Posted on 10/13/2006 7:44:39 PM PDT by axes_of_weezles
National Guard Activated in Weather-Beaten N.Y. By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2006 – The New York governor has called up members of the New York Army and Air National Guard for state active duty in western New York following record-breaking, lake-effect snowfall in the region.
The Guard has been assigned to provide Humvees and drivers to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y., to provide emergency transportation for medical personnel and to the Buffalo Fire Department to transport emergency medical technicians and evacuate patients as needed, said Army Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, a public affairs officer with the New York National Guard.
The Guard has established a forward operating headquarters at the Batavia Armory, east of Buffalo, until power is restored to its two armories located in the city, Fanning said.
Additional responsibilities are expected to come to the Guard as the situation continues to develop, he said. In the past, the Guard has assisted in snow removal and debris clearing, and the armories have been used as shelters.
Guard officials continue to work closely with New York’s State Emergency Management Office and civil authorities in western New York counties and the city of Buffalo, Fanning said.
"I have directed state agencies to provide all assistance possible to these beleaguered areas that have been struck by this freak October snowstorm," Governor George Pataki said in a news release. "Personnel from numerous state agencies have worked throughout the night and continue today in assisting county and local governments."
Earlier today, Pataki declared a state of emergency in four western New York counties in response to the snow storms.
The Emergency Operations Center in Albany, N.Y., has been activated and staffed by numerous state agencies, including the National Guard. The Department of Transportation has dispatched more than 100 plow trucks, and tree removal personnel are converging on the area from as far away as Albany.
The lake-effect snows began hitting the western region of New York late yesterday and continued overnight and into today, depositing upwards of 2 feet of heavy, wet snow. Many roads have been closed, and snow-laden trees have crashed onto power lines, cutting power to more than 300,000 homes and businesses.
From Batavia west towards Buffalo cleared roads end at Genesee county line. Secondary roads not cleared yet. Buffalo Airport was shut until 3PM today.
Hundreds of cars stranded on the NYS Thruway and State Police having difficulty clearing I-80. Interstate 80 should be cleared by now.
Global Warming ping /s
ManBearPig
Hillary's breath
This is the best I could do for you tonight. Beer Dog on the way...
This is the best I could do for you tonight. Beer Dog on the way...
I know how this double post happened. Send $3 for more info...
Look, nobody cares about snowstorms up north, except for one thing.
NFL football.
Suddenly it's fascinating!
Hmmmm
Boy, I was just whining not 20 minutes ago about how cold it is here, now, after a less than spectacular summer (my tomatoes are still blooming, but I doubt I'll see any berries now), and then I see this.
I hope everything works out OK.
Although I do believe that the "man causes global warming stuff" is a bunch of crap, this is not the example we want to use to prove our point. Why? Because lake effect snow occurs when warm water in the Great Lakes is sucked up into the cold air and becomes snow, heavy snow. The greater the differential between the water tempreture and the air tempreture, the greater the snowfall potential. If I were representing the wacko left, I would argue that this particular snow event is the result of global warming because Lake Erie was warmer than normal at this time of the year due to the very warm summer, which was caused of course by global warming.
Global Warming is caused by solar cycles, man has nothing to do with it.
I grew up in Genesee County, yes it's early for a storm, but they have recorded snowstorms in June destroying all the crops in the 1830's.
The timeline of scientific recorded meteorology is under 100 years. How does that compare with the timeline of mans history or earth's history. The Great Lakes were formed by glaciers and the whole region was under a mile of ice not too long ago in geologic history.
Buffalo and Western New York have the infrastructure to handle storms like these. Just not for record wet snow and deciduous trees with leaves.
The /s was for sarcasm.
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