Oswego County Highway Workers Recognized for Snowstorm Response

OSWEGO COUNTY – The crew of the Oswego County Highway Department were recognized by state and local leaders for their hard work during the lake effect snowstorm that hit the area in February. Crews came in and worked additional hours in an effort to keep county roadways cleared and treated during and after the snowstorm.

“These guys went above and beyond in the name of serving our residents,” said Oswego County Legislator John J. Martino, District 6, chairman of the Legislature’s Finance and Personnel Committee. “The February storm was one of the worst we’ve experienced in recent years; and knowing we have people we can count on to step up and answer the call helps the people of Oswego County rest easy.”

New York State Senator Christopher Ryan, who represents the 50th NYS Senate District which includes parts of Oswego County, also thanked the highway department and brought pizza for the crew. “We wanted to show our appreciation for what you all did,” Senator Ryan told the workers. “It was a lot of work during difficult conditions and we want to thank you for keeping everybody safe.”

Oswego County Highway Superintendent Shawn Walker said that handling snow is something that his team does well. “Our guys did great,” he said. “They came in and worked many long, hard hours. They were at work more than they were home with their families during the storm; but they did what was needed to keep the roads safe for residents.”

The highway department also assisted local municipalities and coordinated resources that the Oswego County Emergency Management Office secured from the New York State Department of Transportation.

Three weeks after the lake effect snowstorm began, the Oswego County Emergency Operations Center is now winding down.

“We are very appreciative of the agencies and volunteers that helped us clear the snow, both from our roadways and infrastructure, and for our residents,” said Cathleen Palmitesso, director of the Oswego County Emergency Management Office. “They answered 106 requests for assistance over the last few weeks.

“We’ve now exhausted our resources and are no longer able to provide help,” she added. “However, if residents still need snow removal services, we recommend they reach out to private contractors in their area.”

People can find a list of vetted snow removal contractors on the Oswego County website at https://www.oswegocounty.com/departments/public_information/snow_resources.php. Residents are responsible for paying for these services themselves.

New York State is still collecting damage information from residents who have had uninsured losses due to the storm. The information will be used to determine if a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration is warranted.

People can click this link to complete the survey and report damages. This is NOT a form for federal relief programs. The SBA will issue an announcement if low-interest loans will be made available.

Reporting is voluntary and not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency, nor does it guarantee disaster relief assistance. One survey should be submitted for each housing unit or business. People should attach photos of the damage as they complete the survey.

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