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Fire Truck Slams Into Dairy Queen

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Two people were injured Wednesday when a fire engine slammed into a North Texas Dairy Queen.

City officials said Greenville Fire-Rescue Unit 4 crashed into the restaurant located on the 200 block of Highway 380 East in Farmersville at about noon. The truck was headed east on U.S. 380 when it left the road for an unknown reason. [[365949411,C]]

"It happened right in front of me," said restaurant manager Babbett Pattillo. "I mean, I was on the phone looking out of the highway and taking an order when it came right beside me. It just took out everything."

The truck crashed into an outdoor patio and through a portion of the restaurant, collapsing part of the front wall, before coming to a stop on the other side of the restaurant.

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"We just started scrambling around looking for everybody and once we found everyone, they made us get out," Pattillo said. "I mean seconds, it happen in seconds."

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NBC 5 has learned the truck had just been serviced by Siddons-Martin Emergency Group in Denton and that the company was returning the vehicle to the fire station when the crash occurred.

The truck was not being driven by a firefighter at the time of the crash and was not headed to an emergency call.

The driver of the truck and a restaurant employee were hospitalized with injuries that were not life threatening, officials said.

Dairy Queen employee Natalie Boden, 19, was working at the drive-thru window at the time of the crash. She was grabbing a drink carrier for a customer when debris suddenly knocked her to the ground.

She said two co-workers dug her out of the rubble and carried her outside. She said she didn't realize what happened until she saw pictures from her hospital bed.

"We were just doing our own thing. Nobody saw it coming. It just happened right then and there," Boden said. "Not everyone knew people carried me to the back because everybody thought I was under the debris dead or something, but I'm not."

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Boden suffered a bump on her forehead, a gash behind her ear and several scrapes and bruises. She was released from the hospital Wednesday evening.

She said her first concern was whether her customers were okay.

"I was worried about my customers in line because I thought it just ran right over them. But they're all okay. Everyone else is okay. It's just a mess now," she said.

Siddons-Martin Emergency Group released a statement Wednesday afternoon, which read, in part: 

Siddons Martin is cooperating with the authorities to determine the nature and cause of this unfortunate accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the technician who was injured as well as the injured bystanders. 

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The restaurant owner said the building is a major loss.

"I've been doing this for 30 years," said Joe McKee, owner of the restaurant. "This is my life seven days a week, so I'm pretty devastated right now."

McKee is also concerned about his employees.

"I have 32 people that probably just lost their jobs or I don't know," McKee said. "I just don't know about any of that."

It is unclear what led to the crash.

NBC 5's Eric King, Meredith Yeomans and Frank Heinz contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Janda Ballard Mason
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Only 2 Candidates Have Spent Less Time in N.H. Than Trump

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He's leading most New Hampshire polls, but Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has spent less time in the state than all but two of his competitors.

According to necn's 2016 Candidate Tracker, Trump has visited 25 times and made a total of 31 stops. The only candidates who have been there fewer times are Rick Santorum (18 stops) and Mike Huckabee (nine), neither of whom are mounting a serious campaign in the Granite State.

In fact, several candidates who have already dropped out of the race — Lindsey Graham (176 stops), George Pataki (100) and Rick Perry (45) — have spent more time in New Hampshire than the Republican frontrunner.

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Recent polls have have Trump leading in New Hampshire by as much as 18 to 20 percentage points, with a RealClearPolitics average showing him with a 17.7-point edge in January. 

Trump's ability to remain atop the polls without meeting a large number of New Hampshire voters has some concerned it could hurt the state's first-in-the-nation status, according to the Boston Globe. The newspaper even pointed out that Trump has "rarely even spent the night in New Hampshire" during the campaign.

"He's just parachuting in and leaving," longtime GOP operative Ryan Williams said. "A Trump victory would give some ammunition to other states who are jealous about New Hamphire's status."

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Chris Christie is currently leading the Republican field in New Hampshire stops with a total of 156, more than five times as many as Trump.

"Putting in hours and days is no guarantee it's going to translate into increased poll numbers," Dean Spiliotes, a Southern New Hampshire University political scientist, said back in the fall when Trump was still the frontrunner.

He said that technology, social media and campaign finance has "renationalized the primaries at some level" where candidates can still make connections with voters.

On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders (76 stops) and Hillary Clinton (69) have spent almost the same amount of time in the state this cycle. Sanders has been atop recent state polls of the Democratic race.

