Anticipating the impact that a winter storm that hit the southeastern United States today, Sunday, could have on the tri-state area, Governor Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers to prepare for the weather phenomenon that is expected to bring heavy snowfall in some areas and a mix of ice and rain in other locations through Monday afternoon.
Although no snow was forecast for New York City, accumulations of up to 18 inches or more in Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the North Country. For the Big Apple, Long Island and southern Westchester County there is a coastal flood warning in effect until this Monday.
“New York is about to experience one of the largest storms in history. so far this winter and our crews are working full force preparing our roads and activating critical resources,” Hochul said this Sunday.
The president reminded New Yorkers that, with temperatures persisting below freezing and heavy snow forecast, they should pay close attention to local forecasts and avoid unnecessary travel during the duration of the storm.
For her part, the interim commissioner of the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Jackie Bray, reiterated that New Yorkers should be prepared for the dangerous conditions of trip upstate.
“The Office of Emergency Management and our state agency they are fully engaged during the holiday to ensure that we have adequate resources to respond to this storm and that we are prepared to assist local governments as needed.”
The state had prepared with some 1,602 large snowplow trucks, 150 medium snowplows, other trailer snowplows and 323 compact chargers, among others.
Con Edison mobilizes
Power company Con Edison began this Sunday mobilizing its own crews and additional contractor workers to respond to any service issues caused by the winter storm.
Strong gusts of wind could bring down power lines, causing customers to lose service and creating a safety hazard.
The company reported that it has hired more than 1,000 external workers to complement their crews in the work of repairing and replacing poles, cables and transformers.
In addition from strong winds, coastal areas could experience flooding. Therefore, the company recalled that the restoration of service due to flooding in the underground electrical supply system involves several steps. Those steps include pumping water out of a facility, drying and testing the equipment, addressing any environmental issues, and making sure the equipment can operate safely.
How to report an outage
Con Ed customers can sign up for text alerts at coned.com/text. Customers can also report outages and check service restoration status at conEd.com/reportoutage or by calling 1-602- 75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).
Tips for safe driving
To help keep travelers safe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminds travelers to take safety precautions before heading onto snowy and icy roads.
- Before You Leave: Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks including a snow shovel, broom, ice, abrasive material (sand or kitty litter), jumper cables, flashlight, warning (flares and emergency markers), blankets for protection against the cold, a cell phone with a charger, water, food and any necessary medicine.
Driving in winter weather
: Drive slowly. It is more difficult to control or stop your vehicle on a slippery or snow-covered surface. In fact, in 2019, it is estimated that 182,000 crashes reported by police occurred in winter conditions. On the highway, increase your following distance enough to give yourself enough time to stop for vehicles in front of you.