Back in the day, Jan. 3, 1949: Blizzard called one of the greatest catastrophes to hit Nebraska

• By Sheritha Jones Omaha World-Herald – via Lincoln Journal Star
• Jan 3, 2022 Updated May 23, 2023

Ed Geisert had to receive medication by air drop at this farm 8 1/2 miles southeast of Ogallala. HAROLD COWAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

A huge blizzard that Gov. Val Peterson called one of the greatest catastrophes ever to hit Nebraska raged across the state, delivering unbelievable hardship to those stranded on the road, in their rural homes and in small towns.

Many areas saw record snowfall on Jan. 3, 1949, including Chadron, with 26.7 inches, according to the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

By the time the blizzard eased on Jan. 4, Chadron had received 41 inches of snow. The epic blizzard was part of an epic winter that claimed the lives of dozens of people and hundreds of thousands of livestock.

Operation Snowbound helped provide aid to remote properties that were stranded because of the large amounts of snow. Journal Star file photo

Houses west of Imperial were almost completely covered in snow. Occupants of this house tore the screen off the window in order to get in and out of their home. Journal Star file photo

Unable to get around by automobile, Lorene Hickok, Mrs. Hickok and brother Verne Hickok used a horse-drawn wagon to make their milk deliveries. Journal Star file photo

Bulldozers participating in Operation Snowbound cleared patterns on the Nebraska landscape in an attempt to reach and save stranded people and cattle. Journal Star file photo

Almost 2 million head of cattle survived thanks to Operation Snowbound, which airlifted an estimated 35-40 tons of feed a day.   Journal Star file photo

Farmers in western Nebraska had to uncover their chicken houses from a blanket of snow that hit the state in 1948. Journal Star file photo

Pilot Don Higgins perches atop the chimney at the Lester Goodrich farm home, where he answered a distress call. Journal Star file photo

Two locomotives that attempted to open the railroad line were temporarily lost as snow drifts began to cover the locomotives.   Journal Star file photo

As part of rescue and relief efforts carried out by the Red Cross, a tunnel was dug to the pump houses of this windmill as snow drifts of about 30 feet enveloped the area. Journal Star file photo

The 1948-49 blizzard left over 75,000 people marooned and close to 34,000 miles of roads impassable. See photos of how Nebraska weathered the storm.