“With Mom Nature throwing all the things she has at us this weekend, I encourage New Yorkers who’re contemplating touring for the vacations to take action earlier than Friday or after Sunday to remain secure,” Governor Hochul stated. “Our businesses are nicely ready, coordinated and able to deploy property and gear if wanted to reply to the storm. We would like all New Yorkers to get the place they should go safely to rejoice the vacations with family members.”
Thursday into Friday, rain, snow showers and robust winds are forecast for a lot of the state with rainfall quantities of as much as three inches potential in some locations. Average to main coastal flooding (1-2 toes) is feasible Friday morning as a result of rain and robust winds, and lakeshore flooding as much as three toes above flood stage is feasible off Lake Erie and Lake Ontario as a result of rain, snowmelt and robust winds.
Beginning Friday and persevering with into Saturday morning, a lot of the state is predicted to see robust winds as much as 60 miles per hour or extra as temperatures will drop rapidly and considerably, by greater than 35 levels in some areas, inflicting flash freezing, beneath zero wind chills and icy street circumstances. It will affect the Friday morning commute in Western New York and the night commute for the remainder of the state. Winds on Friday and Saturday shall be robust sufficient to trigger downed bushes and energy strains.
Friday evening and persevering with by Monday, lake impact snow will affect areas off Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and robust winds are anticipated to trigger blowing and drifting snow with close to zero visibility and localized blizzard circumstances. The Buffalo and Watertown areas may see as much as three toes of snow by Sunday evening. Under regular, freezing temperatures with low wind chills are anticipated to persist by Monday for upstate areas.
Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to take all needed precautions, if touring this week, and plan forward for important climate impacts.
Blizzard Warnings, Coastal Flood Warnings, Lakeshore Flood Warnings, Excessive Wind Warnings, Wind Chill Warnings, and Winter Storm Warnings are all in impact this weekend all through varied counties throughout the state. For an entire record of climate watches, warnings, and advisories throughout New York, go to the Nationwide Climate Service web site.
New York State Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Companies Commissioner Jackie Bray stated, “The timeline for this storm has moved up. If you’re planning to journey this weekend do all the things you possibly can to journey tonight as an alternative or wait till Sunday morning. Please, keep away from journey on Friday and Saturday given the circumstances a lot of the state will face. Along with hazardous roads, robust winds will possible trigger energy outages. Be ready for the opportunity of dropping energy.”
Company Preparations
Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Companies
The Workplace of Emergency Administration is working with Erie County to pre-stage chainsaws and mills, and deploying sandbags to the US Coast Guard in Buffalo to guard in opposition to potential lakeshore flooding. The Workplace of Hearth Prevention and Management has gear and personnel accessible to help with mutual support requests.
Throughout the State’s Ten Stockpiles, DHSES has the next deployable gadgets to assist storm-related wants:
- 1,487 mills
- 985 pumps
- 528 chainsaws
- 250 gentle towers
- Cots, pillows, blankets, water, and MREs
In preparation for this week’s statewide winter climate occasion the New York utilities have roughly 7,700 staff accessible statewide to interact in harm evaluation, wire guarding, response, restore, and restoration efforts.
- This contains an extra 800 exterior line and tree staff secured by Nationwide Grid,
- 330 exterior line and tree staff secured by NYSEG and RG&E,
- 95 exterior line and tree staff secured by Central Hudson,
- 150 exterior line and tree staff secured by Orange & Rockland and
- 800 exterior line and tree staff secured by Con Edison.
- DPS workers will observe utilities’ response, restore and restoration work all through the occasion and guarantee utilities shift acceptable sources to areas that have the best affect.
The State Division of Transportation is monitoring climate circumstances and is ready to reply with 3,450 supervisors and operators. Moreover, 75 ICS personnel can be found to assist the response to this occasion. All affected residency areas shall be staffed for twenty-four/7 operation all through the period of the occasion. Employees could be configured into any sort of response crew that’s wanted resembling snow and ice, flood, chipper, load and haul, reduce and toss, visitors sign, and so forth. All accessible gear is able to deploy.
The State Division of Transportation is making ready to shut the next roads in Erie County to all visitors beginning at 6 a.m. Friday till circumstances enhance:
- State Route 400
- State Route 219
- I-290
- I-190
- State Route 5 (Huge Tree Highway to I-190)
A restriction for vans “Vehicles Use Proper Lane” on Interstate 81 from Exit 32 (Central Sq.) to Exit 51 (Alex Bay) beginning at midday Friday.
