Anthony Raciti said that, with the snow piling up outside his Bayside home, he had to switch from a regular shovel to an electric one.
“It has been a problem because it is all just piling up. I had to switch to an electric one because it can take 12 inches instead of just six with the tiny one I had,” he said.
As the snow fell on Wednesday, January 26, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning in effect into Thursday, with predicted accumulations of 8 to 12 inches. Mayor Michael Bloomberg also declared a weather emergency, meaning that the public was urged to avoid all unnecessary driving and to use public transportation wherever possible.
Bloomberg cautioned that any vehicle found to be blocking roadways or impeding the ability to plow streets would be towed at the owner’s expense, and that alternate side parking, payment at parking meters and garbage collections were suspended citywide.
As of noon on Wednesday, the Port Authority said that the “runways and roadways” at JFK and LaGuardia Airports were clear, but there were over 100 cancelations at JFK and over 300 at LaGuardia, with more expected. Additionally, there were flight delays. Passengers were urged to call their carriers for more information.
The seventh storm of the season dropped additional inches on an already winter-weary city. According to AccuWeather the city gets an average snowfall of 22.4 inches a season and the first six storms have dumped 37.1 inches so far.
“We have been stuck in the house because of the snow,” said Canila Barbosa, out playing with her daughter Laura. “It is very hard to take out the strollers and use them. She [Laura] has been playing and having fun though. Being from South America we are definitely not used to this.”
The mayor’s office confirmed that the city’s $38.8 million snow removal budget was all spent after the Blizzard of 2010.
The “all encompassing” budget includes salt purchase, manpower, equipment and other expenses.
But the public need not worry if more white stuff falls, they assured.
“The money will be found for snow and ice removal,” said a spokesperson. “So the public does not have to worry.”
The Department of Education canceled classes for the 27th, making it the ninth snow-related school closing since 1978.
“Because heavy snow fell in the City overnight, all non-emergency City government offices are closed for today, in addition to all public schools,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “New York City almost never takes a snow day, but today is one of those rare days. People should stay at home and off the roads.”
