Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Although their respective communities are about 35 miles apart from each other, Lackawanna Mayor Annette Iafallo and Bergholz Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Mahoney have decidedly different views of the Dec. 29 winter storm that is hitting the Buffalo-Niagara region.
For Iafallo, it is more of a "wait-and-see" approach, while Mahoney says the high level of wind triggered fire alarms, and downed power lines are keeping himself and his fellow volunteers in the Niagara County-based fire company more than busy.
"I'd say it is an 8-out-of-10," Mahoney said.
By 9:30 a.m., Mahoney and his fire/police team had been standing for a couple of hours at the intersection of Williams Road and Niagara Falls Boulevard handling traffic control as four power lines were knocked out by the wind storm.
"I'm wearing gloves and I still can't feel my fingers or hands," Mahoney said.
Because of travel bans, traffic along Niagara Falls Boulevard was sparse. There were few cars and one NFTA bus that left the Niagara Falls International Airport, which is also at that intersection, but mostly it was a vehicular ghost town.
Mahoney says the Bergholz fire hall was fully staffed with volunteers but most of the calls were related to fire alarms going off because of the windy conditions.
"We do train and prepare for days like this," Mahoney said.
Iafallo says she, along the city's police, fire and public works departments have policies in place for tough winter storms.
"So far, we are in good shape," Iafallo said shortly after 8 a.m. "Hopefully, the heavy stuff bypasses us."
Iafallo says Lackawanna was seeing some wind and rain along with an occasional snowfall, but much else.
Some traffic tie-ups were reported along Route 5 because of the Skyway being closed since 6 a.m.
"But we can work through that," Iafallo said. "Basically, I'm going to see how bad the weather is and then make an assessment about what we need to do."
Mahoney, for his part, was also philosophical about the winter weather.
"Where else would you rather be?," Mahoney joked, referring former Buffalo Bills' head coach Marv Levy's now famous line.