Regional crews are presently engaged in all-hazards preparations. Drainage buildings are being checked and cleared of particles. To assist response actions in important areas, a complete of 65 workers, together with 59 plow truck operators, 4 supervisors, 1 assistant supervisor, 1 ICS assist specialist, 10 plow vans, 2 snow blowers, and 1 grader are being deployed to Western New York. They’re distributed as follows:
- 3 plow vans from Central New York
- 2 plow vans, 2 snow blowers, and 1 grader from the Finger Lakes
- 4 operators and a couple of plow vans the Western Southern Tier
- 26 operators, 2 supervisors, and 1 assistant supervisor from the Mid-Hudson Area
- 10 operators, 1 supervisor, and three plow vans from the Southern Tier
- 19 operators and 1 supervisor from Lengthy Island
- 1 ICS specialist from the Capital District
The necessity for extra sources (Operators, Vehicles, Mechanics, EOI’s) shall be re-evaluated as circumstances warrant all through the occasion. Generator stockpiles are being readied for deployment to assist darkish sign response. Fleet mechanics in affected areas shall be staffing all predominant residency areas 24/7 to carry out repairs and preserve vans on the street. Statewide gear numbers are as follows:
- 1740 giant and medium obligation plow vans
- 52 tow plows
- 37 snow blowers
- 338 loaders
- 13 tree crew bucket vans
- 78 chippers
- 32 visitors sign vans
- 20 graders
- 73 excavators
Thruway Authority
Thruway Authority personnel are staffed across the clock and prepared to reply to the storm with 678 operators and supervisors statewide. Thruway has shifted and deployed further workers and gear from its New York and Albany Divisions to assist snow and ice operations within the probably hardest hit areas in Western New York. Deployed sources embody operators and supervisors, and huge plow vans.
Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES shall be banned on the New York State Thruway (I-90) from exit 46 (Rochester I-390) to the Pennsylvania border, and the Niagara Thruway from I-90 to exit 22 (Route 62).
Thruway statewide gear numbers and sources are listed beneath:
- 352 giant and medium obligation plow vans
- 10 tow plows
- 66 loaders
- Greater than 119,000 tons of salt readily available
Variable Message Indicators and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter climate circumstances on the Thruway.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to obtain its cell app which is accessible totally free on iPhone and Android units. The app gives motorists direct entry to real-time visitors data, dwell visitors cameras, and navigation help whereas on the go. Motorists may also join TRANSalert e-mails which offer the most recent visitors circumstances alongside the Thruway.
The State Police will assign additional patrols to areas which are considerably impacted by the storm. All four-wheel drive and specialty automobiles are in service, together with utility activity automobiles and snowmobiles.
DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, Emergency Administration workers and regional workers are on alert and monitoring the creating state of affairs and actively patrolling areas and infrastructure impacted by extreme climate. DEC is coordinating useful resource deployment with company companions and all accessible property are positioned to help with any emergency response.
DEC is advising backcountry customers to concentrate on and ready for winter circumstances. Winter climbing and snowboarding security and preparedness are extraordinarily necessary irrespective of your bodily skill or vacation spot. Correctly making ready for winter circumstances is important for a extra satisfying and safer expertise. Throughout and instantly following durations of heavy snowfall, keep away from open, uncovered areas like naked summits and use excessive warning when touring on or close to open slopes. Extra data is accessible right here.
DEC reminds these chargeable for the large-scale removing and disposal of snow to comply with greatest administration practices to assist stop flooding and scale back the potential for pollution like salt, sand, oils, trash and different particles in snow from affecting water high quality. Disposal of snow in native creeks and streams can create ice dams which can trigger flooding in close by areas. Private and non-private snow removing operators ought to concentrate on these issues of safety throughout and after the storm. Extra data is accessible right here.
Workplace of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and intently monitoring climate circumstances and impacts. Seven sawyer crews are on standby to help with clearing downed bushes and branches from roadways. Park guests ought to examine parks.ny.gov or name their native park workplace for the most recent updates concerning park hours, openings, and closings.
