Possible Worst Storm to Strike New England Begins

Yahoo! News is gathering brief first-person accounts, photos and video from the severe winter weather in the northeastern United States. Here's one resident's story.

FIRST PERSON | WORCESTER, Mass. -- As the blizzard of 2013 rapidly bears down upon us and the first effects are being seen, many residents are having flashbacks both to the most recent Hurricane Sandy. But in this area, central Massachusetts specifically, our thoughts turn to the ice storm of 2008, which provided many challenges for residents of Massachusetts, including extended power outages reaching on for weeks in some areas. My neighborhood lost power and heat for just more than a week. The Blizzard of 2013 is stirring up some less-than-pleasant memories among residents.

With the forecasts looking bleak and swirling snow falling at a steady rate, stores in this area look completely ravaged. Water, bread, and food are all extremely scarce as the preparations continue. Candles and batteries have turned into impossible to find. Gas stations, if they still have any gas, are experiencing wait times in excess of more than 20 minutes. Residents have almost entirely eliminated heading to work today.

With the extended landfall of what could possibly, and in all likelihood, be among the record books as the worst storm to ever hit New England, preparations have become the primary priority for all residents. As the hours progress and the timeline reaches closer to the worst parts of the storm, residents can be seen closing up their homes and preparing to wait it out.

The Blizzard of 2013, if it achieves nothing else, will be remembered in these parts among the ranks of the great ice storm of 2008 and Hurricane Sandy. Expectations are hoping for the best, but in purely realistic terms throughout the area, everyone is prepared for the worst, including extended power outages.