Scrutiny Climbs over Buffalo’s Response to Snowstorm
After the massive blizzard that left 37 people dead across the region on Tuesday, emergency responders continued to search for survivors while plows removed mini-mountains of snow that forced the city to remain under a six-day driving ban. A growing number of people have criticized how the city handled the snowstorm.
On Wednesday, emergency workers continued to search for survivors of a blizzard that killed at least 37 across the region, while plows moved mini-mountains of snow that forced the city to remain under a six-day driving ban following the massive blizzard. The city’s response to the snowstorm is coming under increasing criticism. Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown’s administration has been accused of failing to engage in a coordinated local and state response, according to Mark Poloncarz, the executive for Erie County, which includes Buffalo.
After the massive blizzard that left 37 people dead across the region on Tuesday, emergency responders continued to search for survivors while plows removed mini-mountains of snow that forced the city to remain under a six-day driving ban.#BlizzardWarning#blizzard2022#snowpic.twitter.com/gLO00Nsy0n
When big storms occur in the future, Poloncarz said the county can assume responsibility for all snow plowing inside the city limits after taking over the cleanup in one-third of Buffalo. We usually have a morning call with elected officials, but the city of Buffalo didn’t participate,” Poloncarz said. While it’s clear the mayor isn’t happy, the city is always the last to open after a storm, and that shouldn’t be the case. The truth is “that it’s embarrassing.”
In a separate briefing, Brown denied the allegations and emphasized that Buffalo was the hardest hit by the storm. In his statement, Polocarz claimed he had not communicated with him about his concerns and strongly insisted the two were not at odds. After this storm, work continues,” Brown said. Different individuals cope with this pressure in different ways. Some individuals continue to work. Most people continue to try to help, while a minority fall apart and become irritable.
Historic Blizzard Conditions
On Wednesday, Brown again denied the allegations during an interview. He said it was frustrating, scary, and angry. Everything that could be done after the storm was done.” The dispute over blame could have disrupted coordination after the worst storm to hit the region since 1977 and could expose Brown, the city’s leader for nearly seven years, to new scrutiny.
After corruption scandals at City Hall and allegations of mismanagement in a very impoverished city, Brown was re-elected in 2021 as an alternate to a fifth term as mayor. Organizer India Walton, a Democratic mayoral candidate who is a socialist, noted that the city government has failed us. thirty people died because of deflection, gaslighting, and excuses and someone has to be held accountable.
The storm had a devastating impact, even though the region is known for its snowfall. The storm’s impact was attributed to a combination of historic blizzard conditions, a lack of emergency management resources, and the determination of some residents to stay on their feet despite the bad weather. A notable difference from previous storms, which often hit small towns outside of Buffalo the hardest, is the intensity of this storm.
It put more people at risk, knocked out power to more homes, and forced rescuers to seek shelter in crowded neighborhoods. But as Buffalo emerges from snowdrifts, questions have been raised about preparedness — such as when a travel ban was issued during the Friday morning commute. He also added that the city has a snow management plan that doesn’t address blizzards, though he said the city can handle snow from a storm of that magnitude.
Scrutiny Climbs over Buffalo’s Response to Snowstorm Source: Web
The Driving Ban Ends on Thursday
Rasheed Wyatt told the Buffalo Common Council that he “doesn’t want to point fingers” but that the storm revealed a need to review the city’s plans. A heavy snowstorm in November caused no changes, he said. “We have to learn from what happened,” Wyatt said, adding, “This storm is one of a kind. However, I won’t just rely on it as the foundation of everything. Our effort could have improved in certain areas.”
Brown announced the end of the driving ban at a news conference Wednesday night. He praised the efforts of emergency crews shoveling and removing snow from city roads, stressing that the work is not complete and that residents should continue to avoid driving if possible. Nathan Marton, the city commissioner, reported at 10:00 p.m. that 95% of the main roads and 80% of the secondary roads have been made passable and that 100% of the residential roads will be accessible by then.
A month after the storm, Buffalo residents were still trapped in the snow and unable to get to grocery stores or pharmacies due to a lack of transportation. Streets in Buffalo’s LaSalle neighborhood were barely passable Wednesday afternoon. Residents shoveled snow now thick and heavy after a day of high temperatures. After a day of high temperatures, residents were shoveling snow that was thick and heavy.
A front-end loader driver deposited a four-meter snowbank on the driveway of the rental property, weighing down Kazi Mohammad with his snowblower. Until late Tuesday evening, Mohammad, the head of a non-profit organization, had not seen any snow cleared from his street. “Nobody expected such a snowstorm in the city,” Mohammad said.
