Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged drivers across New York to exercise caution during the current winter storm that is dropping ice and up to 18 inches of snow in certain regions across the state. The storm is already impacting road and air travel, and conditions will likely worsen as the storm continues through Tuesday. The Governor is additionally urging commuters ahead of Monday morning’s commute to exercise caution and plan ahead.

“As another winter storm approaches the state, I’m urging all New Yorkers to be extra alert and plan ahead when driving to stay safe and avoid delays,” Governor Cuomo said. “We have deployed resources in every region of the state to respond and will closely monitor conditions as the storm progresses over the next 36 hours.”

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for most counties in New York State through Tuesday morning. Freezing rain and snow will continue and will be accompanied by low temperatures and wind in some parts of the state. The latest National Weather Service predicts the following regional snow accumulations:

· Capital Region: 9 to 18 inches, with a few higher totals over the higher elevations.
· Southern Tier: 8 to 12 inches, with a few hundredths of an inch of ice possible.
· Western NY: 5 to 9 inches, with a few hundredths of an inch of ice possible.
· North Country: 6 to 10 across the St. Lawrence Valley and 10 to 14 inches in the northern Adirondacks.
· Downstate: Minimal snow, however ice accumulation of less than 0.1 of an inch possible.

State equipment ready for this storm includes a total of 1,781 plows and 4,184 operators, plus 380 front-end loaders and more than 375,000 tons of salt.

Department of Transportation & Thruway Authority
The State Department of Transportation has a total of 1,444 plows, 3,629 operators and supervisors, 325 front-end loaders and 274,000 tons of salt stationed across New York to fight the storm.

The New York State Thruway Authority has a total of 337 large and medium sized snow plows, 555 snow plow operators, 55 front-end loaders and 105,000 tons of salt deployed across New York State for storm response. Select locations that don’t have residual salt on the roadway will be exposed to liquid pretreating.

Because the entire state is expecting wintry weather, there are no plans by the Department of Transportation or Thruway Authority to shift equipment or resources to a specific region. Both agencies are continuously monitoring the situation and will make adjustments as necessary.

Thruway motorists are encouraged to sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway. Motorists can sign up for TRANSalerts by following this link: http://www.thruway.ny.gov/tas/index.shtml. Thruway travelers can also get real-time updates by following @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter or by visiting http://www.thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority
All MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and the New York City Subway and Buses are operating, with crews ready to remove snow and ice from and salt the platforms and stairways. The MTA has trains equipped with deicer equipment and scrapers to remove ice from third rails and will deploy them as necessary.

Port Authority
In advance of the winter weather, the Port Authority is prepared to deploy extra personnel at all of its facilities, which is the normal course of operations during winter weather events. The airports, bridges, tunnels and PATH have snow desks where key personnel analyze weather reports and deploy staff and equipment.

The Port Authority urges air and bus travelers to check with their carriers before going to the airport or bus terminals to confirm whether their plane or bus will depart and scheduled departure times. The agency also may impose speed restrictions on its crossings if weather conditions warrant.

The Port Authority has the following snow equipment and supplies ready at its major transportation facilities:

· More than 200 pieces of snow equipment at its airports, including melters that can liquefy up to 500 tons of snow an hour and plows that can clear snow at 40 mph;
· More than 60 pieces of snow equipment at its bridges and tunnels, including nearly two dozen plows and spreaders at the George Washington Bridge, the world’s busiest vehicular crossing;
· Thousands of tons of salt and sand for airport roads and parking lots, plus thousands of tons of salt for the bridges and tunnels;
· Hundreds of thousands of gallons of liquid anti-icer chemicals at the airports, which prevent snow and ice from bonding to runways and taxiways, plus thousands of tons of solid de-icers, which break up snow and ice already on the ground;
· Plow-equipped trains, liquid snow-melting agent trains and a “jet engine” plow to remove snow from PATH tracks, and snow blowers, plows and spreaders to clear station entrances, roads that serve PATH’s 13 stations, and various support facilities; and
· Approximately 1,000 staff members and contractors with years of specialized training and professional experience in handling severe winter weather at transportation facilities.

