Anytime a major storm hits Connecticut, be assured the governor will be on television articulating what the state is doing to keep the citizens safe. If a politician handles the crisis well, he or she can be a rock star. Blow it, and a political career could be over.

The late Governor Ella Grasso practically became a legend for her management of the state during the Blizzard of 1978, also known as Blizzard Larry, a paralyzing storm that shut down southern New England. Grasso’s predecessor saw his fortunes sink for the way he handled Mother Nature’s wrath. Governor Tom Meskill stayed in Vermont for a ski trip during a crippling ice storm, and as a result, the public was angry and he decided against seeking re-election in 1974.

This past Sunday on Face the State, we talked about what a governor must do during a storm. Our guest is someone who spent plenty of time in the emergency operations center, Tom Dudchik, former chief of staff to Governor Lowell Weicker.

Dudchik, who runs http://www.ctcapitolreport.com, shared some interesting insight on a governor’s mindset in a storm, and he also offered his take on Governor Malloy and his performance during a weather crisis, but he took issue with the governor wearing gloves. Watch what he means at the link later in this story.

Our flashback takes us back 37 years ago, and a report from our archives from Bruce DePrest on the Blizzard of ’78. You’ll see some old film shot during the storm, and hear from Governor Grasso as she calmed a state jittery about an epic snowfall.

Watch Dudchik and the Blizzard of ’78 right here: http://www.wfsb.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=11089737