The New York Energy Authority and the Canal Company workers are performing preparations to make sure all services, property and gear are secured and prepared. The Energy Authority is ready to assist energy restoration actions if wanted.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority is monitoring climate circumstances. Pace restrictions could also be in impact on the bridges, in addition to alongside roadways to and from the crossings. Passengers by the Port Authority’s services are inspired to achieve out to carriers and airways instantly for the most recent data on delays and cancelations. For the most recent details about Port Authority services, please examine social media, join PA alerts or obtain one of many PA cell apps, together with RidePATH which gives real-time updates and alerts for PATH service.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Metropolitan Transportation Authority is intently monitoring climate circumstances to make sure secure, dependable service. MTA staff shall be poised to reply to any weather-related points and take away any downed bushes which will fall throughout tracks.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels will ban empty tractor-trailers and tandem vans starting at 8:00 p.m. Thursday by 8:00 p.m. Friday. Pedestrian walkways on the Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge shall be closed throughout this identical time interval; pedestrian walkways on the RFK Bridge and Henry Hudson Bridge might shut relying on climate circumstances.
Prospects are inspired to examine new.mta.information for the most recent service updates, and to make use of warning whereas navigating the system. Prospects must also join real-time service alerts through textual content or e mail. These alerts are additionally accessible through the MTA’s apps: MYmta and TrainTime.
Winter Journey Security
The main reason for demise and accidents throughout winter storms is transportation accidents. Earlier than getting behind the wheel, evaluate these security suggestions:
- When winter storms strike, don’t drive except needed.
- Make it possible for your car is evident of ice and snow; good imaginative and prescient is essential to good driving.
- At all times match your pace to the street and climate circumstances. Plan your stops and preserve extra distance between vehicles.
- Be additional alert and do not forget that snowdrifts can cover smaller youngsters.
- Be sure your automobile is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and additional batteries, additional heat clothes, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, fast vitality meals and brightly coloured fabric to make use of as a misery flag.
- When you have a cellular phone or different communications system resembling a two-way radio accessible to your use, preserve the battery charged and preserve it with you at any time when touring.
Chilly Climate Security
- Concentrate on wind chill – wind together with the precise temperature – that may trigger a rise of warmth loss to the human physique.
- Gown appropriately and keep away from staying within the chilly too lengthy.
- Put on a hat and gloves when acceptable with layers of clothes. Keep away from pointless publicity of any a part of the physique to the chilly.
- Drink loads of heat fluids or heat water however keep away from caffeine and alcohol. Keep lively to keep up physique warmth.
- Take frequent breaks from the chilly.
- If alerts of hypothermia or frostbite seem, get out of the chilly, slowly heat the person and search medical help:
–Frostbite: Signs embody lack of feeling, a white or pale look in fingers, toes, ears, and nostril.
-Hypothermia: Signs embody uncontrollable shivering, gradual speech, reminiscence lapses, frequent stumbling, and drowsiness.
Heavy Exertion
Heavy exertion, resembling shoveling snow, clearing particles or pushing a automobile, enhance the danger of a coronary heart assault. Comply with these tricks to keep secure after the storm:
- Keep heat, gown heat and SLOW DOWN when working outdoor.
- Take frequent rests to keep away from over-exertion
- In the event you really feel chest ache, shortness of breath, or ache in your jaw radiating down your arm — STOP and search assist instantly.
Energy Outages
Winter storms could cause energy outages. Evaluate these security suggestions earlier than the lights exit so you already know what to do in an emergency:
- Name your utility supplier to inform them of the outage.
- Keep away from all downed energy strains and report them to your utility supplier for restore; assume all downed strains have dwell electrical energy.
- Use solely flashlights for emergency lighting – candles pose the danger of fireplace.
- Hold your fridge and freezer doorways shut to maintain meals from spoiling. When doubtful, throw it out!
- Don’t use a charcoal grill or generator indoors and don’t use a fuel range for heat-they may give off dangerous ranges of carbon monoxide.
- Flip off main home equipment to forestall harm from a potential surge when the ability comes again on-keep one gentle turned on so you already know when energy returns.
House Heating
Heating gear is among the main causes of house hearth deaths. Hold family members secure by following these necessary steps:
- Hold all combustibles a minimum of three toes away from heating gear.
- At all times plug home equipment together with house heaters instantly right into a receptacle. By no means plug home equipment into an influence strip or extension twine.
- Be sure there’s a working smoke alarm in every bed room, outdoors sleeping areas and on each stage of your house.
For all non-emergency service wants earlier than, throughout or after a storm, name 211 or go to 211nys.org.
For extra security suggestions, go to the New York State Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Companies Security Suggestions internet web page at www.dhses.ny.gov/security.
