A winter storm hit a number of components of the nation on Friday, leaving a path of devastation simply days earlier than Christmas. CNN reported that it did.
No less than seven individuals have died in Erie County, the place Buffalo, New York, is situated, officers mentioned Sunday, in line with a report by native information station WIVB-TV.
At Sunday morning’s storm briefing, Erie County Chief Govt Mark Polonkers confirmed that a number of our bodies have been present in automobiles and snowbanks throughout the evening, in line with WIVB.
John Normile/Getty Photos; Noam Garay/Getty Photos
“I do know some have been present in automobiles, others have been really discovered on the road in a snowman. My coronary heart goes out to the households. Most likely probably not notified but. There are individuals,” Polonkertz mentioned.
Erie County spokesperson Peter Anderson mentioned: Newsweek Some died of coronary heart assaults whereas shoveling snow, and “some could not have been discovered but,” he mentioned.
Polonkaerts mentioned he did not know the precise particulars of how the our bodies have been discovered, and that there could possibly be “extra” our bodies which have but to be discovered, which may add to the present demise toll. added.
“I do not wish to say that is going to occur, as a result of it might be flawed to say so. I do know individuals who have been caught of their automobiles for over two days. And there are individuals downstairs of their properties,” in line with the information station. “It is beneath freezing proper now,” he mentioned.
The storm wreaked havoc on Buffalo, a metropolis accustomed to brutal winter climate. No less than her 27,000 prospects within the county have been nonetheless with out energy as of Sunday afternoon, in line with PowerOutage.us. In the meantime, a countywide driving ban is in place.
Footage posted on social media present the power of the Buffalo storm. A number of the pictures posted by residents on Twitter confirmed whole buildings lined in ice from Lake Erie.
With the demise toll nonetheless more likely to rise, Polonkers warned residents to not exit into town to seek for family members.
“If the storm has subsided close to you and the roads are open, do not plan to go to Buffalo Metropolis to rescue household and buddies. Meaning you’ll be able to go very far, miles away. about it.
If the storm has subsided close to you and the roads are open, do not go to the Metropolis of Buffalo and attempt to save household and buddies. Simply because it seems to be open close to you does not imply you’ll be able to go miles away.
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) December 25, 2022
In the meantime, Governor Kathy Hochul described the storm as “timeless.” Buffalo information.
“It will go down in historical past as essentially the most devastating storm in Buffalo’s lengthy historical past of battling many main storms,” she mentioned.
Newsweek I’ve reached out to the Buffalo Police Division for remark.