The New Hampshire primary is scheduled for Feb. 9.

Necn's candidate tracker compiles campaign visits collected from media reports, candidate schedules and plans confirmed by the station.



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Calif. Fire Linked to Hoverboard

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Fire officials said a hoverboard is likely to blame for the fire that destroyed a home Tuesday in Santa Rosa, California, killing the family's two dogs.

No one was home when fire broke out Tuesday evening on East Foothill Drive. Firefighters tried in vain to rescuscitate the dogs.

Asst. Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said the hoverboard, identified Wednesday as an A3 Original Transboard, was found in the bedroom. The hoverboard, Lowenthal said, contained a lithium-ion battery, which can spark and smoke when it leaks.

Although firefighters had the blaze under control within about 15 minutes, Lowenthal said the fire caused up to $250,000 in damage to the home.

Dave Carpenter says he bought the hoverboard for his daughter for Christmas. He says his family will be able to repair their home, but their two dogs, Bella and Boo, can’t be replaced.

"It's really not worth the fun," Carpenter said. "My daughter had a great time but not anymore. Unplug them."

Fire offiicals said Wednesday the department planned to forward its report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the federal agency now investigating 39 hoverboard fires in 19 states including one just before Christmas in Contra Costa County. Commission spokeswoman Patty Davis said of those, seven of the fires were reported in California. When the Santa Rosa fire becomes part of the official investigation, the number of investigations will rise to 40.

The safety commission offers tips on avoiding hoverboard fires, such as looking for a mark of certification from a national testing laboratory on device's package or battery.

The CPSC released a list Wednesday of 13 hoverboard manufacturers it is actively investigating. The A3 Original Transboard was not on that list. The agency is also testing hoverboard models at its national testing center.

A separate statement from the CPSC chairman commended Amazon for offering full refunds on certain brands.

Consumers are urged to report hoverboard-related fires or injuries through www.SaferProducts.gov.



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Americans in Iraq Taken by Forces Tied to Iran: Rubio

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Sen. Marco Rubio suggested three missing Americans in Iraq were taken hostage by forces related to Iran, NBC News reported.

The GOP candidate suggested they “were kidnapped” in retaliation “right as other American hostages were being released.”

The State Department confirmed that U.S. and Iraqi officials were trying to locate the missing three, but wouldn’t confirm reports that they were kidnapped.

While Rubio praised their release, he warned the agreement to release them — part of the nuclear deal — "created an incentive for people to grab Americans because, you know, if you grab a group of Americans you can get something from Barack Obama."

"None of these people did anything wrong, they were trumped up charges, some of them weren't even charged. They were hostages. And why is it happening? Well, because you have a president that people know you can get a deal with," he said.  



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Tot Swallows PCP-Laced Cigarette

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Police in New Haven, Connecticut, have arrested the parents of an 18-month-old boy who was rushed to the hospital after swallowing a cigarette laced with PCP, authorities said.

EMTs responded to the Brookside/West Hills apartment after the baby’s mother called 911 just before 1 p.m. Tuesday and found the little boy unconscious, according to police.

He was breathing and had a pulse when emergency crews arrived, police said.

The little boy was rushed to the pediatric emergency department at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where his condition has improved. Police said he is stable, conscious and breathing on his own.

Officers at the scene Tuesday said the 27-year-old mother and 28-year-old father noticed the baby acting oddly, as if he was high, before the child lost consciousness. The mother then smelled PCP on her son’s breath and called for help, authorities said.

Police said the drugged cigarette had been left within the child’s reach. When investigators spoke with the baby’s father, he allegedly admitted to the laced cigarette was his.

Police charged the parents with risk of injury to a minor. The father was also charged with possession of narcotics.



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Obama Tours Detroit Auto Show, Pledges Help for Flint

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President Obama toured the auto show in Detroit Wednesday, but also addressed the crisis in nearby Flint, NBC News reported.

Obama said he promised to back Flint residents as the city struggles with the pollution of its drinking water. Obama met with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.

"I told her I'd have her back — and all the people of Flint's backs as they work their way through this terrible tragedy," Obama told the auto workers.

Obama declared a state of emergency in Flint on Saturday, allowing the delivery of bottled water, filters and home test kits. Lead has leached into the water piped into Flint homes after the city’s water supply was switched to the Flint River to save money in 2014.

"I know that if I was a parent up there, I would be beside myself that my kids' health could be at risk," Obama said.



