SPRINGVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — A superintendent in the Southern Tier is sparking a conversation on Twitter after she called out the National Weather Service.
Kimberly Moritz, Superintendent of the Springville-Griffith Institute Central School District, questioned the National Weather Service's decision to issue a blizzard warning for the area.
"Where, exactly, did this blizzard hit? Because I’m really regretting my decision to close schools," Moritz said in a tweet. "When the NWS and the news talk blizzard and huge snowfall, I can’t ignore that. I’m sorry to every working parent who had to take off a day from work for child care."
Where, exactly, did this blizzard hit? Because I’m really regretting my decision to close schools. When the NWS and the news talk blizzard and huge snowfall, I can’t ignore that. I’m sorry to every working parent who had to take off a day from work for child care.
— Kimberly Moritz (@kimberlymoritz) February 27, 2020
Other people have responded to her criticism. "Come to east concord. where the wind is 30+ mph and i can’t even leave my driveway more less drive more than 30 seconds down my road," Twitter user Garon Holland said in a tweet. Another user responded by saying the weather was bad in the Boston area and there were whiteout conditions. Perhaps you should take a drive out this way, or to the higher elevations in our district and see if your "regret" stands," Tara Lowry tweeted.
This is springville/east concord and the worst is coming soon pic.twitter.com/HG4sMF4Gjh
— darc (@darceebojanows2) February 27, 2020
Moritz responded to her initial tweet, saying she closed schools to help parents. "I tweeted my regret and apology for working parents who had a hardship because of my decision and found the weather to be fine. I’m not engaging in a social media war now."
Okay everyone—I did close today, remember? And I did it early to help our families plan. I tweeted my regret and apology for working parents who had a hardship because of my decision and found the weather to be fine. I’m not engaging in a social media war now.
— Kimberly Moritz (@kimberlymoritz) February 27, 2020
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for Southern Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Wyoming and Allegany County Wednesday. The warning lasts through 4:00 p.m. Friday.
According to the weather service, a blizzard warning is issued when wind speeds or gusts are over 35 mph for at least three consecutive hours.
