BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ahead of a storm that is expected to bring high winds with gusts up to 70 mph, Mayor Byron Brown held a news conference on Friday detailing how the city plans on responding to the storm.
A High Wind Warning and a Lakeshore Flood Warning have both been issued for Saturday afternoon lasting through Saturday night.
All city lakeside parks -- Erie Basin Marina, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park, Broderick Park, and the Bird Island Pier -- will close starting at noon on Saturday. People are asked to delay non-essential travel while the high winds and flooding warnings are in effect.
"Based on the weather forecast and warnings, we anticipate wind damage, power outages, and lakeshore flooding," Brown said.
"In addition to closing out lakeshore parks starting at noon tomorrow, the City of Buffalo's Police and Fire Departments, Public Works, Parks & Streets, and Forestry staff are on standby, ready to provide emergency rescues, and handle downed trees and traffic signals, and other storm-related damage."
Additionally, people were advised to take down any holiday decorations and secure any yard items that could be blown away during the storm.
Mayor Brown also recommended that Buffalo neighbors avoid unnecessary travel between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday. He did not, however, go as far as to say travel to Saturday's Sabres game would be unwise but urged people to use common sense and be cautious.
Earlier on Friday, National Grid and NYSEG announced how they are preparing for the storm.
"National Grid has been tracking the weather all week, and beginning Saturday morning we will begin mobilizing around 1,000 line workers, tree service, damage assessors, and wire guard workers across Western New York," National Grid regional director Ken Kujawa said.
"We work hard to provide safe, reliable service and remind customers to never touch downed power lines as they still may be carrying electricity."
Plans are also being made for dealing with damage caused by the strong winds.
"Forestry crews and contractors will be prioritizing down trees and limbs that block roadways and emergency response access to homes first, then moving on to debris on sidewalks, front yards, pushed over to the side of the road once access has been cleared," said Deputy Commissioner for Buffalo Parks and Recreation Andy Rabb.
Rabb added that neighbors should call 911 with the most dangerous downed trees, where intersections may be impacted or entire streets blocked.
Anthony Bartucca, the owner of Tony's Tree and Landscaping Inc. told 2 On Your Side that he believes the chance for downed trees and limbs is high; the ground remains unfrozen and rain/melting snow has softened it.
"You know you've got the perfect storm, it's warm weather you have a saturated ground, you know the soil is loose and there is very little stability in the root system," Bartucca said.
He added that pines and other evergreens are more likely to fall in the wind because of their shallow root system and sail-like structure but also warned that ash and elms trees that may have been impacted by their respective emerald ash borers and Dutch Elm disease could be internally weakened and topple easily.
People are reminded to practice storm safety by:
- Not touching downed electrical wire
- operate power generators as far away from your house as possible, so not operate generators in attached garages or in basements
- avoid driving through flooded areas and standing water, as little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle