The deadliest storm in Buffalo, NY’s history is slowly easing up, but such was the extent of the disruption that, as recently as Tuesday night, city officials made the decision to call in the military to enforce a driving ban.
WGRZ reports that Erie County, which contains Buffalo, opted to employ 100 military police and place them at the entrances and exits of the city, as well as on a number of surface streets, in order to enforce a driving ban that authorities claim was not being respected.
County leaders claimed that drivers were still attempting to use impassable street following the Christmas Eve storm that dropped more than 50 inches of snow on the American city. The enormous amount of snow led hundreds of vehicles to become trapped on Buffalo streets, which officials claim slowed the snow removal process.
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In addition, the snow and the vehicular obstructions have prevented emergency vehicles from responding to calls for help, the city claims. As of Tuesday evening, the death toll in the wake of the storm stood at 31. Among those reported deceased, seven were lost due to having no heat, according to USA Today.
“There’s a lot of roads that are completely blocked right now that have no access whatsoever, and people are trying to drive on these roads or trying to get into these neighborhoods, and they can’t,” Mark Poloncarz, an Erie County Executive, said Tuesday. “Please, please, you heard the mayor beg, now I’m begging you. Stay home. If it’s an emergency situation, call 911.”
Videos posted online show New York State Police using a modified skid-steer referred to as the ROOK equipped with a forklift attachment lifting cars out of the snow and placing them on the side of the road, presumably to allow a snow plow to drive through and clear the snow.
Fortunately, it looks like the worst may now be behind Buffalo. Weather forecasts show that temperatures will be rising into the 40 or 50s (4 to 15 degrees C) through the coming week, which should help the city thaw. With rain in the forecast and lots of melting snow, though, the city may now have to contend with some light flooding, according to meteorologists.