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Palin Blames Son's Arrest on PTSD, Obama's Stance on Vets

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Post-Traumatic Stress disorder and the president’s lack of “respect” for veterans were the reasons Sarah Palin said her son was arrested, NBC News reported.

Sarah Palin said her son returned “different” after a year-long deployment in Iraq.

"It starts from the top. The question though it comes from our own president, when they have to look at him and wonder, do you know what we go through, do you know what we're trying to do to secure America and to secure the freedoms that have been bequeathed us?" she said.

Track Palin, 26, was arrested Monday night. He was charged with interfering with the domestic violence report, assault on his girlfriend and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. His girlfriend told police he punched her in the face, kicked her in the knee and threatened suicide with a rifle.  



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Carson to Resume Campaign After Volunteer's Death

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Ben Carson announced he will resume campaigning a day after suspending activities after a fatal car crash that took the life of a campaign volunteer, NBC News reported.

Joplin, 25, died after a van he was in carrying Carson staff and volunteers flipped on an icy road near Atlantic, Iowa. Three others were hospitalized and released.

In a statement, the Carson said "Our mission going forward is to honor Braden as he embodied the spirit we carry forward, restoring the transformative power of We the People, unifying our nation with the inspirational vision of those who passionately love our country.”

Carson has two scheduled events in Iowa Thursday afternoon.  



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The Week in Pictures: Jarramplas, Pakistan Attacks, and More

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View weekly updates on the very best photos in domestic and foreign news.

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Marine Helicopter Makes Precautionary Landing at Ramona Airport

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 A Marine helicopter made a precautionary landing at Ramona Airport, officials confirmed to NBC 7 San Diego. 

The landing happened at 1:46 p.m. at the airport, located at the 2900 block of Montecito Road, San Diego Sheriff's officials (SDSO) and Heartland Fire said. 

The helicopter landed after receiving a caution light indicator, MCAS Miramar officials said. 

There have been no injuries and no damage to property, MCAS Miramar officials said. 

Mechanics are en route to the airport to examine the helicopter. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story. 



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Martin Shkreli Invokes Fifth, Won't Cooperate With Senate

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The former chief executive officer at Turning Pharmaceuticals has invoked the Fifth Amendment, refusing to produce documents subpoenaed by a Senate committee investigating drug-pricing practices, NBC News repaired.

Martin Shkreli has refused to cooperate with the Senate investigation after House lawmakers issued a subpoena to compel him to appear at a congressional hearing next Tuesday.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said on Twitter that the investigation could be hindered by his refusal to cooperate.

Shkeli was arrested last month in New York and charged with securities fraud and conspiracy. He became notorious after hiking the price of Daraprim, the only approved drug for a rare and sometimes deadly parasitic infection, by 5000 percent.  



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Don't Blame Obama for Track Palin's Behavior: Vets

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The head of a New York City-based veteran’s organization weighed in after Sarah Palin said her son Track’s arrest on domestic violence charges this week was a result of PTSD and because of President Obama’s lack of “respect” for veterans, NBC News reported.

"It's not President Obama's fault that Sarah Palin's son has PTSD," said Paul Rieckhoff, who heads Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). 

Palin made the claim at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally after she endorsed Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for president. Her son was arrested Monday after he allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face, kicked her in the knee and threatened suicide with an assault rifle.

"This is a great opportunity for Sarah Palin to sound the alarm about PTSD," Rieckhoff said, urging her to “resist the urge to politicize” PTSD.

"I hope this doesn't become a portable chew toy in a political campaign," he said.  



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See Photos of Some of the Worst Northeastern U.S. Blizzards

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See photos of some of the worst storms to hit the American northeast in history.

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Fight Leaves Trail of Blood in Ocean Beach

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 An argument turned violent in Ocean Beach when four people were stabbed early Wednesday.

The stabbing happened at Brighton and Bacon just after midnight, leaving a trail of blood on the sidewalk.

Two women and a man got into some sort of argument with two men walking toward them, San Diego Police said.

Someone took out a knife, stabbing two of the men and both of those women, officers said.

Police said they believe it was the man walking with two women who used the knife in self defense.

One victim was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Police said two of the victims were intoxicated and unable to provide information on the suspect.

Police described the injuries as non-life threatening. No arrests have been made.

Convicted Sex Offender Guilty of Failing to Register

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 A sex offender convicted of a crime in 1991 was found guilty of failing to register as a sex offender, stemming from complaints that he was taking photographs of neighborhood children, the San Diego City Attorney’s office announced.

