Blizzard Hits Long Island, Sachem Hard

With piles of snow building on the streets of Sachem by the hour, the winter has officially arrived full force.

According to the National Weather Service, a blizzard warning is in affect in Suffolk County until 6 p.m. Monday evening. Accumulation totals are estimated for 10-15 inches with winds bustling from 30 to 60 mph.

And with bad winter conditions comes the need for safety.

"Cooperative planning among local, state and federal officials, along with proper public education, is crucial to mitigating the potential impact of any storm," said Suffolk County Exec. Steve Levy. "Opening our state-of-the-art EOC enhances Suffolk's ability to monitor storm developments and rapidly communicate crucial public safety information to the media and public at large."

Levy is urging Suffolk residents to sign up for the Code RED emergency notification method. This high-speed telephone communication service delivers customized, pre-recorded emergency messages directly to Suffolk County homes and businesses at a capacity of up to millions of calls per day. Code RED generates telephone, e-mail and text messaging notices to subscribers. To sign up to receive "Code RED" messages, access the following link: Code RED.

The Town of Islip is offering its resources to ensure that medical personnel are able to safely get to local hospitals during the blizzard. The Department of Public Safety Enforcement will be using 4x4 vehicles to transport hospital staff to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip and Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, as needed.

"Unfortunately when a major blizzard hits, people don't stop needing medical care, medical emergencies don't stop occurring, and doctors and nurses still need to get to hospitals," said Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan.  "That is why I am offering our 4-wheel drive trucks to help ensure they all get to work safely."

Many Sachem residents ran out to grab supplies before the storm hit. Howard Braff, who lives in Holtsville, woke up at 9 a.m. and went to King Kullen.

"It was a madhouse," he said. "The manager had to work the cash register. They were the longest lines I've seen in a longtime. Everyone ran there scared out of their mind, after they heard there was a blizzard warning."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency advices to ...

• Listen to your radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information.
• Eat regularly and drink ample fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms.
• If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
• Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind, according American Red Cross:

• Stay indoors during the storm.
• If you must go outside, layers of clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Wear gloves or mittens and a hat to prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs.
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks.
• If you shovel snow, be extremely careful. It is physically strenuous work. Take frequent breaks. Avoid overexertion – heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow are a leading cause of deaths during winter.
• Avoid traveling by car, but if you must, keep the gas tank full for emergency use and to keep your fuel line from freezing. Let someone know your destination, the route you are taking, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
• If you do get stuck, stay with your car. Do not try to walk to safety. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna for rescuers to see. Start the car and use the heater for about ten minutes every hour. Keep the exhaust pipe clear so fumes don't back up in the car.
• Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so you can be seen. As you sit, move your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and stay warm. Keep one window open to let in air.
• After the storm, avoid driving until conditions have improved. Listen to local radio and television stations for updates. Help a neighbor who may require special assistance, especially families with infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

If you have to drive in the snow, Weather.com offers the following advice:

• Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
• Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
• Keep your lights and windshield clean.
• Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
• Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
• Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
• Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
• Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

Other news & notes

• The LIRR is taking all measures to keep train service operating throughout the system. But to ensure customer and employee safety, service may be temporarily suspended this evening if snow accumulations reach 10 to 13 inches, as predicted. These suspensions will permit snow removal equipment to operate so safe reliable service can be restored.
• At Long Island Islip MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, spokeswoman Catherine Green said that Southwest Airlines and US Airways canceled all flights after 3 p.m. The airport is planning to resume normal operations Monday at approximately 12 p.m. It is suggested that travelers with flights scheduled to or from MacArthur Airport call their carriers.
• According to one reader, Brookhaven National Laboratory is closed until 6 a.m. Tuesday for non-essential personnel.
• Remember to send Sachem Patch your winter photos. Email them to Chris@Patch.com

Sachem Patch will continue to update the site and provide coverage of the storm throughout the evening and Monday.