Nassau County despatched manpower and gear to storm-battered Buffalo on Monday — as a manner of claiming “thanks” for the help it obtained throughout Superstorm Sandy.
A gaggle of 18 volunteer public-works and emergency-management workers, in addition to heavy gear, was headed to the upstate metropolis from Lengthy Island to help in restoration efforts there.
The association was arrange by two native officers who had by no means met: Nassau County Government Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, and Erie County Government Mark Poloncarz, a Democrat, the Buffalo Information reported.
“In occasions like this, we’re all Individuals and all residents of the State of New York,” Blakeman stated.
“This isn’t about politics. It’s a humanitarian effort, and we’re returning the favor from the individuals of Erie County throughout Superstorm Sandy,” the pol stated.
In 2012, Blakeman recalled that firefighters from western New York got here all the way down to Lengthy Island to volunteer and assist the area recuperate from the devastation of Sandy.
Heavy snowfall blankets the streets of downtown Buffalo.
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Snow plows clear the roads following a winter storm in Lancaster, New York.
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A wheel loader is used to clear the snow in Buffalo.
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A person on a snowmobile speaks to a plow within the highway in Amherst.
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Monday’s benevolent gesture took form after Gov. Kathy Hochul referred to as Blakeman on Saturday to see how Lengthy Island was dealing with the native coastal flooding and freezing temperatures that got here together with the blockbuster blizzard hitting upstate.
“When somebody is in dire circumstances, and when you will have the assets to assist and also you don’t, it might be a horrible disgrace,” Blakeman stated. “We’re simply making an attempt to do our half.”
Poloncarz thanked the Lengthy Island chief for the help as upstate officers navigate the unprecedented storm, and he despatched a “very stunning textual content message” to indicate his gratitude, Blakeman stated.
A snow plow is left stranded on the highway.
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A common view of autos coated in snow on a highway in Buffalo.
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Automobiles are seen trapped underneath heavy snow within the streets of downtown Buffalo.
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A Buffalo neighborhood coated in snow.
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The Lengthy Island caravan included two pay-loaders, a New York State Police escort of 4 autos, a big generator, giant air pump and pickup vehicles.
At the very least 27 individuals have died upstate within the storm to date. Victims vary in age from 26 to 93.
The colossal storm battered counties equivalent to Erie, which incorporates the town of Buffalo, and Niagara, dumping almost 4 ft of snow and leaving roads impassable and 1000’s of households with out electrical energy.
A journey ban is in place in Buffalo, with roads so icy and buried in snow that it has been almost not possible for snow plows to clear them. The town’s airport can also be closed till Tuesday.