Governor Hochul Cautions Travelers As Multiple Regions Across the State Will be Impacted by Winter Weather Today and Tomorrow

Governor Kathy Hochul right now cautioned vacationers throughout the state as wintry climate situations, together with heavy snow, excessive winds and icing, are anticipated to create troublesome driving situations in a number of areas right now via tomorrow. Snow, sleet or freezing rain will trigger slippery roads and restricted visibility all through the day Sunday. Heavy snow can be anticipated east of Lake Ontario tonight with complete accumulations of round two ft in some places 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 are not any strangers to winter climate, I’m urging everybody in impacted areas to keep away from pointless journey right now and tomorrow as we proceed to expertise a combined bag of snow, wind and icy situations,” stated Governor Hochul. “New York stands able to assist any of our native companions with response operations and our crews will proceed working across the clock to maintain our roadways as secure as potential.”

A number of climate warnings, watches and advisories have been issued throughout the state for heavy snow, excessive winds, and icing situations via Monday night time.  For a whole 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 situations, coordinate response operations, and stay involved with localities all through the period of the occasion. State stockpiles are ready to deploy belongings to localities to assist 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 giant loaders
• 150 medium plows
• 52 tow plows
• 41 snow blowers
• 22 pickup vans with plows
• 20 graders

For up-to-date journey info, 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 giant snow plows, 122 medium snow plows, 11 tow plows and 64 loaders throughout the state with greater than 122,000 tons of highway salt readily available.

Variable Message Indicators and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter climate situations on the Thruway. 

The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to obtain its mobile app which is offered free of charge on iPhone and Android gadgets. The app offers motorists direct entry to real-time site visitors and navigation help whereas on the go. Motorists may join TRANSalert e-mails which offer the newest site visitors situations 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 growing 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 situations and impacts. Park guests ought to verify parks.ny.gov or name their native park workplace for the newest updates concerning park hours, openings, and closings.

Division of Public Service

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

New York State Police

State Police are ready to deploy further Troopers as wanted to affected areas. All State Police four-wheel drive and specialised autos are staged and prepared for rapid 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 assist energy restoration actions if wanted.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The MTA is intently monitoring climate situations to make sure secure, dependable service. MTA staff will likely be poised to unfold salt, clear platforms and stairs the place ice exists, and maintain indicators, 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 diminished speeds. 

Clients are inspired to verify new.mta.info for the newest service updates, and to make use of warning whereas navigating the system. Clients must also 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 Street Practice Time and Metro-North Practice Time.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The Port Authority is monitoring climate situations. Pace 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 info on delays and cancelations. For the newest details about Port Authority amenities, please verify social media, join PA alerts or obtain one of many PA cell apps.

Security Suggestions

Winter Journey

The main reason behind dying and accidents throughout winter storms is transportation accidents.

Earlier than getting behind the wheel, guarantee that your automobile 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 further alert and keep in mind that snowdrifts can disguise smaller kids. All the time match your velocity to the highway and climate situations.

It’s important for motorists on all roads to notice that snowplows journey at speeds as much as 35 mph, which in lots of circumstances 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 essentially the most environment friendly and secure approach to clear a number of lanes at one time.

Motorists and pedestrians must also take into account that snowplow drivers have restricted strains of sight, and the dimensions and weight of snowplows could make it very troublesome to maneuver and cease rapidly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely cut back visibility or trigger whiteout situations. Motorists mustn’t try and cross snowplows or comply with too intently. The most secure place for motorists to drive is nicely behind the snowplows the place the roadway is evident and salted.

Among the most vital ideas for secure driving embody:

• When winter storms strike, don’t drive until obligatory.
• Use warning on bridges as ice can kind faster than on roads.
• Moist leaves on roadways could cause slippery situations, making it vital to drive at slower speeds when approaching patches of them.
• Make sure that your automobile is stocked with blankets, a shovel, flashlight and further batteries, further heat clothes, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick-energy meals and brightly coloured fabric to make use of as a misery flag.
• Hold your fuel tank full to forestall gasoline freeze-up.
• If in case you have a cellphone or two-way radio accessible to your use, maintain the battery charged and maintain it with you every time touring. If you happen to ought to turn into stranded, it is possible for you to to name for assist, advising rescuers of your location.
• Make sure that somebody is aware of your journey plans.
• Whereas driving, maintain autos away from ice and snow.
• Plan stops and maintain distance between automobiles. All the time match your velocity to the highway and climate situations.

It’s vital to notice that snowplows journey at speeds as much as 35 mph, which in lots of circumstances 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 essentially the most environment friendly and secure approach to clear a number of lanes at one time.

Motorists and pedestrians must also take into account that snowplow drivers have restricted strains of sight, and the dimensions and weight of snowplows could make it very troublesome to maneuver and cease rapidly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely cut back visibility or trigger whiteout situations. Motorists mustn’t try and cross snowplows or comply with too intently. The most secure place for motorists to drive is nicely 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 harm these gadgets. Hold one mild turned on so you understand when energy returns. Think about using surge protectors wherever you employ digital tools.
• Name your utility supplier to inform them of the outage and take heed to native broadcasts for official info. For a listing of utilities, go to the State Division of Public Service.  
• Test to see in case your neighbors have energy. Test on individuals with entry or practical wants.
• Use solely flashlights for emergency lighting – candles pose the danger of fireside.
• Hold 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 fuel range for warmth – they might give off dangerous ranges of carbon monoxide. 
• In chilly climate, keep heat by dressing in layers and minimizing time spent open air. Pay attention to 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, anticipate help. Don’t try and pressure the doorways open. Stay affected person – there may be loads of air and the inside of the elevator is designed for passenger security.
• Bear in mind to offer recent, cool water to your pets.
• Remove pointless journey, particularly by automobile. Visitors indicators will cease working throughout an outage, creating site visitors congestion and harmful driving situations. If you happen to should drive throughout a blackout, bear in mind to obey the 4-way cease rule at intersections with non-functioning site visitors indicators.
• Do not forget that tools reminiscent of automated teller machines (ATMs) and elevators will not be working.

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