New York Construction Report staff writer
Additional support is going to Western New York after a deadly winter storm brought high winds and more than four feet of heavy, wet snow over the holiday weekend, causing over 170,000 power outages.
The storm response includes 611 National Guard soldiers conducting door-to-door welfare visits and staff at state agencies are preparing flood response assets as flooding is possible later this week in the Buffalo area.
“As we turn the corner on this historic winter storm, New York State is continuing to stay prepared ahead of potentially dangerous flooding conditions,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “Our state agency personnel and local emergency responders have been coordinating throughout the storm, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect Western New Yorkers and help our communities recover.”
Flooding is possible later in the week and this weekend due to snowmelt and ice jam breakups. Vulnerable locations include creeks, streams and low-lying, poor-drainage areas.
DEC is preparing pumps and sandbags in the event mitigation is needed to protect homes, businesses, or infrastructure from flooding, in addition to helping local governmets to help free stranded vehicles and clear homes and major streets, among other storm response actions.
To support operations, the following resources are available to deploy from the State’s stockpiles in Erie and Monroe Counties:
- 185 two-inch Pumps
- 91 three-inch Pumps
- 44 four-inch pumps
- 14 six-inch pumps
- 312 Generators
- 4 Sandbaggers
- More than 775,000 sandbags
“DEC continues to provide assistance and support to help communities impacted by last weekend’s extreme winter weather, and I commend all State and local responders who have stepped up to help New Yorkers during this unprecedented storm,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos.
“With temperatures expected to climb in the coming days, DEC staff will monitor for local flooding and will continue to coordinate with partners on delivery of essential supplies as we work with Gov. Hochul, DHSES, State Parks, and other state and local emergency responders to help the Buffalo area recover.”
