Some motorists seemed caught off-guard even by a snow storm that had been in the forecast for two days.
There was no calm before this storm, as dire forecasts sent Long Islanders scrambling to the supermarkets. But by early evening, there were more plows than people and downtown Huntington was nearly deserted on a Saturday night.
Meantime, in Nassau County, last-minute holiday shoppers in Carle Place had no choice but to bundle up and brave the bitter cold and snow.
Despite white out conditions, the non-stop flurry of shoppers did not let up. Most people were trying to cram it all in a day.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," said shopper Michelle Peralta. "It's bad, but not as bad as we thought."
The Peralta sisters teamed up to clean off mom's car -- the downside of the late night trip to the mall.
"We wanted to get as many presents as we could before we get stranded in our homes tomorrow," Diana Peralta said.
The fear of getting snowed in translated into big business at stores. Customers waited and waited in long lines to check out.
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Some information from Eywitness News reporter Lauren DeFranco
