OSWEGO COUNTY- A multi-day lake effect snow storm hit Oswego County this week, bringing dangerous conditions including several feet of snow, significant ice accumulations, strong winds and freezing temperatures. In response to the storm, numerous Oswego County departments are working to mitigate storm impacts and assist municipalities with storm-related challenges.
“Oswego County agencies have been working closely with our municipalities to assist them with their needs,” said Oswego County Emergency Management Office Director Cathleen Palmitesso. “The county highway department has been out helping with snow removal and maintaining roadways so emergency services and residents can get where they need to be safely. We have also coordinated with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and they will be supporting snow removal in municipalities as well.”
The Oswego County Fire Coordinator’s Office coordinated with Onondaga County to provide the city of Fulton assistance with clearing nearly 600 fire hydrants.
Along with snow removal, another challenge of the snowstorm is the nationwide shortage of road salt. Ice and heavy snowfall have also caused multiple structural collapses throughout the county.
“As of Thursday afternoon, there have been 23 confirmed structural collapses in Oswego County,” said Oswego County Fire Coordinator Shane Laws. “While most of these are commercial businesses, some residences have been impacted. Residents that need to leave their homes due to a collapse may be able to receive temporary assistance by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).”
“Additionally, we have been working with the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) to deploy New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2), a team specialized in structural collapse support,” Laws continued. “This team will assist in life-safety incidents, particularly in situations where victims may be trapped or operations extend beyond the capabilities of local fire departments.”
Anyone experiencing a structural collapse or risk of one should call 911. Emergency services personnel are not able to assist with snow removal except for in life-threatening situations.
While Oswego County is unable to help residents with snow removal, the Oswego County Purchasing Department has compiled a list of snow removal services in the county for residents to reach out to if needed. Homeowners are responsible for paying for services. To view the list, visit https://www.oswegocounty.com/departments/public_information/snow_resources.php.
“We encourage our residents to check in on their family members, friends and neighbors, especially if they are elderly or disabled,” added Palmitesso. “Isolated senior citizens that do not have family members or other resources for snow removal may be able to receive assistance and should contact the Oswego County Office for the Aging at 315-349-3484 for more information.”
The snow event began on Friday, Feb. 14 and continued through early Wednesday morning, Feb. 19. During this time, parts of Oswego County received multiple feet of snow and experienced whiteout conditions for three consecutive days. In the most persistent lake effect snow, areas of southern Oswego County received up to seven feet of snow during the storm.
For most areas, the heaviest snowfall was overnight on Monday, Feb. 17 through Tuesday, Feb. 18. At times, snow was falling up to three inches per hour. Snow drifts and snow and ice accumulations caused numerous accidents and stranded vehicles, which resulted in portions of State Route 481, State Route 104 and Interstate 81 being closed at times.
From Feb. 14-18, Oswego County E-911 fielded a total of 2,064 calls for emergencies requesting law enforcement or fire departments. Police and fire personnel within the county have been able to manage their call volumes and did not need to request outside assistance for response.
Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup, District 9, declared a State of Emergency for Oswego County and closed county offices on Feb. 18 due to the lake effect storm. Many municipalities declared local state of emergencies, snow emergencies, or parking bans, most of which have since been lifted. For the most up-to-date status of your area, contact your local municipality.
For more information, call the Oswego County Emergency Management Office at 315-591-9150 or visit its website at https://www.oswegocounty.com/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/index.php.
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