Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has issued a State of Emergency for the city in advance of the Blizzard Warning to be issued Friday morning through Sunday morning.
Brown says City Hall will be closed.
“This could be a life-threatening storm," says Mayor Brown, who is urging everyone to stay home this weekend. "We are asking residents to continue to be cautious and to be responsible. Today, please finish up your last minute holiday shopping, your grocery shopping, other errands that you have to run as soon as possible. And be sure to have your needed medications, flashlights, batteries, blankets and other essentials on hand."
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Dave Bertola of National Grid says crews will be ready with out-of-state help. "We will have a total crew of 2,800 members, some of whom we're bringing in from Texas, Tennessee, and other states to help us so that we can help you," says Bertola. He adds safety will be a priority. "We drill and train year round with municipalities and emergency service personnel all across Western New York. And this weekend is our game day and we're ready."
Public Works Commissioner Nathan Marton says this storm will bring challenges not seen last month.
"Those high winds coming at the speed across the lake plus higher gusts are really going to make the blizzard conditions that we're going to see starting Friday, lasting through Friday night into Saturday and a good part of the weekend, Saturday and Sunday. So the conditions themselves, will will be dangerous for all all individuals, our our DPW crew as well," says Marton. "From a DPW standpoint, we will have our crews, Parks Department, engineering, streets, obviously the number one teams out there, working the streets, our equipment, we mobilized our partnership with our real estate group, and state and county officials who we've been in contact with and continue to be in contact with as well during the storm."
Mayor Brown also made the following announcements.
- If there are widespread outages, Dry Ice and Water Distribution will take place at Engine 21/Ladder 6 Firehouse on Jefferson Avenue, both Saturday and Sunday
- Because of the frigid temps, Two Community Centers (Lincoln and Hennepin) are scheduled to open as warming centers on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. EST to 6 p.m. EST.
- As of Thursday at 3 p.m. EST, four waterfront parks will close (Ralph Wilson Park, Erie Basin Marina, Broderick Park and the Bird Island Pier)
- If Friday is your scheduled garbage and recycling pickup day, please DON’T PUT OUT YOUR TOTES THURSDAY EVENING. Garbage and recycling pickup in Buffalo is canceled on Friday, Dec. 23. Their pickup will be on Monday, Dec. 26. All other scheduled pickups for the week of Dec. 26 will be picked up one day later than usual, through Saturday.
- Mayor Brown also reminded City residents to sign up for BUFFALERT to stay informed of snow emergencies and other public service announcements. To sign for BUFFALERT, text your zip code to 38276.
As much as three feet of snow could fall as a result of the storm.
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