Governor declares state of emergency as local officials, residents prepare for impending blizzard

Follow RiverheadLOCAL’s live blog for up-to-the-minute storm coverage

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency in downstate New York.

He announced the declaration at a press conference in NYC this afternoon.

Resources from upstate, including 750 plows, will be deployed in the downstate area, Cuomo said. National Guard units will be stationed across NYC and Long Island, he said.

“This is not a storm to take likely,” Cuomo warned.

Tractor-trailers will be banned from travel on major state arteries beginning at 4 p.m., the governor said. The state is seriously considering a total ban on travel on main roads as of 11 p.m. Service on the LIRR and Metro North will also likely be suspended at 11 p.m., he said.

NYC subway trains will continue to run on a normal schedule until 7 ot 8 p.m. and after that will have limited service.

Final decisions about closures and suspension of service will be made after the 4 p.m. weather advisory, Cuomo said.

Nonessential state employees will be released at 3 p.m., the governor said.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said this morning he is declaring a state of emergency in the town effective at 6 p.m. He anticipates Riverhead Town Hall will be closed tomorrow. The senior center will also be closed tomorrow, he said, unless it is needed as a warming center for people without power and heat in their homes.

Suffolk County bus service will be suspended as of 6 p.m., County Executive Steve Bellone said this morning.

Riverhead police and emergency responders are readying for the storm. Firefighters and EMS will have stand-by crews at their headquarters to respond to emergencies during the storm.

Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps will have three additional crews in-house starting at 6 p.m., RVAC chief Bill Wilkinson said. One of the crews will be stationed at the Jamesport firehouse to provide coverage for the eastern section of town.

“The highway department is going to be monitoring our radio frequencies and sending a plow with us on any calls that we get,” Wilkinson said.

All officials urged residents to stay off the roads and removed parked cars from the streets, to help highway crews in snow-clearing operations.

Riverhead police and emergency responders are readying for the storm. Firefighters and EMS will have stand-by crews at their headquarters to respond to emergencies during the storm.

Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps will have three additional crews in-house starting at 6 p.m., RVAC chief Bill Wilkinson said. One of the crews will be stationed at the Jamesport firehouse to provide coverage for the eastern section of town.

“The highway department is going to be monitoring our radio frequencies and sending a plow with us on any calls that we get,” Wilkinson said.

Peconic Bay Medical Center will open its emergency operations center at noon today, PBMC Health president and CEO Andrew Mitchell said. It will remain open for the duration of the storm.

“We have extra supplies coming in today and the medical center’s night staffis coming in early. We’ve blocked 49 rooms at a local hotel so staff can get rest between shifts, Mitchell said.

Suffolk County health centers are closing at noon today, Bellone said, and will remain closed until noon on Wednesday.

There has been a steady trickle of announcements from area school districts, parochial and private schools and preschools for early dismissals, cancellations and closings. Local businesses, including Tanger Outlets, have also begun announcing early closings today and closings tomorrow.

Check RiverheadLOCAL’s updated list of closings and cancellations.

As light snow fell across the area this morning, residents and businesses are making last-minute preparations for the impending blizzard.

Local hardware and garden supply stores were doing a brisk business this morning as shoppers picked up snow shovels, batteries, salt and last-minute supplies.

The National Weather Service snow says moderate to heavy snow is likely to arrive on Long Island by about 6 p.m., perhaps earlier.

“The later it gets in the afternoon, the more dangerous it will be to travel. Snow will be falling at a greater rate, two to four inches per hour,” National Weather Service meteorologist John Murray said. “That’s a lot of snow.”

Winds from the north will “ramp up,” gusting at 45 to 55 miles per hour. Visibilities will be reduced to less than a quarter-mile, with whiteout or near whiteout conditions.

Heavy snow will continue through tomorrow morning on the East End with total accumulations of 18 to 24 inches forecast and locally higher amounts possible due to any snow banding.

The supervisor urged residents to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly, during and after the storm.