A tractor-trailer vs. multiple vehicles accident is reported at Macomber Road and Judge Road, Oakfield.
Oakfield and Mercy EMS dispatched.
Injuries are reported.
A first responder reports a complete whiteout. Fire police were dispatched to shut down traffic.
UPDATE 11:51 a.m.: One minor injury at the scene, a sign-off, and two other vehicles involved moved to the Alabama Fire Hall.
A motor vehicle accident is reported at Lewiston and Lockport Road, Elba.
Unknown injuries.
Elba Fire, Mercy EMS dispatched.
UPDATE 11:22 a.m.: One vehicle is blocking. One person with a minor neck injury.
Smoke in the residence with an alarm sounding is reported at 8162 Vallance Road, Le Roy.
No flames showing. The occupants are evacuated.
Le Roy, Bergen, and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.
UPDATE 11:13 a.m.: Trouble with the power meter. Le Roy back in service.
Press release:
Due to the winter storm and icy roads that are expected in much of the area we serve, we will close some care offices early. Please note the United Memorial Medical Center Hospital and Emergency Department are and will remain open for all emergencies. Given regional travel advisories and for the safety of patients and staff, some outpatient offices will be closing at noon and calling their patients directly to reschedule appointments.
- United Memorial Medical Center Hospital- OPEN
- United Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department-OPEN
- Primary Care Offices- CLOSE AT NOON, some morning visits are virtual and appointments are being rescheduled, phone lines remain open
- Specialty Care Offices (Cardiology, Surgery, Women’s Care, Pain Center, Wound Center, Lipson Cancer Institute and Orthopedics)- CLOSE AT NOON, some morning visits are virtual and appointments are being rescheduled, phone lines remain open
- UMMC Imaging at Jerome Center- CLOSES AT NOON
- Physical Therapy- CLOSES AT NOON
- UMMC Lab at Jerome Center- CLOSES AT NOON, CLOSED SATURDAY
- Outpatient Pharmacy- CLOSES AT NOON
- Healthy Living Center- CLOSES AT NOON
All essential staff members are required to report to work.
Patients and families with any questions should first reach out to their Primary Care or Specialty Care offices; for other questions, call 585-343-6030 for more information.
This post has been superseded by a new weather update post. Click here to view that post.
Photo: Tree into a house at 22 Elmwood Ave., Batavia. Photo by Steve Ognibene.
There are more than two dozen small power outages reported throughout Genesee County, most of them only affecting a handful of customers each.
There is an outage affecting 35 customers along Galloway Road in Batavia and Pembroke, one affecting 184 customers in East Bethany, just northeast of the hamlet, one affecting 53 customers along Bernd Road in Le Roy, 13 customers on Maple Road and Conley Road in Bergen, 15 customers along Oatka Trail in Le Roy, 28 customers on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, and 13 along Dry Bridge Road in Alexander.
There have been multiple calls, starting at about 7 a.m., throughout the county for wires and trees down in the roadway, including but not limited to, Wilkenson Road, Route 20 in Alexander, Lockport Road in Oakfield, Weatherwax Road, Elba, Clipnock Road in Stafford, Keeney Road in Le Roy, and Route 19 near Vallance Road in Le Roy.
UPDATE 10:35 a.m.: Pole and wires down on Sanders Road. Stafford. Wyoming Road, Pavilion.
UPDATE 10:56 s.m.: Tree and wires down, Hartshorn Road, East Pembroke
UPDATE 11:01 a.m.: There's a tree down on Upton Road, blocking. National Grid is already on scene on Hartshorn Road, and there is a power outage in Byron, Bergen, Stafford, and Le Roy, affecting 819 customers. There is an outage affecting 59 customers along Route 20 in Darien and Alexander, 23 Customers along Bridge Road, Elba.
UPDATE 11:24 a.m.: Wires down on Sackett Road, Bergen.
UPDATE 11:57 a.m. Whiteout conditions reported in parts of Genesee County. A Mercy ambulance was involved in an accident on Edgerton Road, Elba.
UPDATE 12:06 p.m.: Multiple poles down, tree down across the roadway, on Angling Road, East Pembroke.
