We’ve had bitterly cold temperatures and record-breaking snowfall for the month of December, but it could be worse. In 1886, Kansas was struck with a blizzard; a blizzard that many were not prepared for, resulting in the death of at least 100 people.

You can learn more about the blizzard from the Kansas State Historical Society. If you read the article, you’ll notice the mention of the “B-B-Blizzard,” a newspaper that was written by passengers on a snowbound train. You can find a copy of that newspaper online, along with another personal account from the blizzard.

While our blizzard and winter storms have been an inconvenience, at least we have warning of these storms and the technology to recover much faster than the people affected by the Blizzard of 1886. If you have any winter weather stories, your own or a story you’ve heard from someone else, please post them in the comments below.