The Inland Northwest was sheathed in crystal in the winter of 1996. The combination of wet snow and freezing rain that hit Nov. 19 became known as ice storm ‘96. It knocked out power to roughly 100,000 homes, some for as long as 13 days. Four people died. Travel proved nearly impossible. Residents huddled around fireplaces, read by lantern light and cooked over camp stoves. The damage was estimated at more than $22 million.
Kids pick their way along Centennial Trail, Nov. 20, 1996, in downtown Spokane amidst damage from the ice storm.
Dan Mccomb Sr