UPDATE 12:11 p.m.: Complete whiteout conditions reported at Wortendyke and Route 5.
UPDATE 12:16 p.m.: Tree into a house on Donahue Road, Batavia. No injuries. There is a two-car, minor injury accident at Lewiston and Fisher Road.
UPDATE 12:22 p.m.: A minor injury rollover accident is reported on the Thruway.
UPDATE 12:25 p.m.: A tree into a house is reported at 22 Elmwood Avenue. The house is believed to be unoccupied.
UPDATE 12:59 p.m.: Wire down across the road on Pearl Street Road near Donahue Road.
UPDATE 1:04 p.m.: Trees and power lines down on Townline Road, Darien.
UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: Tree across the road on Attica Road, Alexander.
UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Tractor-trailer blocking the roadway on Route 33 at Boyce Road.
UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: Wires down in the roadway on Bethany Center Road.
UPDATE 2:18 p.m.: Rebel Liners in Alexander has a weather station set up with a feed on Wunderground.com that is reporting a top wind gust of 46 mph so far.
UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: The Offhause Farms in Batavia weather station reports winds of 26 mph with gusts of 41 mph.
UPDATE 2:26 p.m.: "The Alabama Hotel has been turned into a warming shelter (as long as we have power). If you are stranded nearby, come in… I’ll start the coffee and make sure you don’t go hungry!"
UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Trees and wires down, completely blocking, on Linden Road, Bethany.
UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: A Sheriff's patrol reportedly involved in an accident. We don't have a location. There may be a Mercy ambulance involved as well, or a separate accident. There's no report of injuries.
UPDATE 3:18 p.m.: The accident involving a Mercy ambulance and Sheriff's patrol is on Route 63 in Alabama. No injuries reported.
UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: There are 1,719 National Grid customers without power in Genesee County.
UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: A firefighter reports at least 10 vehicles stopped on Judge Road. He said he's trying to get them to the Fire Hall. The dispatcher informs him Alabama Hotel is also available.
UPDATE 3:29 p.m.: Multiple vehicles off the road on Route 77 at Judge, and also, Akron Road.
UPDATE 3:59 p.m.: A Mercy EMS ambulance responding to a call is stuck in the snow (didn't catch location).
UPDATE 4:07 p.m.: Route 63 north is being shut down at Veterans Memorial Drive.
UPDATE 4:18 p.m.: Somebody called into dispatch that he came across a Dodge Dart stuck in a ditch off Lewiston Road and the dispatcher informed him, "we have about 50 vehicles stuck on Lewiston Road."
UPDATE 4:25 p.m. Darien Fire asked if Corfu PD could close Route 77 to southbound traffic. There are no Corfu PD officers working today and all deputies are tied up. Corfu Fire is closing Route 77.
UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: Darien's Fire Hall is being opened as a warming center.
UPDATE 5:05 p.m.: A first responder is asking dispatchers to prioritize people stuck in vehicles -- people without gas, without vehicles running, "there is no way we can get to everybody." A dispatcher responds that she has been trying to that but is going through the list again to see if there is anybody who can be prioritized.
UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: Elba's UTV is being dispatched to a location on Lewiston Road between Church and Knowlesville for a woman in a vehicle with disrupted breathing. No other emergency vehicle has been able to get down the road to her location.
UPDATE 5:52 p.m.: For the Lewiston Road call, paramedics are staging at the Oakfield Fire Hall.
UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: A Mercy EMS ambulance is being dispatched for a woman in a vehicle with trouble breathing on Lewiston Road just north of the Thruway.
UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: A first responder on Lewiston Road is going to try and take the occupants of the vehicle to a warming station at Oakfield Fire Hall. Mercy EMS can go back in service.
UPDATE 6:19 p.m.: A tractor-trailer on Oak Street in Batavia has jack-knifed and had traffic blocked and has been able to get moving again. No property hit. Also, the first responder on Lewiston Road has helped the vehicle get unstuck and it is now following him to the Oakfield Fire Hall.
UPDATE 6:31 p.m. Pembroke Highway Department personnel are in the Pembroke garage now to facilitate refueling for any Genesee County patrol in need of gas.
