Governor Kathy Hochul right this moment cautioned vacationers throughout the state as wintry climate circumstances, together with heavy snow, excessive winds and icing, are anticipated to create tough driving circumstances in a number of areas right this moment via tomorrow. Snow, sleet or freezing rain will trigger slippery roads and restricted visibility all through the day Sunday. Heavy snow can also be anticipated east of Lake Ontario tonight with complete accumulations of round two ft in some areas and winds gusting as excessive as 35 mph via Monday night time. Western New York, North Nation, Central New York and Mohawk Valley will primarily be impacted.

“Whereas New Yorkers aren’t any strangers to winter climate, I’m urging everybody in impacted areas to keep away from pointless journey right this moment and tomorrow as we proceed to expertise a blended bag of snow, wind and icy circumstances,” mentioned Governor Hochul. “New York stands able to help any of our native companions with response operations and our crews will proceed working across the clock to maintain our roadways as secure as doable.”

A number of climate warnings, watches and advisories have been issued throughout the state for heavy snow, excessive winds, and icing circumstances via Monday night time.  For an entire itemizing of climate advisories in your space, go to the Nationwide Climate Service website.

Company Preparations 

Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Providers

The New York State Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Providers’ Emergency Operations Middle is activated and can intently monitor circumstances, coordinate response operations, and stay involved with localities all through the length of the occasion. State stockpiles are ready to deploy belongings to localities to help any storm-related wants, together with pumps, chainsaws, sandbags, turbines, cots, blankets, and bottled water.

Division of Transportation

The State Division of Transportation is responding to the present climate occasion in a number of areas with the next belongings: 

  • 606 snow plows
  • 325 massive loaders
  • 150 medium plows
  • 52 tow plows
  • 41 snow blowers
  • 22 pickup vehicles with plows
  • 20 graders

For up-to-date journey data, name 511, go to https://www.511ny.org or obtain the free 511NY mobile app.

Thruway Authority

The Thruway Authority has 677 operators and supervisors prepared to reply with 246 massive snow plows, 122 medium snow plows, 11 tow plows and 64 loaders throughout the state with greater than 122,000 tons of highway salt 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 mobile app which is obtainable without spending a dime on iPhone and Android units. The app supplies motorists direct entry to real-time site visitors and navigation help whereas on the go. Motorists may also join TRANSalert e-mails which offer the newest site visitors circumstances alongside the Thruway here

Division of Environmental Conservation

DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, Emergency Administration workers, and regional workers are on alert and monitoring the creating scenario and actively patrolling areas and infrastructure impacted by extreme climate.  All accessible belongings are positioned to help with any emergency response.

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. Park guests ought to test parks.ny.gov or name their native park workplace for the newest updates relating to park hours, openings, and closings.

Division of Public Service

New York’s utilities have roughly 5,500 employees accessible to have interaction in injury evaluation, response, and restoration efforts throughout New York State. Company workers will monitor utilities’ work all through the occasion and guarantee utilities shift applicable staffing to areas anticipated to be most impacted. 

New York State Police

State Police are ready to deploy extra Troopers as wanted to affected areas. All State Police four-wheel drive and specialised automobiles are staged and prepared for quick response, and all emergency energy and communications tools has been examined. 

New York Energy Authority / Canal Company

The New York Energy Authority and the Canal Company workers are performing preparations to make sure all amenities, belongings and tools are secured and prepared. The Energy Authority is ready to help energy restoration actions if wanted.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The MTA is intently monitoring climate circumstances to make sure secure, dependable service. MTA staff shall be poised to unfold salt, clear platforms and stairs the place ice exists, and maintain alerts, switches, and third rail working. MTA Bridges and Tunnels is advising motorists to make use of warning when driving on icy roadways and drive at decreased speeds. 

Prospects are inspired to test new.mta.info for the newest service updates, and to make use of warning whereas navigating the system. Prospects also needs to join real-time service alerts through textual content or electronic mail. These alerts are additionally accessible through the MTA’s apps: MYmta, Lengthy Island Rail Highway Practice Time and Metro-North Practice Time.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The Port Authority is monitoring climate circumstances. Velocity restrictions could also be in impact on the bridges, in addition to alongside roadways to and from the crossings. Passengers via the Port Authority’s amenities are inspired to achieve out to carriers and airways immediately for the newest data on delays and cancelations. For the newest details about Port Authority amenities, please test social media, join PA alerts or obtain one of many PA cellular apps.

Security Suggestions

Winter Journey

The main explanation for demise and accidents throughout winter storms is transportation accidents.

