Nyc Travel Ban in Suffolk as Blizzard Threatens Long Island with Two Feet of Snow
The phrase nyc travel ban has circulated as officials prepared for a powerful blizzard that could dump up to two feet of snow across both Nassau and Suffolk counties and raise fears of coastal flooding.
Nyc Travel Ban takes local shape in Suffolk
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine issued a travel ban for Suffolk County beginning 9 p. m. Sunday through 9 p. m. Monday ET. The ban does not apply to essential workers and plow operators.
Heavy snow and extreme winds forecast for Long Island
Officials warned the storm could produce up to two feet of snow across Nassau and Suffolk counties and projected extreme-velocity winds on eastern Long Island. Aside from snowfall, there are concerns over coastal flooding, with high tide arriving just before 11 a. m. ET.
State emergency, National Guard and utility crews mobilized
A total of 22 counties are under a state of emergency in New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul is activating 100 members of the National Guard to help with the emergency response. Utility companies also have additional workers standing by to respond to power outages.
Transit shutdowns and pileup of plows
The MTA suspended all LIRR service at 1 a. m. Monday ET and said service will resume once conditions allow; the suspension allows crews to focus on snow-clearing efforts. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman ordered that no one go on the roads during the height of the storm unless they are an essential worker, and Nassau has 75 plow and salt trucks helping with the storm response.
Residents recall past floods and brace for digging out
Long Island resident Gary Jones said, “Living down here, you deal with the floods, the snow, you know, it comes in. And being by the water, we worry about the flood more than anything else. The tides, you know, that's what gets us. ” Jones added, “Like when Hurricane Sandy came, I had 12 feet of water in my house. ” Another resident, Paul Phinney, said, “It's challenging, challenging, yeah, because plows come, you get plowed in and you got to dig out, and that's a lot of work. ”
How this storm ranks
the storm is poised to be the biggest snow-maker to slam the Tri-State area since the storm of January 2016, which was the biggest snowstorm to ever hit New York City on record. Executives in both Nassau and Suffolk counties have declared state of emergencies.
The travel ban in Suffolk runs through 9 p. m. Monday ET, LIRR service will resume once conditions allow, and crews from the National Guard, county plow fleets and utility companies will continue recovery and clearing operations.
