Bellmore-Merrick digs out from monster storm

On Sunday, Bellmore-Merrick residents began the long, arduous process of digging out from a nor'easter that dumped an estimated 15 inches of snow on the area.

As the day progressed, kids slowly emerged from their blanketed homes to build snow forts, engage in spirited snowball fights and sled down the big hill at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore. Much to the children’s chagrin, however, schools throughout the Bellmores and Merricks were open on Monday morning, as buses were able to traverse local streets, which were, for the most part, clear. By Tuesday, blacktop was visible on most local roads.

The nor’easter, which struck only days before the official start of winter, broke records for snowfall up and down the East Coast, with parts of Suffolk seeing more than two feet of fresh powder.

Early on Sunday, just as the storm was dying down after raging throughout the night, the Herald was out and about capturing photos of the community covered by the white stuff.