New York, Great Lakes Snowstorm Leaves 7 Dead; More Snow Expected
A massive snowstorm has killed at least seven people and left many more stranded in their vehicles in Buffalo, New York, and affected several other Great Lake states, including northern Wisconsin and Michigan. Further snow is expected to hit Buffalo on Thursday, which was buried under six feet of snow and declared a state of emergency.
"This storm is an extraordinarily difficult situation, with snowfall that may break records. We are prepared, but we need residents to stay off the roads so that first responders can do their work and keep people safe," New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said.
"Although the sun may be shining, we are using this opening to clear roads before the snow begins falling again. This is an opportunity to be a good neighbor and check on your fellow New Yorkers to see if they need assistance, but I urge everyone to stay off the road."
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The weather-related deaths in New York included a 46-year-old man found inside his car in Alden, completely buried in snow. Another 30-year-old Pennsylvanian man was killed in Cheektowaga, after a high lift attempting to free a vehicle stuck in snow accidentally pinned him to the car.
The five other deaths were a result of cardiac complications, The Weather Channel reported.
"If people have underlying heart disease, even if it's well controlled with medication, or high blood pressure, please don't go outside and shovel the driveway, " Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein told WIVB. "The additional stress on your heart, of being outside in the cold, in addition to shoveling that heavy snow, and it is heavy, can cause people to have heart attacks."
The National Weather Service warned that arctic air will continue to grip the central and eastern U.S., and strong winds from Canada are expected to ramp up snow effects on Thursday, with the heaviest snows expected to hit the Lower Great Lakes.
"Snow showers across the Great Lakes should begin to diminish on Friday as a strong surface high slides eastward and centers itself over the Ohio Valley," NWS added.
The hardest-hit areas south of Buffalo are expected to see another two or three feet of snow.
As a precaution, travel bans in New York have been issues for the Lancaster, West Seneca, South Buffalo, Cheektowaga and Hamburg areas. Close to 200 soldiers and airmen have been deployed by the New York National Guard to help with recovery and preparation efforts.
