Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It may feel like yesterday for some Western New Yorkers, but it's been exactly one year since the area was paralyzed by a deadly winter blizzard.
And while around 47 lives were lost in Erie County, many lives were saved.
Western New Yorkers may remember Jay Withey, or "Merry Christmas Jay," a then 27-year-old who went out to help friends in need during the start of the blizzard, only to be trapped by the treacherous conditions himself.
His friend got picked up by the police, but he didn't. Withey picked up a stranger in need, Mike, and after getting stuck multiple times, he eventually decided to go door-to-door, offering $500 to anybody who would offer them a place to seek shelter. He then found another stranger, a 61-year-old woman named Mary, asking him for help as well. After spending the night in his truck with strangers and his truck and Mary's car inevitably running out of gas, he eventually took cover from the unbearable elements in a school, which he entered by breaking a window with brake pads.
When he got Mike and Mary to the school, he noticed a number of cars buried under snow. From that point on, Withey knew that his "mission" was to get others to the school for safety.
"I couldn't sit idle knowing that there's other people out there like we were," said Whitey. "It became a mission, one more. Keep going to get one more."
He eventually helped 24 people. He cooked stuffed pizza and meatballs for his new family. He then started up the school's snowblower and eventually they all were able to go back home.
Since the storm, Whitney has received national media attention for his heroic acts, as well as special awards and accolades from Erie County and Governor Kathy Hochul. He even won the 2023 Adult Good Samaritan Red Cross Real Hero award.
How is Withey feeling one year later?
Withey says he still has little to no feeling in his fingers, under his eyes and cheeks. However, Withey believes it's a small sacrifice to pay to ensure the safety of his fellow Western New Yorkers.
Withey says he still keeps in touch with the people he helped. He recently reunited with a few of them during a Spectrum News interview not too long ago.
"We still keep contact, we have a group chat and everything. Everyone is great. We talk all the time. I got a bigger family, that's what it boils down to."
Withey recalled the looting that took place during the storm and mentions how frustrated and disgusted he was knowing that people used the storm for financial gain and helped themselves rather than helping others. He also notes that a lot of people who were trying to help during the storm were doing the best they could given the unprecedented circumstances.
"Instead of pointing fingers at who's to blame for equipment, not having equipment, you know, not being able to plow, I think we have to look inward as people and just try to be the best citizens that we can. That's the Buffalo way. Buffalo embodies being of service, helping people, helping your neighbor. Buffalo is known for being the city of good neighbors and we are seeing great neighbors, but we didn't all exactly show it 100% during the destruction."
Going forward, Withey encourages everyone to pay it forward, be more selfless and not selfish as well as continue to treat others with respect and dignity.
"I hope that if anyone could take away anything from not just my story, but what happened during this blizzard is to be kind and help people."
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