Franklin Square and Elmont brace for weekend snowstorm

Snow blanketed Hempstead Turnpike in Franklin Square during this time last year.

Christina Daly/Herald

Franklin Square and Elmont are preparing for what some forecasts are predicting to be a major blizzard that will hit the area late Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Initial estimates from the National Weather Service are calling for six to 12 inches of snow to fall, which would put a halt to most people’s plans this weekend. Fearing the worst, organizers of the “March on Belmont” scheduled for this Saturday, have postponed the event due to the weather. It has been rescheduled for Jan. 30.

Residents and businesses have been active on social media, advertising snow removal services. Mike Mollish of Franklin Square has been looking forward to the storm as it’s a way for him and his two friends to make some extra money. Mollish owns an all-terrain vehicle and attaches a plow to it. The three men travel from house to house and offer their services for the snowfall. Up to this point, Mollish has yet to use the ATV this winter.

“Major snowfall last year started this Saturday,” Mollish said. He hopes to see the same type of snowfall as last year, when on Jan. 23 of last year, more than a foot of snow fell in the area.

“It was difficult last year but you work hard and you make money,” Mollish said.

Franklin Square and Elmont rely on Town of Hempstead and Nassau County to plow the main roads throughout the two neighborhoods.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said there is a about to be "blizzard-like conditions," but the county is ready with 100 plowers and spreaders and has 28,000 tons of salt and 3,600 tons of sand.

"We will prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Mangano said, adding that the county will brine its roads to hopefully avoid icing.

The Town of Hempstead is preparing for the storm as well.

“Town officials are hard at work in advance of the expected snowfall to prevent the winter weather from creating hazardous road conditions,” said town spokesman Mike Deery. “As the snowflakes fall and blanket our landscape, Hempstead Town will continue to work to ensure that roads are safe and easily navigated.”

For the most up to date information on the blizzard, continue to check liherald.com