UPDATE 6:43 p.m.: The Lewiston Road couple made it to the Oakfield Fire Hall. A volunteer at the hall notes that there are about 15 people there and they're running out of blankets. They could use about 20 more blankets.
UPDATE 7:17 p.m.: We're hearing more calls of people being rescued from vehicles and being taken to either warming centers or local hotels, and that the hotels are filling up.
UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: A road in Alabama is unpassable for a medical call in the district. Two responding units said they can't make it. Also, Corfu is open as a warming shelter.
UPDATE 7:43 p.m.: A car is reported off the road on Colby Road in Darien with children. Also, a first-responder with multiple people in his vehicle is stuck on Malby Road, Oakfield. He said there are three our four feet of snow in the area. A chief said that SnoPackers (the local snowmobile club) is coming in and will they will be on their way to help get them out.
UPDATE 8:28 p.m.: A fire chief came across a semi-truck off the road on Sumner Road. "He said he was headed to Amazon. I don't know if he's fully loaded or not." A heavy wrecker is in route.
UPDATE 9:08 p.m. A firefighter is transporting a middle-aged man to a Fire Hall (Oakfield?) who is in and out of consciousness after being rescued from a vehicle.
UPDATE 9:34 p.m.: Elba Central School is OPEN as a warming center/shelter for anyone who may need it. Please come to the North door (the archway) and you can gain access through the doors. The cafeteria is open with tables and chairs. We have some blankets and coats if needed. If you need a ride or any help, please call 585-813-2796.
UPDATE 9:37 p.m.: From Alabama Hotel:
We want to take a minute to send a huge Thank You to our friends across the street at the Alabama Holley Farms! They have gone back and forth a few times for us to help with food and supplies. Our dining room is set up to accommodate about 70 people. We are currently caring for approximately 100 people and many children. These are not our locals - They are from Canada, Maryland, Niagara Falls, Los Angeles, Ohio, etc. How amazing to have "strangers" come together to help. These are people who were stranded hours ago that are now doing dishes, clearing off tables, and doing everything they can to help one another. Truly a humbling experience.
Neighbors of the Hotel dropping off blankets and supplies... you guys are the REAL MVP's!
A huge shout out to Craig Alexander and Brian Kotarski for being here to help tonight! Could not have done this without you!
Lastly, Bonnie Woodward - Owner of The Alabama Hotel. Thank YOU for suggesting that we open our doors tonight and take care of everyone. I wish you were able to meet all of these amazing people - They are sending their love and much appreciation your way!
UPDATE 9:38 p.m.: There are still multiple motorists stranded in the Alabama and Oakfield area. Volunteer firefighters and highway workers are working to reach them where possible. Some roads are covered in three or four feet of snow.
UPDATE 9:40 p.m.: There's a group of motorists stranded on Route 5 near Cleveland Road.
UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: A first responder is dropping off a family he rescued at a warming shelter at Grace Baptist Church.
UPDATE 10:13 p.m.: The band of heavy snow that has been hovering over Oakfield and Alabama is expected to remain in place until at least midnight, according to the National Weather Service.
UPDATE 10:16 p.m.: County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens is reportedly out with a plow crew in the Alabama/Pembroke area.
UPDATE 10:24 p.m.: Alabama Station #2 has been shut down. "It's not safe out there."
UPDATE 10:47 p.m.: Click here for story about County Highway personnel heading out to try and rescue people trapped in cars on Route 77. Also, didn't catch the location, but there is a group of cars that are stuck on a roadway and one person "wandered off," and nobody knows where he is.
UPDATE 10:51 p.m.: East Pembroke's chief is out with an SUV with six people. They have plenty of gas and are all set to wait until morning if necessary but they believe a friend was trying to rescue them on foot. His last known location was Simons Road and Bennett Road. But there is also chatter with dispatchers to indicate he may have been located.
UPDATE 10:54 p.m.: An Elba volunteer has located two hypothermic people on Judge Road. The patients are being loaded in Oakfield's rescue.
UPDATE 11:05 p.m.: Two patients who are hypothermic but awake are being transported to UMMC by Mercy EMS. ETA in 20 or 30 minutes.
UPDATE 11:29 p.m.: A volunteer has picked up a group of travelers in a Range Rover with New Jersey license plates in Oakfield.
