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Welcome to Erie County, NY

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz » STATE OF EMERGENCY AND TRAVEL ADVISORY STILL IN EFFECT FOR ERIE COUNTY THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING

STATE OF EMERGENCY AND TRAVEL ADVISORY STILL IN EFFECT FOR ERIE COUNTY THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING

Modified: January 16, 2024 2:44pm

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Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz reminds all that the State of Emergency and Travel Advisory issued for the previous storm for Erie County is still in effect and will remain in effect through Thursday evening, January 18, 2024. Lake effect snow accumulations of 1–2 feet or more during this period, with localized accumulations of up to 3 feet possible, will make driving difficult at times and heavy equipment such as high-lifts and dump trucks are still working in some municipalities cleaning up the previously fallen snow. Motorists are urged to be alert while driving, have an emergency safety kit in your vehicle, and stay off the roads as much as possible during the heavy snow fall.  

• Area employers are also strongly encouraged to allow employees to work from home wherever possible for the remainder of the week in order to lessen the number of vehicles on the roads.
• Organizations and community groups with scheduled activities or events in this period should strongly consider cancelling or rescheduling those events.
• Find more information for storm preparedness at www.erie.gov/winter .
• Updated information about highway and transit conditions is available at 511ny.org .
• Updated NFTA rail and bus information is available at nfta.com  

Cold Weather Safety:

Bitterly cold temperatures this week will put people who spend any amount of time outside at risk for hypothermia and frostbite.

***If you notice signs of frostbite or hypothermia on yourself or someone else, seek medical care. ***

• Hypothermia is a medical emergency. Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures., and your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced and lowers body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it’s happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.
• Frostbite is a type of injury caused by freezing. It leads to a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually extremities such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation. A person who has frostbite may not know they have it until someone else points it out because the frozen parts of their body are numb.

Protect pets and livestock; keep them inside and check them for signs of distress.

Frozen water pipes can burst and cause serious damage to your home. Protect your pipes and property; the American Red Cross has info on preventing frozen pipes , and what to do if they do freeze.

Call 2-1-1 for warming center and emergency shelter information, and free and confidential referrals to basic needs (like food). 211 storm resources and information.

Please share this with people who may not see or understand this message.

Saturday brings more snow, leaving some areas buried under 6 feet

On Friday, the National Weather Service expected snow totals of around two feet. Now, on Saturday, snow totals have already reached 77 inches in Orchard Park (6.4 feet) and 73.7 inches (6.14 feet) in Hamburg.

While NWS is reporting only 3.3 inches in Tonawanda, as of Erie County's 6 a.m. update, the expectation is that the snow is now moving northward, and areas that were not hit as badly Thursday and Friday can expect more snow Saturday.

• Lake Effect Snow Warnings are still in place through Sunday for several counties including Erie and Niagara
• Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for Wyoming, Allegany, Orleans, and McKean (PA) counties through Sunday.
• A State of Emergency in Erie County continues indefinitely
• A Travel Ban is in effect for most of Erie County— but has been downgraded to just an advisory in several locations.

Erie County Travel Ban

As of 3 p.m. travel ban is in effect for the City of Buffalo south of William Street, Hamburg, Evans, Eden, Boston, Orchard Park, Aurora, Wales, Marilla, Elma, West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, and Alden. All other parts of Erie County are under a travel advisory.

"We are making progress in the city of Buffalo, but there is still a long way to go. We have had a snow ban set up for an extended period of time, as you know, in South Buffalo, dumping over four feet of snow," Mayor Byron Brown said.

Another eight to 10 inches are expected through 1 a.m. Sunday in the City of Buffalo.

"So we are coming to the end, hopefully, of this event, if the forecasts that we've received are correct," Brown added.

Erie County continues to provide updates every few hours on their YouTube channel.

“The vast majority of Erie County residents have done the right thing and stayed off the roads,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said in a tweet Friday. “Unfortunately, it only takes one to two vehicles to tie up plow and first responder crews. Please stay home.”

WNY Travel Bans & Advisories

Niagara County: No travel advisories are in effect and there are no plans to institute any, according to Niagara County Director of Emergency Services Jonathan Schultz.  

“We will continue to closely monitor the storm and be prepared to take any actions regarding travel and safety should they be deemed necessary,” Schultz said in a statement.  

Genesee County: No travel advisories are in effect, but the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to stay home so that emergency personnel can travel more easily.

 “Please remember that even if it is not snowing where you are, the destination you are traveling to may have poor visibility and heavy snow accumulation,” Genesee County Sheriff William Sheron said in a statement posted to Facebook. “The best and safest option for you and your loved ones is to stay home until the snowstorm passes.”  