Daniel Lackley, 56, was found guilty of failing to register Tuesday and faces up to a year in jail when sentenced, said City Attorney spokesman Gerry Braun.

Neighbors contacted police when Lackey started taking photos of neighborhood children in Serra Mesa. He told police he was a transient, but an investigation by San Diego Police Detective Melvin Lofftus found he was living in a single-family home in the neighborhood.

Lackley was previously convicted of lewd and lascivious acts on a child 14 to 15 years old in 1991. He is required to register as a sex offender for life because of the conviction.

In the State of California, a convicted sex offender’s failure to report a correct address at which he or she currently lives is illegal.

His sentencing is set for March 4, 2016.



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Safety Official Recommends Fire Extinguishers for Hoverboards

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A federal safety official is recommending that anyone riding a hoverboard keep a fire extinguisher handy and wear a helmet when they ride, NBC News reported.

"There are no safety standards for these self-balancing products. That is unacceptable," Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye said in a statement Wednesday.

A number of the electric scooters have burst into flame while charging or during use, which suggests bad construction, low-quality batteries and other problems.

In his statement, Kaye wrote that the commission is expanding its investigation of the falls associated with hoverboards. There’s also a list of manufacturers and distributors that the commission is investigating.  



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Police Pursue Possible Stolen Vehicle in South Bay

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 Police pursued a suspect driving a potentially stolen car in San Diego's South Bay. 

The pursuit began on the northbound Interstate 805 near 905. 

The driver was wanted for driving a potential stolen car after a traffic stop. 

The car was described as a white 2011 Toyota Truck. 

As of 6:24 p.m., police lost track of the car. It was last seen at Anita and 4th Avenue in Chula Vista. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story. 

Report Raises Questions About Tamir Rice Grandy Jury

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A prosecutor’s spokesman declined to comment on allegations of a report published Wednesday suggesting grand jury deliberations were conducted improperly into a police officer’s killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, NBC News reported.

But the spokesman, Joseph Frolik, told NBC News that his office handles all police use-of-force cases the same.

The article, published in Cleveland-based, The Scene magazine, reported that the grand jury did not vote when it decided not to bring criminal charges against Timothy Loehmann, the officer who killed Rice, and that there was no record of the decision.

A lawyer for Rice’s family said in a statement that they were promised there would be a vote.

"We were assured throughout this process that a recommendation regarding criminal charges would be made and that a vote would be taken by the grand jury," attorney Jonathan S. Abady’s statement said.  



Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rice Family Attorney

Cruz Calls Out Establishment for Supporting Trump

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Ted Cruz suggested Wednesday night that the “Washington establishment” determined Marco Rubio “can’t win this race” and is “rushing over to support Donald Trump,” NBC News reported.

Cruz made the comments after a new CNN/WMUR poll bumped him up in second place in New Hampshire, where so-called establishment or moderate candidates are chosen over more socially conservative ones like Cruz.

"Let me encourage other members of the establishment: Keep supporting Donald Trump," Cruz said. "Because every time you do it, what it is doing is telling conservatives all over the country where you stand and who stands with you."

The poll, released Wednesday evening, showed Cruz with 14 percent of support, putting him ahead of Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush by four points.

Despite Cruz’s gains, Trump still sits at 34 percent of support in the New Hampshire poll — a 20-point margin over Cruz.  



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Inch of Snow Snarls D.C. Traffic

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Drivers crashed on icy roads and sat in gridlock for hours Wednesday night after an inch of snow fell in the D.C. area -- two days before a blizzard is expected to dump as much as 2 feet of snow.

A thin layer of snow glazed streets with ice starting about 7 p.m., forcing the closure of highway ramps and side streets. The all-red traffic maps were reminiscent of "Carmageddon" in January 2011, when heavy snow fell fast across the region, knocking down trees and power lines and making a mess of the evening commute.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser advised drivers to stay off roads in the District. 

"Due to icy road conditions, residents are asked to avoid travel this evening to allow crews to continue to treat the roads asked to clear sidewalks," she said in a statement. "If you must travel this evening, please use extreme caution, as temperatures and precipitation will create hazardous conditions." 

Crews will work overnight to clear D.C. streets before Thursday morning rush hour.

