Officials: Ready for The Blizzard

Even before the snow began falling in earnest in Port Washington Tuesday night, local officials said they were prepared for the storm. The snowplows, crew and ice-melt are at the ready, and the budgets are intact, officials said.

The budget for the snow cleanup for the fiscal year is $860,000, said Collin Nash, director of communications for the Town of North Hempstead.

“So far, we have not put a dent in our snow budget because the budget period started at the beginning of January,” Nash said. “In other words, we used money from last year's snow budget to deal with the last snow storm and the town is fully equipped to handle the approaching storm. We are fully stocked with salt and our trucks and snow plows are ready to roll, clearing the more than 600 lane miles of roadway throughout the town.” 

Leonard Wurzel, the mayor of the , is well prepared for the snow removal and cleanup. He said the Village has more than enough salt, sand and snowplows to cope with the storm.

“We have a private contractor in Port Washington, , to handle the snow removal,” Wurzel said. “Our yearly money allotment for the snow season, according to Colleen O’Neill who works in General Services for the Village of Sands Point, is $267,557 and we have not gone over budget.”

Code Enforcer Robert Rockelein for the said its yearly snow removal budget is $30,000. Village officials do not expect to go over budget.

“We did not have any problems with the last snow storm and the Village has adequate supplies, manpower and a huge amount of salt and sand stored in a shed on the Village Hall property,” said Rockelein. “Our Village has been very efficient with snow cleanup.”

Nash added, “Before the snow hits, we spread a brine solution on the roadways to prevent the snow from sticking to the surface, making it easier for the plows to clear the snow more efficiently.”

Nash said there is one thing that the Town is doing differently Tuesday.

“I would say the only thing we are doing differently this time is to contact residents in the unincorporated areas of the town through a reverse 311 call, urging them to keep their vehicles off the streets so the plows can clean the roadways more efficiently.”

The budget for Nassau County for the snow cleanup this season is approximately $2 million, according to the Department of Public Works. County Executive Edward P. Mangano said the lines of communication in Nassau are open. Residents can call the County's non-emergency hotline at 888-684-4274 for assistance with any snow-related situation that is not life-threatening or an emergency.

“We want to ensure every resident is safe, and we are made aware of any situation that could create danger in the community,” Mangano stated. “Residents are urged to use caution if they have to travel. Our County workforce will be working hard to keep the streets safe, and you can help by keeping cars off the road.”