My #Snowvember: 'We are (finally) free!'

A winter blast dropped massive amounts of snow beginning Tuesday morning in Buffalo and surrounding areas. Your Take contributor Mary Best ventured out to capture this "Snovember" storm.

Day 1

Best was on her way from a school board meeting in the Buffalo suburb of West Seneca on Monday night when the snow started. She went to bed at 11:30 p.m., and there were a few inches on the ground.

Day 2

When she woke up at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, there was about 3 to 4 feet, depending on the drifts.

Travel bans, snow-covered streets, trapped cars

and white fluff went on for miles.

It wasn't long before Best lost power. "Fortunately, we still had running water, a land line and a gas stove, but it didn't take long for the house to cool down. The power company said our street was the only street without power, which meant we weren't on the high priority list — not to mention we are on a dead-end street that's not off a main road," she said.

Best says her parents were taking shifts to try and clear the driveway before the snow compacted. "Our snowblower quit when the driveway was halfway done, which meant shoveling was the only way out," she said.

All Best had was a radio and a cellphone with limited battery life to stay updated. She recalls hearing horrible stories on the radio. "People were calling in, who'd been trapped in their cars for almost 30 hours with no signs of being rescued. There was 5 feet of snow outside! No one was going in or out," she said.

Day 3

Around 1 a.m. Wednesday, Best woke up to a front loader and another vehicle plowing her street to allow the power company through. At 4 a.m., the heat and electricity were back up and running. "Honestly, it felt a bit apocalyptic."

"While there are moments where it almost feels like a vacation, a quick look outside reminds us of what's happening," she said.

"I'm happy to have my coffee and an arsenal of sweaters, but it looks like with all of the travel bans and slow progress being made on the roads, I have a few more days before we will be able to leave."

The biggest risk for Best and other residents is flooding and refreezing in days ahead.

"There are many people who will have to worry about basements and roads being flooded, and there's no way to prepare for it."

Best's sister lives in North Tonawanda, about 30-40 minutes from her house, where they only got a light dusting.

"People have lost their lives because of this storm, and I cannot tell you how happy I am that the West Seneca School Board finished its meeting when they did. Or else, if I had gotten stuck on the way home, I don't know if I would have made in my car long enough to be rescued," she said.

Best, who lives in Alden, one of the hardest hit towns, says her main road has been referred to as a "disaster" by the Sheriff's Department.

"I have never seen this much snow in my entire life."

Buffalo is expected to get another few feet before the snow band leaves around noon on Friday.

"We aren't out of the woods yet," Best said.

Meanwhile, Best started clearing the driveway and back door so she could finally open the back sliding door.

Although a travel ban is still in effect for her town and many others, some of the major roads are cleaner, Best said.Day 4

She planned to get out to go grocery shopping and get a large coffee drink!

"The big project for the day is digging out the cars and finishing the driveway," she said.

Day 5

"We are free!"

The travel ban in Best's town has been lifted and the street plowed.

Meanwhile, flood warnings are in effect until Tuesday and the focus of emergency crews is to try to keep digging people out, saving roofs and preventing flooding, Best says.

With snow dripping off trees and roofs, there are now multiple buildings around town that have structural damage, including a local school system and some trailer park homes, according to Best. As for her roof, she says it looks okay for now, but she knows this isn't the end.

As for her driveway, she has moved the cars a bit so they could clear it. The driveway was frozen over with ice and 2 inches of packed snow.

In the process, she found a new sport, which involved picking the bricks up and heaving them over the snow drifts that surround the driveway.

But overall, morale is higher. "At least now we don't have to spend the day shoveling and can catch our breath," she says.

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