on the region, bringing down trees – which knocked down power lines. Thousands of people woke up the next morning without power, many not getting it back for several days. Tens of thousands of trees were damaged or destroyed from the storm. Many schools were closed for at least a week.
WIVB News 4 dug deep into the archives for those newscasts. From the first flakes, to the shock and awe of the storm damage and stories of Western New Yorkers stepping up for their neighbors in need, we’re taking you back in time to our newscasts from the first hours of the storm and the immediate aftermath…