In Buffalo, New Yorkthe winter stormconsidered the worst in 45 years, not only left motorists stranded in their carsbut also at least 12 dead this weekend. This Monday, December 26, the road and public service teams they seek to restore normality in the surroundings.
During the Christmas weekend the strong blizzard, which took shape on Friday and hit western new yorkleft arctic frosts that spread across most of the United States, as far south as the border with Mexico.
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At least 30 people have died in incidents related to Weather conditions in the United States since the end of last weekaccording to a count by NBC News, while CNN put the total number of deaths at 26.
Much of the deaths have concentrated in and around Buffaloon the shores of Lake Erie, in western New York, where freezing cold and a heavy “lake effect” snowfall -a result of the displacement of frigid air over the warmer waters of the lake- persisted through the holiday weekend.
Authorities in New York issued an advisory to avoid driving on the roads due to the winter storm. (Reuters)
The numbing cold, coupled with the hurricane force winds and intense “lake effect” snow -a result of moisture picked up by frigid air moving over the warmer waters of the lake- produced a storm that, according to the governor Kathy Hochulwould go down in history as “the blizzard of 22”.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the Confirmed death toll from the storm rose to 12 on Sunday, up from three overnight in the Buffalo region. Among the latest victims were some found in cars and others in snowbanksPoloncarz said, adding that the death toll could rise further.
The governor described the meteorological disaster as “epic, once in a lifetime”, assuring that it is the most violent winter storm to hit Buffalo -the second largest city in the state of New York- since the terrible blizzard of 1977in which almost 30 people died.
Despite the ban on driving on the road imposed since Friday, hundreds of Erie County motorists were stranded in their vehicles over the weekendwith National Guard troops mobilized to assist in rescues made difficult by blinding white snow conditions.
Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and snowplows have been trapped in the snow. (Reuters)
Authorities were expected to decide Monday morning whether to extend the ban.
County Chief Executive Mark Poloncarz told reporters that the Accumulated snow on the roads, up to 2.5 meters high, was too thick and heavy to clean it with conventional equipment.
Many snow plows, tow trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles sent on Saturday and Sunday they stayed stuck in the snow “And we had to send rescue missions to rescue the rescuers,” he said.
The Buffalo Police Department posted an online plea for help to the public, asking those who “have a snowmobile and are willing to help” to call a hotline for instructions.
Although most county utility customers had power restored, as of Sunday night a few 15 thousand homes were still without electricityaccording to Poloncarz.
He also stated that a electrical substation was taken out of service and sealed under a mound of snow .5 meters highand utility crews found the entire facility frozen inside.
The governor said that, at the request of state authorities, local power companies prepositioned about 7,000 utility workers ahead of Friday’s storm, but crews were having trouble reaching affected areas.
“It’s not a question of resources (personnel and equipment), but of mobility and access,” Hochul said.
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