A typo alert-120" is only 10 ', not 12.
Otherwise I always saw the Feb 96 storm as a turning point. Few people in metro areas has AWD cor SUVs for that storm. I remember in C NJ they asked for those that did to help with EMS needs. After that it seemed that SUVs exploded in popularity. There were other factors but with so many more able to get through the storm it made it seem like impacts were lower.