In anticipation of a severe winter storm set to impact Westchester County, the rest of the Hudson Valley, Connecticut and other parts of the New York Metro area various communities are issuing warnings to residents and businesses.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer has declared a Local State of Emergency beginning at 10 p.m. tonight (Monday, Feb, 12) to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents.
Latimer said that the impending storm is expected to bring heavy snowfall, possibly as much as 12 inches in some sections, creating hazardous conditions that may lead to downed trees, road closures, travel disruptions, power outages and potential damage to public and private property throughout the county..
Latimer urged residents to replenish food stocks and other supplies before the arrival of the severe weather and to avoid going out once the storm arrives.
Latimer said, “We are New Yorkers. We have lived through a lot of winters already. This nothing new, but the bottom line is that we still have to be prepared for it. I can’t emphasize enough to plan ahead.”
The Westchester County Police will have extra Patrol and Emergency Service Unit officers working to assist motorists and to close sections of parkways if conditions require it. Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor also urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel to make it easier for officers to respond to accidents and emergencies and for snow plows to do their work.
The Department of Emergency Services will be monitoring the storm and will be prepared to assist municipalities as needed with emergency supplies and equipment. The Emergency Communications Center, also known as 60 Control, will have additional personnel assigned due to the potential for a high volume of calls for fire and EMS service.
Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler said: “Dress warmly in several layers of loose-fitting clothing to trap body heat when you go out to shovel and keep a spare blanket in your car in case of breakdowns. Wear a hat, gloves and a scarf. Instead of waiting until the snow stops, shovel a few times to avoid straining yourself. Clear the snow off the roof of your car to avoid creating a hazard for others and don’t shovel snow into the street. If you are able to, clear a path for your elderly neighbors and check on them. Low temperatures can be life-threatening, especially for seniors, infants and people who are at increased risk for hypothermia.”
The City of Stamford urged residents to be prepared, saying that the National Weather Service was calling for snow to begin in Stamford around 2:00 a.m., on Tuesday, with snow accumulation of 8 to 10 inches possible, with a potential of 12 to 15 inches for southwestern Connecticut. Peak snowfall is estimated around 1 to 2 inches an hour between 5:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday with the storm expected to move out of the region in the late afternoon.