Earlier than getting behind the wheel, guarantee that your car is evident of ice and snow; good imaginative and prescient is vital to good driving. Plan your stops and maintain extra distance between automobiles. Be additional alert and keep in mind that snowdrifts can conceal smaller kids. At all times match your velocity to the highway and climate circumstances.

It is vital for motorists on all roads to notice that snowplows journey at speeds as much as 35 mph, which in lots of instances is decrease than the posted velocity restrict, to make sure that salt being dispersed stays within the driving lanes and doesn’t scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will function facet by facet, as that is probably the most environment friendly and secure strategy to clear a number of lanes at one time.

Motorists and pedestrians also needs to needless to say snowplow drivers have restricted strains of sight, and the scale and weight of snowplows could make it very tough to maneuver and cease rapidly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely cut back visibility or trigger whiteout circumstances. Motorists shouldn’t try and cross snowplows or comply with too intently. The most secure place for motorists to drive is effectively behind the snowplows the place the roadway is evident and salted.

Among the most vital suggestions for secure driving embrace:

  • When winter storms strike, don’t drive except essential.
  • Use warning on bridges as ice can type faster than on roads.
  • Moist leaves on roadways may cause slippery circumstances, making it vital to drive at slower speeds when approaching patches of them.
  • Be certain your automotive is stocked with blankets, a shovel, flashlight and additional batteries, additional heat clothes, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick-energy meals and brightly coloured material to make use of as a misery flag.
  • Maintain your gasoline tank full to forestall gasoline freeze-up.
  • You probably have a mobile phone or two-way radio accessible on your use, maintain the battery charged and maintain it with you at any time when touring. In case you ought to turn into stranded, it is possible for you to to name for assist, advising rescuers of your location.
  • Be certain somebody is aware of your journey plans.
  • Whereas driving, maintain automobiles away from ice and snow.
  • Plan stops and maintain distance between automobiles. At all times match your velocity to the highway and climate circumstances.

It’s vital to notice that snowplows journey at speeds as much as 35 mph, which in lots of instances is decrease than the posted velocity restrict, to make sure that salt being dispersed stays within the driving lanes and doesn’t scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will function facet by facet, as that is probably the most environment friendly and secure strategy to clear a number of lanes at one time.

Motorists and pedestrians also needs to needless to say snowplow drivers have restricted strains of sight, and the scale and weight of snowplows could make it very tough to maneuver and cease rapidly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely cut back visibility or trigger whiteout circumstances. Motorists shouldn’t try and cross snowplows or comply with too intently. The most secure place for motorists to drive is effectively behind the snowplows the place the roadway is evident and salted.

Energy Outage

If experiencing an influence outage, New Yorkers ought to:

  • Flip off or disconnect main home equipment and different tools, e.g., computer systems, in case of a momentary energy surge that may injury these units. Maintain one mild turned on so you recognize when energy returns. Think about using surge protectors wherever you employ digital tools.
  • Name your utility supplier to inform them of the outage and hearken to native broadcasts for official data. For an inventory of utilities, go to the State Division of Public Service.  
  • Examine to see in case your neighbors have energy. Examine on individuals with entry or practical wants.
  • Use solely flashlights for emergency lighting – candles pose the chance of fireplace.
  • Maintain fridges and freezer doorways closed – most meals requiring refrigeration might be stored safely in a closed fridge for a number of hours. An unopened fridge will maintain meals chilly for about 4 (4) hours. A full freezer will maintain the temperature for about 48 hours.
  • Don’t use a charcoal grill indoors and don’t use a gasoline range for warmth – they may give off dangerous ranges of carbon monoxide. 
  • In chilly climate, keep heat by dressing in layers and minimizing time spent open air. Concentrate on chilly stress signs (i.e., hypothermia) and search correct medical consideration if signs seem. 
  • If you’re in a tall constructing, take the steps and transfer to the bottom stage of the constructing. If trapped in an elevator, await help. Don’t try and power the doorways open. Stay affected person – there may be loads of air and the inside of the elevator is designed for passenger security.
  • Keep in mind to offer contemporary, cool water on your pets.
  • Remove pointless journey, particularly by automotive. Site visitors alerts will cease working throughout an outage, creating site visitors congestion and harmful driving circumstances. In case you should drive throughout a blackout, keep in mind to obey the 4-way cease rule at intersections with non-functioning site visitors alerts.
  • Keep in mind that tools comparable to automated teller machines (ATMs) and elevators is probably not working.

For extra security suggestions, go to the New York State Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Providers Security Suggestions web page



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