Even President Barack Obama's motorcade was stuck in traffic. According to White House pool reports, Obama was driven by car from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to the White House after bad weather grounded helicopters. A drive that usually takes 25 minutes took more than an hour, reports said. Vehicles in the president's motorcade skipped and slid, making contact with curbs. White House reporters spotted at least three crashes along the way.

Storm Team4 predicted about an inch of snow would fall after 6 p.m. -- not usually enough for a Winter Weather Advisory -- but an advisory was issued until midnight because recent low temperatures meant the snow would stick and create slick conditions for drivers. That advisory was extended until 2 a.m. Thursday for Maryland.

Storm Team4 is expecting 18 to 24 inches of snow across the D.C. area starting about 5 p.m. Friday. Snow may fall for 36 hours straight, meaning you may need to stay wherever you sleep Friday. The impact may tear down power lines and force road closures, so be prepared.

D.C. began pretreating roads at 4 p.m., D.C. Department of Public Works Director Chris Shorter said.

"We have ramped up and have now tripled the number of trucks we'll have on the roads to make sure we clear the roads tonight for tomorrow's commute," Shorter said.

Virginia officials did not pretreat roads in Northern Virginia Wednesday because temperatures were in the 20s and the treatment would have frozen, a Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman said. Salt trucks will work overnight to try to clean up the mess, he said.

Gov. Larry Hogan said Maryland is ready for the blizzard.

"We're prepared," he said. "I would advise people to not overreact, yet but get prepared."

EMS workers may need to improvise their response to emergencies if streets aren't plowed, Prince George's County fire department spokesman Mark Brady said.

"You may see a totally different vehicle arrive. It might be a four-wheel-drive Jeep with a plow on it and a couple firefighters that will pull you out of your house, put your aboard that Jeep and take you to a waiting ambulance on one of the cleared main roads," he said.

To help firefighters, clear snow about 3 feet around the nearest fire hydrant.

As of 9 p.m., Virginia state troopers were responding to 172 crashes statewide, including a fatal crash in Bedford County. A state trooper working a crash on Interstate 495 in Northern Virginia was struck by another vehicle and is being treated for minor injuries.

As of 9 p.m. in Maryland, one crash was reported in Frederick, five in Rockville and 13 in Montgomery County.

A blizzard watch will go into effect Friday afternoon and remain through late Saturday night, Storm Team4 said. A blizzard watch means conditions are favorable for a snowstorm with winds exceeding 35 mph.

Due to the approaching storm, the University of Maryland will be closed Friday through Sunday. However, student move-in will continue Friday, as weather allows, and school staff essential to moving will be on hand. Move-in will begin early at 8 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. It is suspended for Saturday. Monitor the school's website for updates about Sunday.  

The snow will be fairly dry at first, getting wetter and heavier during the strongest part of the storm. Heavy winds will be a concern as well, with strong winds in the D.C. area, 50- to 60-mph winds on the coast, and 50-mph winds on the Chesapeake Bay.

Both the weight of the snow and the heavy winds could lead to power outages. If you haven't started already, you should begin preparing for the storm.

The snowfall should be over by the time you wake up Sunday morning, but it could take awhile for the region to dig out.

Historic Amounts of Snowfall Possible

Storm Team4 is expecting 18 to 24 inches of snow during this storm -- and that range would put this storm firmly in the top five biggest snowfalls of all time for the region.

For reference, the December 2009 and February 2010 snowstorms commonly called "Snowmageddon" and "Snowpocalypse" clocked in at 16.4 inches and 17.8 inches, respectively.

If we get 24 inches of snow, this storm would be the second-biggest snowstorm of all time, coming in only after 1922's devastating storm, also known as the Knickerbocker blizzard. During that storm, heavy snow caused the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre to collapse in Adams Morgan, killing 98 people and seriously injuring 133.

If we get 18 inches of snow, this storm would unseat the infamous February 2010 snowstorm from its 4th-place spot. 

In other words, it's highly likely that this snowstorm will be one we'll be talking about for a long time.

 

Be on the lookout for homeless people, who could get hypothermia during this cold spell. If you see someone in the D.C. area who needs shelter or warmer clothing, call the following numbers:
  • D.C. -- 1-800-535-7252 or 311
  • Arlington County, Virginia -- 703-527-4077
  • Prince George's County, Maryland -- 888-731-0999
  • Maryland Crisis Hotline -- 301-662-2255
  • Montgomery County, Maryland -- 240-777-4000
  • Fairfax County, Virginia -- 703-691-2131 (non-emergency police number)

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