This is a recording of about 90 minutes of Operation Antifreeze from January 31, 1977. It was on a recently rediscovered cassette tape that a 10-year-old Fort Erie boy had recorded that day.
Operation Antifreeze was radio station CJRN's effort to keep residents of the Niagara Peninsula informed about the natural disaster that was the Blizzard of '77 and coordinate help for those who were trapped in their homes.
The blizzard hit the Niagara-Buffalo area the morning of Friday, January 28, 1977.
This recording was made three days later, in the afternoon of the following Monday, more than 72 hours after the storm started. Visibility was still near zero at times due to 50 mph winds and continued blowing snow, temperatures were still around 0F and some areas were still cut off as plows had not made it down many major roads, let alone the side streets.
Read Erno Rossi's book on the storm and find more information at whitedeath.com.
photos from Fort Erie Public Library collection, Niagara Falls Public Library collection, Wikipedia, Buffalo State Courier-Express collection
