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The Epic WNY Snowstorm Might be Over, but the Digging Out and Humanitarian Efforts Continue

The Epic Snow Storm that’s dumped at least seven feet of snow on Western New York and the Buffalo area this week is winding down, but the aftermath of weather related problems and humanitarian assistance continues to pile up. 

Credit NY National Guard
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NY National Guard
Large military trucks haul away snow.

The death toll climbed to 13 on Friday with the discovery of a 50-year-old man in Cheektowaga found in his car buried in snow.  Police in the suburb of Boston, NY also discovered 57-year-old Jon Barsam dead.  The man's body was found underneath several feet of snow situated near the base of his front porch steps. The New York National Guard has an estimated 375 members deployed on the ground at the direction of State Governor Andrew Cuomo. Eric Durr is the Director of Public Affairs for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs.

“We are clearing snow from the roof of the Eden Hill Nursing Home in West Seneca. This has been an ongoing project since Wednesday. More snow fall means continued work. Today (Friday) we anticipate having 60 people on the job with snowblowers we delivered to Buffalo yesterday.”

The mission is officially named “Operation Lake Effect.” Roofs are problematic with the heavy weight of several feet of snow and rising temperatures and rain forecasted this weekend by the National Weather Service. Another nursing home in Western New York had to be evacuated yesterday after the ceiling began to buckle. Two residents died in the process of transporting them to another facility.

The American Red Cross of Western and Central New York Region is also assisting with 8 shelters of their own and supports surrounding storm shelters mainly situated to the south and southeast of Buffalo, NY. Spokesperson Matt Michael from Syracuse says most people utilizing the shelters are stranded highway travelers who were picked up mostly by snowmobiles and ATV’s.

”We’ve had, I mean over… roughly 200-300 people overall at these shelters every night so far. So, they’re doing a great job getting… not just our volunteers, but everybody involved in this… of getting people to the shelters.”

Michael adds the Red Cross works to provide basic needs such as a cot with a blanket, food, water and snacks throughout the day. The also make sure other individualized needs such as medications, contact with family and friends and arrangements for pets left at home can be taken care of.  Another service provided is mental health counseling because Michaels explains being in a shelter after a few days can really begin to wear on a person.

One of the Red Cross Shelter Volunteers from Central New York is Rich Plumpton who is stationed at the Iroquois Middle School in Amhurst, NY. Most of the shelter is serving stranded motorists. However, Plumpton says displaced homeowners with collapsed roofs are also beginning to arrive.

“I can’t imagine what they’re going through... I mean knowing they might not ever be able to return back to their house, again. But they did say that they aren’t allowed to go back into their house and their house has been condemned.”

Plumpton adds that most roads are still impassible in the area. Buffalo Mayor Myron Brown says 24,000 tons of snow had been removed as of Thursday night. Closed sections of the New York State Thruway in Western New York re-opened at 3 PM on Friday, but not completely. Most westbound traffic from Buffalo won’t be able exit the Thruway until drivers reach the Pennsylvania State Line.  Both directions of The Thruway will re-open from Toll Station 46 in Rochester (Henrietta) to Exit 50 in Williamsville, NY.  Click here for the State Thruway’s website for updates.  

Donations to the Red Cross can be made online at RedCross.org and by phone at (315) 234-2200.  Checks can also be sent or dropped off to their local office in Syracuse at 344 West Genesee Street.

For the latest National Guard Photos of Operation Lake Effect click here.

For more on the storm relief efforts from the Division of Military and Naval Affairs click here.

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.