56.0°,
Overcast Town of Hempstead prepares for more snow
With a major winter storm looming for New York’s metropolitan area and surrounding suburbs, including Long Island, the Town of Hempstead has been taking steps to make sure its snow removal crews and support staffs are on their feet.
“Major snowfall is projected in what may be this year’s first significant snowstorm for Long Island,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray outside the town’s Roosevelt highway yard, where trucks were preparing to hit the roads. “We are hearing that Nassau County might get the biggest brunt of the snowfall, so we could get as much as 12 inches.”
The National Weather Service said the storm could dump up to 18 inches of snow in the region.
Murray said trucks from the town’s highway, parks and sanitation departments began salting roads on Tuesday around 6 a.m. to prepare for plowing the 1,200 miles of town streets in the heart of Long Island.
She said the town will have 250 pieces of equipment on the roads by Tuesday evening, working throughout the night and throughout Wednesday.
“They will be here around the clock in support of the situation,” Murray said, explaining that during these types of snowstorms, town workers typically work an 8- to 10-hour shift followed by a 4-hour break, followed by another 8- to 10-hour shift.
“It’s physically a very tough operation for our guys … it’s some back-breaking work,” she said.
In preparation for the storm, Murray said residents should move cars from local roadways, since plows can perform more effectively when cars are absent from roads.
“We are asking people to gas up their cars, get their prescriptions and get their food before the storm. Get all of it out of the way, and then you’ll be out of the way tomorrow,” she said. “Once the storm hits, I encourage residents to limit travel by car as roadways can become slippery and heavy snowfall can limit visibility.”
Murray said residents who shovel driveways should place snow to the right of their driveway when facing the road. By doing so, residents can reduce the effect of having their driveways plowed with snow after shoveling.
During the Dec. 26 blizzard, the Town of Hempstead spent nearly $1.8 million, and employed more than 200 pieces of equipment on town roads.
