Conditions Go Downhill As Blizzard Swoops Into North Suburban Counties
YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The evening rush was orderly in Westchester County Monday, but conditions deteriorated in the nighttime hours as the blizzard swept in and roads shut down.
Crews in Rockland County were also working to stay ahead of the anticipated rapid snowfall that could dump up to 4 inches per hour.
Earlier in the evening, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino urged residents to get home early.
"We might pre-emptively close some of our parkways, depending on the blizzard conditions as they come," he told WCBS 880's Sean Adams on Monday morning. "So we're really getting ready for the worst."
Closed Parkways, Warming Centers Possible As Westchester, Rockland Prep For Storm
As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported from Yonkers, the travel ban did the trick, keeping roads almost completely free of traffic so snow plows could do their thing.
Driver and snow plow manager Steve Morra was one of a few drivers exempt from the ban.
"I'm here to remove snow," Morra said. "I have a crew of 10 to 12 guys out there right now."
"I don't think I've ever seen it this quiet," added Yonkers resident Nicole Young. "It's always packed, especially Kimball Avenue."
The lack of traffic was no doubt a relief to emergency workers, including police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who were called to a medical emergency in New Rochelle.
They struggled with a stretcher in the snow, and did not want to have to dodge fender benders and spinouts on the highway.
The wind picked up Monday night, driving home the chill with brute force. Traffic on Interstate 95 was very light, but some SUNY Maritime students found maxi-trouble in their Mini Cooper as they drove north from the Bronx.
"It was windy, and it was like – I was sliding everywhere because it was wet," said one student, named Connor.
At Metro-North train stations, which were set to close later in the evening, it was much quieter than would normally be seen. Many commuters either stayed home, or else took elected officials' advice in leaving the city far earlier than normal.
In Pehlam, Luna Starr and her Pomeranian, Wolfgang, were among the last to catch trains to Grand Central Monday night.
"I don't want to be up in the boondocks," said Starr, of the West Village. "This town is very quiet, and I'm used to the city."
Officials In Westchester, Rockland Worry About Outages, Other Woes During Blizzard
Westchester and Rockland counties had their emergency operations centers up and running and are in touch with the state, utilities and mass transit.
Bee-Line and ParaTransit buses were suspended starting at 8 p.m. Monday and will not resume service until road conditions improve Wednesday.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day has been in contact with Orange & Rockland Utilities.
"O&R is already mobilized to ensure that we're going to be OK," he said.
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As CBS2's Matt Kozar reported, emergency crews in the county were concerned about the threat of power outages – especially in rural areas.
"The positive thing is unlike some of the storms we had in the fall, where there were leaves in the trees and heavy winds, we have heavy winds, but we have no leaves in the trees – and we have a powdery snow," Day said. "So there should not be a lot of adherence to trees, so we're hopeful that will work for us."
If the power goes out, the counties will open up warming centers.
Officials also urged people to check in on their neighbors, especially the elderly.
Rockland County crews were also fully prepared to clear the roads so they can be ready once they reopen.
"We're ready to go, and now it's going to be a battle," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. "Once this blizzard comes in, and snow comes down at rapid rates, we have to try to keep up with it as much as we can – and that's really what the challenge is going to be."
Day said crews were salting all of the main roads, and the emergency operations center was activated. Like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Day urged residents to stay home, although some were still making last-minute runs to the grocery store as late as the 7 p.m. hour.
The Westchester school districts that have announced early dismissal Monday include Briarcliff Manor, Chappaqua, Croton-Harmon, Dobbs Ferry, Lakeland, North Salem and Yonkers.
In Putnam County, there will be early dismissal in Garrison, Haldane and Mahopac. Schools will be closed in the Brewster, Carmel, Putnam Valley and Putnam-Northern Westchester school districts.
Meanwhile, state troopers who cover a four-county region in the Hudson Valley are advising motorists to avoid all unnecessary travel during the major storm that's bearing down on the Northeast.
State police from Troop K -- covering Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties -- are reminding people to use extreme caution if they must travel the region's roads and highways Monday and Tuesday. The winter storm is expected to bring up to 2 feet of snow to the Hudson Valley region by Wednesday, with blizzard-like conditions possible in some areas.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
