Thousands of people across Western New York are stuck inside their homes for a fourth straight day. Some have yet to see snow plow equipment come down their streets.
County, state, out-of-state, including from as far away as Connecticut, and National Guard crews are working diligently to clear roadways. Their primary focus is first clearing main routes and providing pathways for first responders addressing emergency situations. So far, a dozen people have died as a result of the storm, two of which because first responders could not reach them sooner.
MORE | Full list of travel advisories, bans and road closures
Their efforts are largely hampered by the hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles abandoned on roads and highways across Western New York. Those vehicles have to first be towed before the snow can be cleared. County Executive Mark Poloncarz traveled on several roadways previously cleared Thursday and found they were again littered with abandoned vehicles.
PHOTOS | Aerial shots show vehicles littering roadways
And plows alone won’t cut it. So much snow has fallen, that heavy equipment has to be brought in to physically remove the snow and haul it to another location to be dumped.
In fact, several snow plows have become stuck attempting to clear the snow on area roadways and are among the vehicles that became abandoned.
Officials ask everyone to remain patient. Residents are implored to follow the travel bans as not doing so will only further impede efforts to dig out from under the Lake Effect burying entire communities in Western New York.
Should you have a true medical emergency, dial 911.
