In Annapolis, vehicles were prohibited on city streets, according to a state of emergency declared by Mayor Joshua J. Cohen. Only snow equipment, emergency vehicles or others authorized by him were allowed. His spokesman, Phill McGowan, said the prohibition applied to newspaper delivery trucks and vehicles taking employees to work.
"Public safety is the first consideration," McGowan said, adding that it might be three to four days before plows can open smaller streets in Annapolis.
Dozens of Naval Academy midshipmen and students from St. John's College streamed off campus to shovel the driveways and steps of elderly Annapolis residents, a volunteer effort coordinated by neighborhood activists.
Second-year Midshipman Michael Martin said he was happy to participate, after receiving an e-mail asking for help from his brigade.
"Not much was going on today," said Martin, 19, a Houston native who aided three families with the help of a group of classmates. "We don't get much of a chance to do stuff around town."
Local and state police were kept busy responding to disabled vehicles and minor collisions, but there were fewer calls about crimes, authorities said. State police said the most serious crash they handled occurred Friday afternoon, at the storm's onset, when a van ran into the back of a snowplow truck on Route 462 at I-95 in Harford County. A 15-year-old girl who was riding in the van was in critical condition Saturday, police said.
As of Saturday afternoon, Harford County's main roads were passable only by four-wheel-drive vehicles, said Hudson Myers, deputy public works director. "We are trying to hire some private contractors tonight to begin opening the other roads," he said.
In Carroll County, where officials said snowfall averaged 26 inches, Bob Manahan, a road department chief, said he hoped to have two lanes open on most county roads by 6 p.m. today. Even so, at least two county churches, St. John's Westminster and St. Bartholomew's in Manchester, planned to hold late Sunday services.
Travel in and out of the state by almost any means was severely restricted. Amtrak trains kept a reduced schedule between Washington and New York, while Greyhound buses parked all the way south to Charlotte.
Many Marylanders were content to watch the flakes fall and blow. Others, undaunted, chipped away at the white mess with shovels and snowblowers.
There wasn't much else for folks to do, even if they could have gotten out. Shopping malls across the region were closed, as were many stores, bars and eateries. Movie theaters, art museums and other attractions shut their doors for the duration of the storm.
Eddie's Market on St. Paul Street was among the exceptions. Darlene and Jerry Gordon, owners of the Charles Village grocery, had slept in a nearby office Friday night, and Jerry slogged in to the store at 5.a.m. Saturday.
"Our loyal employees got in, too," said Darlene Gordon. "And our customers have been thanking us for being open."
She described the atmosphere in the store as being "a little crazy." She said there had been "great camaraderie."
"Jerry was determined to be open, and nothing was going to stop him," she said of her husband. In the early afternoon yesterday, the store was full of customers.
The snow was great for at least one business in Western Maryland -- for those who could get there. Wisp ski resort near Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County reported 30 inches of new snow for skiing, tubing and other winter activities.
"It's an epic weekend to go skiing," said Lori Epp, the resort's marketing director.
Baltimore Sun reporters Liz Bowie, David Nitkin, Andrea K. Walker, Childs Walker and Paul West contributed to this article.
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