The ice storm of the century: how affected hospitals and communities dealt with the challenges of a unique, prolonged emergency.

A huge ice storm in early January 1998 caused severe damage in northern New York and parts of Maine and Canada. The storm, which lasted in some areas for several weeks and is being called the "storm of the century," led to 30 deaths (many from carbon monoxide poisoning); closed roads and schools; downed thousand of trees and power lines; and left hundreds of thousands without electricity. In this report, we'll present details on how hospitals in these three locations which were declared disaster areas were affected by the storm as well as the measures that they and their security departments took to help patients, staff, and their communities.