Public Safety
The Division of State Police has had contact with all regional Troop Commanders to ensure that resources and staffing patterns have been identified for the storm. The State Police are ready to deploy 50 4×4 vehicles, 8 all-terrain vehicles and 8 snowmobiles in the region. Troopers normally assigned to Traffic Incident Management and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement have also been re-assigned to patrol duties for this storm. Troop Emergency Management personnel have been pre-designated to staff open county Emergency Operation Centers and all emergency power and communications equipment has been tested.

The New York State Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the weather system and in contact with County Emergency Managers, which will inform situational awareness throughout the weather event. Regional Office of Emergency Management personnel are available to staff County Emergency Operations Centers if necessary.

Use Caution If Travel Is Necessary
It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.

Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted.

Some of the most important tips for safe winter driving include:

· Never follow a snowplow too closely or attempt to pass one. Remember that the highway ahead of the plow is usually snow-covered;
· Adjust speed for road conditions and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles;
· Schedule extra time for winter travel and be patient during ice and snow removal operations;
· Assume that bridge surfaces are slippery, as they freeze more quickly than road surfaces;
· Be wary of black ice, which can be difficult to see but makes conditions slippery when pavement temperatures are below freezing;
· Have a cell phone handy, if possible, but do not text while driving; distracted driving is illegal and becomes even more dangerous during storm events;
· Never venture from your vehicle if snowbound;
· Equip your car with emergency supplies including sand, shovel, flares, booster cables, rope, ice scraper, portable radio, flashlight, blankets and extra warm clothes;
· Inform a responsible person of your destination, intended route, and estimated time of arrival; and
· Keep calm and do not panic in case of a vehicle breakdown, accident, or if you become snowbound.

Motorists should also include the following emergency items in their vehicles:
· Flashlight with extra batteries
· Charged cell phone and automobile charger
· Basic first-aid kit
· Blankets or sleeping bags
· Extra clothes, including rain gear, boots, mittens, and socks
· Windshield scraper and brush
· Fire extinguisher
· Shovel
· Sand, road salt and/or cat litter for traction
· Tire chains or traction mats
· Basic tool kit, including pliers, wrench, and screwdriver
· Tow rope
· Battery jumper cables
· Road flares/reflectors
· Brightly colored cloth (to use as a flag)
· Road maps

Heavy exertion, such as shoveling snow, clearing debris, or pushing a car, can increase the risk of a heart attack. To avoid problems:
· Stay warm, dress warm and SLOW DOWN when working outdoors.
· Take frequent rests to avoid over exertion.
· If you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain in the jaw or radiating down the arm — STOP and seek help immediately.

If you lose power:

· First, call your utility to determine area repair schedules.
· Turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored. Leave one light on to indicate when power has been restored.
· If heat goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need.
· Alternative Heating Safety Tips
Other home safety tips:
· When removing snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks, stay clear of electric and natural gas meters to avoid damaging them, inadvertently disrupting service or putting yourself in danger. Snow and ice can damage electric and natural gas meters, natural gas pipes and natural gas regulators, so never bury any of this equipment when shoveling, using a snowblower or plowing.
· When removing snow or ice from a roof, never let it fall on electric or natural gas meters or related equipment.
· Natural gas appliance chimneys and vents should be kept free of snow and ice to prevent the build-up of potentially-deadly carbon monoxide.
· Be prepared if you smell natural gas. If you smell that distinctive sulfur-like odor – like the smell of rotten eggs – get up, get out and call your utility immediately from a cell phone or neighbor’s phone.

New York State provides a travel advisory system that features real-time travel reports and road conditions, which can be accessed by dialing 511, online at www.511ny.org, and via a new mobile site at www.m.511ny.org. The web site features a color-coded map indicating which state roads are snow covered, ice covered, wet, dry, or closed to help travelers determine if travel is advisable. It also provides links to airport, rail and transit information.

(YWN Desk – NYC)