12 Times People Got Trapped Indoors for Days Because of the Weather
The weather can change quickly and be dangerous, keeping people inside for days. Many people have been stuck at home with no way to get out because of snowstorms, floods, or very high temperatures. This article discusses how people managed to stay alive and what they learned from the experience.
- Tricia Quitales
- 5 min read

Bad weather can be very strong and keep people inside for days, making it impossible for them to do their daily tasks. From hurricanes and snowstorms to flash floods and extreme heatwaves, these bad weather events have trapped people and forced them to stay inside. This article talks about 12 times when bad weather kept people inside, showing the difficulties they faced and how strong they were. It’s a reminder of how unpredictable nature is and how important it is to be ready for anything.
1. The Great Blizzard of 1888
Marie Hartig Kendall on Wikimedia
Many people were stuck for days during the Great Blizzard of 1888. It was one of the most famous snowstorms in US history. Cities were buried by heavy snow and strong winds, which stopped people from traveling and kept them in their homes. Many people had to wait for help from their neighbors until the storm was over.
2. Hurricane Katrina (2005)
Public domain on Wikimedia
Many people in New Orleans were stuck inside their homes during Hurricane Katrina because they didn’t have power, food, or water. The storm flooded many areas, cutting off neighborhoods for days. Many people had to wait for rescue teams to arrive and make do with what they could find.
3. The 1993 Midwest Flood
Andrea Booher on Wikimedia
Terrible floods hit some parts of the Midwest in 1993. Rivers overflowed and flooded whole towns. As the floodwaters rose, people were stuck in their homes and couldn’t get out. Because the roads were impassable, many people had to stay inside for days and rely on emergency supplies.
4. The 1978 Blizzard in the Northeast U.S.
Maria Orlova on Pexels
Heavy snow and strong winds made it impossible for people in the Northeastern U.S. to leave their homes during the blizzard of 1978. People had to stay inside for days because they didn’t have power or heat, and it was so cold outside. Because of the bad conditions, emergency services took a while to arrive.
5. Winter Storm Juno (2015)
Joshua King on Wikimedia
Winter Storm Juno brought a lot of snow and freezing temperatures to the Northeastern U.S., so people had to stay inside for a few days. They had to stay in their homes because public transportation and roads were closed. People in the area were told to stay inside because of the storm and the very cold weather.
6. The 2018 U.S. Midwest Ice Storm
Leela Tripathi on Pexels
Many people in the Midwest lost their power in 2018 because of an ice storm that covered the area in thick ice. Many people couldn’t leave their homes because of the fallen trees and power lines. The freezing rain made driving impossible, so people had to stay inside until the storm was over and the power returned.
7. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Sofwathulla Mohamed on Wikimedia
In 2004, a huge tsunami hit the Indian Ocean. Because of the damage and flooding, many people who lived near the coast were stuck inside. Some areas were cut off completely, and it took days to get back on their feet. It was up to neighbors and emergency supplies to help those who were trapped until help arrived.
8. The 2010 Icelandic Volcano Eruption
Max Haase on Wikimedia
When the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010, it sent a huge cloud of ash over Europe that stopped flights for days. People were stuck inside because they couldn’t get out because of travel restrictions. The eruption caused many problems, and thousands of travelers were stuck.
9. Blizzard of 1977 in Buffalo, New York
Department of Transportation on Wikimedia
In 1977, Buffalo, New York, had one of its worst snowstorms, which kept people inside for days. The snowdrifts were so high that they blocked the roads, leaving the city alone. Because of the storm, the power went out, so until the snow was gone, people had to rely on emergency supplies.
10. The 2016 Louisiana Flood
U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos on Wikimedia
In 2016, Louisiana had terrible flooding that kept tens of thousands of people inside their homes. People were trapped inside for days because roads and shelters were flooded, and they couldn’t get to the outside world. Many people had to wait for rescue teams to get to them because the floodwaters took a long time to go down.
11. The 2014 Sydney Hailstorm
Juliancolton on Wikimedia
In 2014, a huge hailstorm hit Sydney, Australia. It caused a lot of damage and locked people inside their homes. Because the hailstones were so big, they broke windows and damaged roofs. People had to stay inside for days while the police fixed the problems and investigated what was going on.
12. The 2019 Cyclone Idai in Mozambique
André Baptista/VOA on Wikimedia
In 2019, Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, bringing heavy rain and winds that flooded many areas. People were stuck inside because the storm made it impossible to get around, and many homes were destroyed. Rescue teams took days to get to the areas that were hit, and while they waited for help, survivors had to make something with what they had on hand.