UPDATE 11:37 p.m.: See A community of emergency response assists those in need during storm
UPDATE 11:38 p.m.: See Motorists rescued, fed, kept warm during travel on Friday
UPDATE 11:53 p.m.: A volunteer has picked up five people along Drake, watching for more stranded motorists as he heads to the village. A chief recommends dropping them off at The Goose, which is a warming center. A dispatcher informs the Oakfield chief that they have received multiple calls of stranded motorists reporting hypothermia, but there is no way to get rescue crews to them at this time.
UPDATE Dec. 24, 12:32 a.m.: We've started a new update post.
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Eighteen-month-old Flora Moon sits on grandma Kim Flowers' lap during her special time with Jolly Old St. Nick on Thursday afternoon during the "Cookies & Crafts" with Santa event at The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road. Each family received a free printed picture of their child or children with Santa and a Christmas book to take home.
Lehla, 3, couldn't be happier after getting her coloring book from Santa as Jessica Budzinack, an employee of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, looks on.
Santa's helpers (the staff at The Recovery Station) are, front, Chris Budzinack; seated from left, Tiffany Downs, Santa Claus, Ginger Burton; standing, Harry Rascoe, Luke Granger, Kat Russell, Jessica Budzinack, Sue Gagne.
Photos by Mike Pettinella, publicist for GCASA.
Storm Elliott has prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a statewide State of Emergency in anticipation of a winter storm to hit Genesee and other Western New York counties by early Friday morning.
The State of Emergency is to be in effect through Monday.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, there will be a full Commercial Vehicle Ban on NYS Thruway (I-90) between Exit 46 (Rochester, I-390) and the Pennsylvania Border, and soft closures on Interstates and State Highways in Western New York, Hochul said in a press release issued Thursday night.
Press Release:
Gov. Hochul has declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of New York in advance of a significant winter weather system forecast to bring a mixed bag of hazards across the state beginning Thursday evening and continuing through Monday. Heavy rain and snow, strong winds, coastal and lakeshore flooding and flash freezing are all possible in various regions across the state throughout the holiday weekend. In addition, lake effect snow is expected to impact areas along Lakes Erie and Ontario beginning Friday night and continuing into Monday with total snow accumulations forecast to reach up to three feet.
"With Mother Nature throwing everything she has at us this weekend, I encourage New Yorkers who are considering travelling for the holidays to do so before Friday or after Sunday to stay safe," Governor Hochul said. "Our agencies are well prepared, coordinated and ready to deploy assets and equipment if needed to respond to the storm. We want all New Yorkers to get where they need to go safely to celebrate the holidays with loved ones."
Thursday into Friday, rain, snow showers and strong winds are forecast for most of the state with rainfall amounts of up to three inches possible in some places. Moderate to major coastal flooding (1-2 feet) is possible Friday morning due to rain and strong winds, and lakeshore flooding up to three feet above flood stage is possible off Lake Erie and Lake Ontario due to rain, snowmelt and strong winds.
Starting Friday and continuing into Saturday morning, much of the state is expected to see strong winds up to 60 miles per hour or more as temperatures will drop quickly and significantly, by more than 35 degrees in some regions, causing flash freezing, below zero wind chills and icy road conditions. This will impact the Friday morning commute in Western New York and the evening commute for the rest of the state. Winds on Friday and Saturday will be strong enough to cause downed trees and power lines.
Friday night and continuing through Monday, lake effect snow will impact areas off Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and strong winds are expected to cause blowing and drifting snow with near zero visibility and localized blizzard conditions. The Buffalo and Watertown areas could see up to three feet of snow through Sunday night. Below normal, freezing temperatures with low wind chills are expected to persist through Monday for upstate regions.
Hochul urged New Yorkers to take all necessary precautions, if traveling this week, and plan ahead for significant weather impacts.
Blizzard Warnings, Coastal Flood Warnings, Lakeshore Flood Warnings, High Wind Warnings, Wind Chill Warnings, and Winter Storm Warnings are all in effect this weekend throughout various counties across the state. For a complete list of weather watches, warnings, and advisories across New York, visit the National Weather Service website.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "The timeline for this storm has moved up. If you are planning to travel this weekend, do everything you can to travel tonight instead or wait until Sunday morning. Please, avoid travel on Friday and Saturday given the conditions most of the state will face. In addition to hazardous roads, strong winds will likely cause power outages. Be prepared for the possibility of losing power."
