The Ice Storm of 1998: When St. Lawrence County Went Dark

In January 1998, one of the worst ice storms in North American history brought St. Lawrence County, New York to a complete standstill.
For days, freezing rain coated trees, power lines, and roads with inches of solid ice, causing widespread power outages, collapsed infrastructure, and a humanitarian emergency across the North Country.

This episode tells the true story of the Ice Storm of 1998, focusing specifically on St. Lawrence County, where tens of thousands of residents lost electricity for days—and in some cases, weeks. Entire towns went dark. Homes dropped below freezing. Emergency shelters filled. Utility crews and the New York National Guard were deployed as the power grid collapsed under the weight of the storm.

Through real historical facts, verified reports, and firsthand accounts, this documentary-style episode walks through the storm hour by hour and day by day—from the first flickering lights to the long recovery that permanently changed how Northern New York prepares for winter.

This is not a dramatization.
This is not exaggeration.
This is what actually happened.

️ About the Beard Laws Network
The Beard Laws Network is home to multiple long-form storytelling shows focused on real events, forgotten history, true crime, disasters, and moments that shaped communities. Every episode is built to inform, engage, and preserve real stories—especially those tied to local and regional history.

If you lived through the Ice Storm of 1998—or want to understand how fragile modern life can be—this story matters.

Chapters / Topics Covered:

The weather system that caused the Ice Storm of 1998

Why St. Lawrence County was hit so hard

Power grid collapse across Northern New York

Life inside homes without heat or electricity

Emergency shelters and National Guard response

The quiet deaths and hidden dangers

How the storm permanently changed the region

If you enjoy deep storytelling, real history, and documentary-style episodes, consider subscribing to the Beard Laws Network.

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