SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Flight cancellations were piling up at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday as a major blizzard clobbers the Northeast, shutting down airports and making travel treacherous.
“That means we could see branches and trees falling onto highways, drifts and whiteout conditions. Incredibly dangerous. Do not travel tonight,” said New Jersey Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill.
“They say the earliest flight I could get would be on Thursday. Today is Sunday,” said Sarah Chan.
Chan is trying to get home to Boston but not having much luck.
“I’m just flying to Toronto and hopefully will find my way there. Hopefully taking a bus, 15 hours, or something,” Chan said.
MORE: Blizzard warnings send East Coast scrambling to prepare for heavy snow and strong winds
“We’ve been traveling through San Francisco, doing sightseeing, I haven’t been watching TV,” said James Rigney.
Rigney from Australia didn’t know about the snowstorm back east. So for now, he’s stuck at SFO.
“It hasn’t hit me. We’re going to work out what we can do to recover the rest of our holiday. I think the New York thing is ruined,” he said.
SFO’s duty manager said as by Sunday afternoon there were nearly 70 cancellations and 140 delays.
On top of the cancellations and delays, there was some traveler confusion after the Department of Homeland Security reversed its decision to suspend the TSA’S PreCheck and Global Entry programs, due to what the agency described as a lapse in funding.
RELATED: DHS suspends Global Entry as partial government shutdown drags on; PreCheck still operational
On Sunday, the DHS said, “At this time, TSA Precheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public. As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly.”
ABC News said the reversal comes after input from the White House, and an outcry from the public.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t part of that outcry. I was at a convention, but it’s shocking. That’s so irresponsible,” said LA traveler Susan Sheu.
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