[swrinfla]

Ancient history, perhaps, but still applicable:
Hurricane on Cape Cod September 1942 or thereabouts (no hurricane names, then). Spun a canoe Mother stashed against the house around and around "all night." Her convertible lost its top and was plastered all over with a sand and grass mixture that took days and days to remove!
Huge snow storm in Boston and New York, Christmas 1947. Something like 27" all up and down the coast. The whole winter following was so snowy that our street on Beacon Hill wasn't plowed out until April, and then it took a bulldozer!
Another huge snowstorm in St. Louis, MO, end of January 1982. Better than 20" in my back yard. Our private street wasn't plowed for weeks, and it became a nightmare of icy ruts to drive! Didn't go out of the house for almost 4 days, 'cause there was no way of getting anywhere!