Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - In the final Erie County briefing following the devastating blizzard that paralyzed the Buffalo-Niagara region, County Executive Mark Poloncarz opened by apologizing to the community and Buffalo for his tirade attacking Mayor Byron Brown and city snow removal efforts during a similar briefing Wednesday.
"I want to apologize to the members of our community," Poloncarz said in addressing his attack on Brown in which he had hinted the county would effort to take over full snow operations in the city and called the city effort 'embarrassing'. "I basically lost my focus. I do apologize to our community for doing it."
In follow-up questioning from WBEN, Poloncarz would not characterize what, if anything, in the attack that he intended on following up on. He would only say that any discussions would be private between the mayor and himself. Poloncarz called and texted Brown Wednesday evening and as of the briefing the two had not spoken. "There's plenty of time for these discussions in the future, right now we need to focus on moving forward."
Poloncarz announced two additional fatalities associated with the blizzard. "As a result of these additional two deaths, 39 individuals have died in Erie County as a result of the blizzard." One death was reported in Niagara County.
Of the 39 deaths in Erie County, 17 were found outside, four were found in vehicles and 11 were found in homes. The last 13 deaths reported were all from the City of Buffalo, Poloncarz noted.
"Power has been restored to all Erie County residents," said Poloncarz. At the height of the storm, in excess of 20 thousand were without power in Buffalo alone.
Department of Public Works Commissioner William Geary said there is a heavy presence of snow removal operation within the city of Buffalo. A total of 72 loaders and 119 dump trucks are operating within the city limits, Geary says. "We're into the second pass, some places we're two plus."
A total of 40 towed vehicles remain in county lots and a listing is available at Erie.gov/towedvehicles.
During the Wednesday briefing, Poloncarz said the Buffalo Bills had requested an emergency escort for their return to the region, after landing in Rochester and traveling by bus back to Buffalo. "They never requested one of me," Poloncarz said Thursday. "I was informed that they were, but they never requested one from me."
