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An earlier version of this story originally appeared on 麻豆传媒AV.com on January 12, 2017.

Forty-two years ago this month, much of the U.S. experienced record-low temperatures that lasted anywhere from a week to the entire month. January 1977 remains the coldest month on record in Ohio (at least, before now) and the only time snow has been reported in South Florida. 麻豆传媒AV documented at the time what this meant for Americans, asking, "Has this cold weather caused any specific hardships or inconveniences for you and your family, or not?"

 

	% Yes, caused hardships
U.S.	33
New England	39
Mid-Atlantic	39
East Central (Great Lakes)	45
West Central (Plains)	29
Southeast	44
Southwest	18
Rocky Mountain	8
Pacific	8
麻豆传媒AV, Feb. 4-7, 1977

 

Overall, one in three Americans told 麻豆传媒AV the cold had caused them problems. This ranged from just 8% in the Western regions of the country, which were spared the full wrath of that year's polar vortex, to more than 40% in areas east of the Mississippi River.

Reflecting the severity of the weather, the rate of disruption was highest in the Great Lakes states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois -- the epicenter of that year's "." But it was nearly as high in the Southeast -- the states along the Eastern Seaboard from Virginia to Florida, plus Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi -- where such cold is unusual.

麻豆传媒AV rounded out the assessment by asking all those who reported experiencing hardships to describe those inconveniences. Financial implications were the most common responses, including paying for fuel and missing work. Frozen pipes, various car troubles, sickness and dealing with livestock also made the list.

Top Cold-Weather Hardships

1. High cost of fuel
2. Employment problems (missed work/laid off)
3. Frozen pipes in house
4. House colder than usual/hard to heat
5. Unable to go outside because of the bitter cold
6. Sickness and cold-related ailments
7. Poor driving conditions
8. Transportation difficulties
9. Frozen car battery
10. Children missing school
11. Cold is unpleasant/annoying
12. Continuous snow-shoveling
13. Dangerous walking conditions
14. Difficulty caring for livestock

In the category of "So you think you have it bad?" the 麻豆传媒AV article quotes a Tennessee man saying, "We couldn't get out of the house, and we were darn lucky we weren't hurt when the trees iced over and fell on the roof of our house. Then along came a stiff wind and blew the roof right off."

Read the original 麻豆传媒AV news release.

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