updated - Feb. 1 at 8:20 am.
(click on photos to enlarge)
Get ready snow is coming. Less than one week after the first snow storm of 2015 the National Weather Service is predicting another storm for our area. The forecast calls for possible snow accumulations of 4-6 inches beginning Sunday evening and ending sometime early Monday.
Are we ready?
;)
Highway Dept. Plows a road in Nesconset. Photo Dawn Gary“The Smithtown Highway Department is ready” according to Glenn Jorgensen, superintendent of highways. Jorgensen said last week’s storm clean-up was accomplished with 100 town plows, 70 contracted plows and ten plows from the NYS Parks Department. Jorgensen said it was a tremendous effort by everyone and praised the workers from NYS Parks Department saying “I didn’t know what to expect when I heard we were getting help from the State but let me tell you those guys worked, really hard. They made a difference.”
Last year’s snow removal efforts were hampered by equipment breakdowns. No such problem this year. According to Jorgensen there was one transmission break-down and some minor issues. Everything seemed to fall into place. The efficient snow-removal did not go unnoticed by Supervisor Vecchio who used the word “superb” to describe the work the Highway Department did clearing the roads.
Another difference from last year was Governor Cuomo’s travel ban. Governor Cuomo closed down the train and subway system and banned motor vehicles from;)
Landing Ave during 2014 storm. The road remained open during the entire storm the roads. Local officials offered praise to the Governor for his decision to ban travel during the storm. “The Governor’s decision to close the roads made it easier for plow drivers. There were no cars to drive around, no cars stuck on the road and no accidents. This allowed my drivers to do their job.” said Glenn Jorgensen.
County Executive Bellone and Supervisor Vecchio concurred with Jorgensen.
Bellone called the response to the storm “historic”. Bellone praised the Governor’s quick response to the storm, ordering a travel ban and supplying aid in the form of snow plows and salt. He agreed with the travel ban emphasizing the reduction in snow related accidents and the ease and speed with which workers were able to clear roads. Both men complimented residents for staying out of their cars, staying off the roads and for parking their cars off street.
But will these behaviors continue?
;)
County Executive after Jan. 2015 snow stormThere are questions as to how we will move forward. Have the rules of behavior for snow storms changed? Were precedents established during the storm? Will roads be closed when forecasters predict storms? If the answers to the questions are yes, will the public continue to comply?
None of our officials seem to be ready to commit themselves to road closure as policy. Governor Cuomo was criticised by some people for shutting down mass transit systems and forcing people off the roads. In some areas of Nassau and in NYC the storm was not as significant as it was in Suffolk County and some people felt the the Governor over reacted. Supervisor Vecchio defended the Governor saying, “If the Governor erred it was on the side of caution. He should not be faulted for that.”