DPW Foreman: 'It was a tough storm to battle'

Updated: 3:15 p.m. Friday: As predicted, a powerful winter storm rolled into the greater metropolitan area after midnight on Thursday morning, bringing with it snow, frigid temperatures and heavy winds.

In anticipation for the storm, Mayor Tim Tenke instructed residents to keep cars off the road so the city could clear and plow the streets.

DPW foreman Manny Grella said the city had been well-prepared for the storm, beginning at 3 a.m. yesterday with a 14-man crew and going into full plowing mode at 6 a.m. Roads are all clear now, Grella said, "but it was a very difficult storm to battle. We'd plow one section, and when we'd come back to the start it looked like we hadn't plowed at all."

The East Island area was hardest hit, according to Grella. "The wind coming off the water was brutal," he said. He added that the area around Glen Cove High School was also particularly difficult, and that the crews "were dealing with white-out conditions, zero-visibility, when we went into plowing mode."

Grella praised his crew's performance throughout the more than 20-hour day. "We finished around midnight," he said, "but at the end of the shift all areas were clear." Grella added that his crew suffered no injuries and expected to finish at its shift today at the regular 3:30 closing time.

Det. Lt. John Nagle said the police department responded to a total of eight calls. "Most of those were chest pains and breathing issues," he said. Despite severe conditions, only two traffic accidents were reported.

Nagle cautioned that "the aftermath is sometimes worse than the storm itself," referring to forecasts that have temperatures falling to near-zero levels. "I'd just urge people to stay inside and stay safe," he said.

In emergencies, Nagle recommended calling the police department's direct line, (516) 676-1000. "This will get a much faster response time than calling 911," he explained, because "calls don't need to be routed through the switchboard to the appropriate agency." He said a warming center is open at the Glen Cove Senior Center.

Mayor Tim Tenke echoed Nagle's concerns about the coming drop in temperature, while simultaneously praising the city's first responders in their efforts so far. "I really want to urge people to stay indoors as much as possible" until the worst of the cold snap has passed," Tenke said. "I'm amazed we haven't had any injuries, but I hope people will exercise extreme caution."

The snow-removal crews "did a fantastic job," he continued. "They were out all day in the most extreme conditions, and I'm very proud of the job they did." Asked if he had done any shoveling himself, Tenke laughed and said his Michigan-born wife "realized I was going to be late getting home, so she and my daughter actually shoveled the driveway. I think," he continued, "that I am going to owe some people some dinners."

Glen Cove’s Alex Kern said he is ready to help anyone that needs a ride to well, wherever. This will be his third year helping his neighbors. “I am offering anyone a free ride if they need help,” he said. “I have a pick-up truck with four-wheel drive.”

Kern owns Old Brookville Roofing in Glen Cove. “I see this as a way to say thank you to everyone,” he said.

Last year he provided a ride for three people during a snowstorm. “I took one woman to the Tilles Center in Brookville,” he said. “The lady said she was scared so she called me. I also took an elderly man to the grocery store.”

“I’m home anyway,” he said. “If I can help someone in a bind I will. This gives me a chance to enjoy the snow too. For the first couple of hours, before you have to shovel, it’s nice.”

Call Kern at (516) 351-0292.

Nassau County school districts, including Glen Cove, began canceling classes Wednesday night for Thursday. According to their websites, districts had canceled school as of 6 a.m.