Chautauqua County: No travel advisories are in effect, but officials are reminding Chautauqua County residents to postpone or cancel non-essential travel, drive slowly, keep 200 feet behind snow plows and keep an emergency kit and cell phone with them if driving, according to a Thursday news release .  

“With this storm, drivers should be prepared for areas of snow-covered roads and poor visibility,” Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone said in a statement. “If you must travel, drivers are urged to slow down and use caution when traveling on slick or snow-covered roads.” 

You can find more information for your county by clicking here:

• Erie County - http://www2.erie.gov/
• Niagara County - http://niagaracounty.com/
• Chautauqua County - http://chautauqua.ny.us/
• Cattaraugus County - http://www.cattco.org/
• Orleans County - http://www.orleansny.com/
• Wyoming County - http://www.wyomingco.net/
• Allegany County - https://www.alleganyco.gov/
• Genesee County - http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/

NFTA & Colleges

As of Saturday morning, the NFTA says buses are not running in Erie and Niagara counties, except for Paratransit but the NFTA is asking riders to reschedule if possible.

Erie County Community South Campus is being used as a snow dump by the county, and North Campus is being utilized for staging rescue crews.

National Guard Deployed & State Efforts

Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed the National Guard to assist in Erie County's efforts.

The National Guard has arrived at @ErieCountyNY 's Emergency Operations Center. They are being sent out to pickup and deliver people whom require dialysis. Thanks @GovKathyHochul for calling them up to help with the response efforts. pic.twitter.com/jPlxXk8biF — Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) November 19, 2022

In advance of the storm, Gov. Hochul on Thursday urged residents in Western New York to stay home

“We’re expecting upwards of two to four feet. It’s not just the volume, two to four feet the first night, we could possibly see anywhere from four to six feet between now and Sunday. It is the rate of snow that is most concerning,” Hochul said.

All Erie County travel bans lifted

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The travel bans that were put in place in Erie County on Wednesday due to the heavy lake effect snow were all lifted as of 8 a.m. Thursday.

READ MORE: All Erie County travel bans have been lifted, travel advisory remains in place for entire county

The travel ban that was in place for the City of North Tonawanda was lifted at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Governor Hochul released the following guidelines for traveling in winter weather:

• Do not drive unless necessary.
• If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, a flashlight, extra batteries, extra warm clothing, a set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods, and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.
• If you have a cell phone or other communications device such as a two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location.
• The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.
• It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.
• Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Never attempt to pass a snowplow while it is operating.

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Travel ban issued in Cheektowaga

By All WNY News

The Town of Cheektowaga has issued a travel ban, effective immediately and until further notice, according to its Facebook Page.

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New York Lifts Travel Ban for Bills Snow Shovelers

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — New York has lifted the travel ban in Erie County, but only for snow shovelers who will help dig out Highmark Stadium ahead of the Bills-Steelers game on Monday. With an expected five to eight more inches of snow, it will require an overnight effort to fully dig the stadium and the stands where the fans will sit.

The full travel ban is expected to be lifted at 6:00 a.m. Even at kickoff, it will be frigid, with the wind chill reaching near zero degrees or even below that. Winds will still be howling up near 20 miles per hour, and there is a chance for some flurries to drop during the game.

All areas other than Lackawanna, Lancaster, Cheektowaga, Depew, and Sloan will have the travel ban lifted at 6:00 a.m. They are authorizing snow shovelers to help out the stadium to ensure the safety of public on Monday.

But even playing the game will require the help of those snow shovelers. The Bills are inviting the first 200 shovelers into the stadium to help out, and they will pay those people $20 per hour to help with the efforts . Those wanting to help must be over 18 with proper identification or under 18 with the proper working papers to be allowed to help out in the efforts.

The Thruway remains closed to access the stadium, along with Routes 219, 400, and 5, and so the stadium will have tobe accessed by Route 20 or Abbott Road.

The Steelers’ arrival was delayed by just over 24 hours after a state of emergency in New York forced the game to be rescheduled from 1 p.m. on Sunday to 4:30 p.m. on Monday. They arrived safely this afternoon. Meanwhile, the Bills were scheduled to have meetings, but told players to stay home with the travel bans in effect.

In the area where the Bills stadium, Highmark Stadium, is located, gusts were up to 50 miles per hour, with six inches of snow coming down each hour. While original estimates for snowfall were between one and three feet, the actual number will land between three and four feet of snow in those areas.

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