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services began coordinating State Agency response operations and contacted local governments earlier this week ahead of weather impacts to ensure preparedness. The State's Emergency Operations Center will be opening Friday morning.
The Office of Emergency Management is working with Erie County to pre-stage chainsaws and generators, and deploying sandbags to the US Coast Guard in Buffalo to protect against potential lakeshore flooding. The Office of Fire Prevention and Control has equipment and personnel available to assist with mutual aid requests.
Across the State's Ten Stockpiles, DHSES has the following deployable items to support storm-related needs:
1,487 generators
985 pumps
528 chainsaws
250 light towers
Cots, pillows, blankets, water, and MREsDepartment of Public Service
In preparation for this week's statewide winter weather event the New York utilities have approximately 7,700 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, wire guarding, response, repair, and restoration efforts.
This includes an additional 800 external line and tree workers secured by National Grid, 330 external line and tree workers secured by NYSEG and RG&E, 95 external line and tree workers secured by Central Hudson, 150 external line and tree workers secured by Orange & Rockland and 800 external line and tree workers secured by Con Edison. DPS staff will track utilities' response, repair and restoration work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate resources to regions that experience the greatest impact.
Department of Transportation
The State Department of Transportation is monitoring weather conditions and is prepared to respond with 3,450 supervisors and operators. Additionally, 75 ICS personnel are available to support the response to this event. All affected residency locations will be staffed for 24/7 operation throughout the duration of the event. Staff can be configured into any type of response crew that is needed such as snow and ice, flood, chipper, load and haul, cut and toss, traffic signal, etc. All available equipment is ready to deploy.
The State Department of Transportation is preparing to close the following roads in Erie County to all traffic starting at 6 a.m. Friday until conditions improve:
State Route 400
State Route 219
I-290
I-190
State Route 5 (Big Tree Road to I-190)A restriction for trucks "Trucks Use Right Lane" on Interstate 81 from Exit 32 (Central Square) to Exit 51 (Alex Bay) starting at noon Friday.
Regional crews are currently engaged in all-hazards preparations. Drainage structures are being checked and cleared of debris. To support response activities in critical areas, a total of 65 staff, including 59 plow truck operators, 4 supervisors, 1 assistant manager, 1 ICS support specialist, 10 plow trucks, 2 snow blowers, and 1 grader are being deployed to Western New York. They are distributed as follows:
3 plow trucks from Central New York
2 plow trucks, 2 snow blowers, and 1 grader from the Finger Lakes
4 operators and 2 plow trucks the Western Southern Tier
26 operators, 2 supervisors, and 1 assistant manager from the Mid-Hudson Region
10 operators, 1 supervisor, and 3 plow trucks from the Southern Tier
19 operators and 1 supervisor from Long Island
1 ICS specialist from the Capital DistrictThe need for additional resources (Operators, Trucks, Mechanics, EOI's) will be re-evaluated as conditions warrant throughout the event. Generator stockpiles are being readied for deployment to support dark signal response. Fleet mechanics in affected areas will be staffing all main residency locations 24/7 to perform repairs and keep trucks on the road. Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:
1740 large and medium duty plow trucks
52 tow plows
37 snow blowers
338 loaders
13 tree crew bucket trucks
78 chippers
32 traffic signal trucks
20 graders
73 excavatorsFor up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit 511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.
Thruway Authority
Thruway Authority personnel are staffed around the clock and ready to respond to the storm with 678 operators and supervisors statewide. Thruway has shifted and deployed additional staff and equipment from its New York and Albany Divisions to support snow and ice operations in the potentially hardest hit areas in Western New York. Deployed resources include operators and supervisors, and large plow trucks.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES will be banned on the New York State Thruway (I-90) from exit 46 (Rochester I-390) to the Pennsylvania border, and the Niagara Thruway from I-90 to exit 22 (Route 62).
