Blizzard leaves many snowbound

Pilots in a dozen planes flew over parts of Kansas and Colorado to look for snowbound travelers after a blizzard dumped nearly 3 feet of snow and piled some of it in drifts 15 feet high.

As the aircraft soared above the frozen landscape, utility crews struggled to restore electrical service to tens of thousands of homes and businesses that lost power. Many towns and farms in Kansas were isolated by deep snow.

“We’re snowed under,” said Bill Hassett, manager of the Sharon Springs, Kan., power plant. “We had 36 inches of snow. Thank God we kept the lights on.”