Thruway statewide equipment numbers and resources are listed below:
352 large and medium duty plow trucks
10 tow plows
66 loaders
More than 119,000 tons of salt on handVariable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras, and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.
New York State Police
The State Police will assign extra patrols to areas that are significantly impacted by the storm. All four-wheel drive and specialty vehicles are in service, including utility task vehicles and snowmobiles.
Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, Emergency Management staff and regional staff are on alert and monitoring the developing situation and actively patrolling areas and infrastructure impacted by severe weather. DEC is coordinating resource deployment with agency partners and all available assets are positioned to assist with any emergency response.
DEC is advising backcountry users to be aware of and prepared for winter conditions. Winter hiking and skiing safety and preparedness are extremely important no matter your physical ability or destination. Properly preparing for winter conditions is essential for a more enjoyable and safer experience. During and immediately following periods of heavy snowfall, avoid open, exposed areas like bare summits and use extreme caution when traveling on or near open slopes.
DEC reminds those responsible for the large-scale removal and disposal of snow to follow best management practices to help prevent flooding and reduce the potential for pollutants like salt, sand, oils, trash and other debris in snow from affecting water quality. Disposal of snow in local creeks and streams can create ice dams which may cause flooding in nearby areas. Public and private snow removal operators should be aware of these safety issues during and after the storm. Additional information is available here.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. Seven sawyer crews are on standby to assist with clearing downed trees and branches from roadways. Park visitors should check parks.ny.gov or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings, and closings.
New York Power Authority / Canal Corporation
The New York Power Authority and the Canal Corporation staff are performing preparations to ensure all facilities, assets and equipment are secured and ready. The Power Authority is prepared to support power restoration activities if needed.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority is monitoring weather conditions. Speed restrictions may be in effect at the bridges, as well as along roadways to and from the crossings. Passengers through the Port Authority's facilities are encouraged to reach out to carriers and airlines directly for the latest information on delays and cancelations. For the latest information about Port Authority facilities, please check social media, sign up for PA alerts or download one of the PA mobile apps, including RidePATH which provides real-time updates and alerts for PATH service.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Metropolitan Transportation Authority is closely monitoring weather conditions to ensure safe, reliable service. MTA employees will be poised to respond to any weather-related issues and remove any downed trees that may fall across tracks.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels will ban empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks beginning at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through 8:00 p.m. Friday. Pedestrian walkways at the Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge will be closed during this same time period; pedestrian walkways at the RFK Bridge and Henry Hudson Bridge may close depending on weather conditions.
Customers are encouraged to check new.mta.info for the latest service updates, and to use caution while navigating the system. Customers should also sign up for real-time service alerts via text or email. These alerts are also available via the MTA's apps: MYmta and TrainTime.
Safety Tips
Winter Travel Safety
The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, review these safety tips:
- When winter storms strike, do not drive unless necessary.
- Make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving.
- Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars.
- Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children.
- Make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.
- If you have a cell phone or other communications device such as a two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling.
Cold Weather Safety
- Be aware of wind chill - wind in combination with the actual temperature - that can cause an increase of heat loss to the human body.
- Dress appropriately and avoid staying in the cold too long.
- Wear a hat and gloves when appropriate with layers of clothing. Avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of the body to the cold.
- Drink plenty of warm fluids or warm water but avoid caffeine and alcohol. Stay active to maintain body heat.
- Take frequent breaks from the cold.
- If signals of hypothermia or frostbite appear, get out of the cold, slowly warm the individual and seek medical assistance:
- Frostbite: Symptoms include loss of feeling, a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
- Hypothermia: Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, and drowsiness.
Heavy Exertion
Heavy exertion, such as shoveling snow, clearing debris or pushing a car, increase the risk of a heart attack. Follow these tips to stay safe after the storm:
- 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 your jaw radiating down your arm — STOP and seek help immediately.
Power Outages
Winter storms can cause power outages. Review these safety tips before the lights go out so you know what to do in an emergency:
- Call your utility provider to notify them of the outage.
- Avoid all downed power lines and report them to your utility provider for repair; assume all downed lines have live electricity.
- Use only flashlights for emergency lighting - candles pose the risk of fire.
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors shut to keep food from spoiling. When in doubt, throw it out!
- Do not use a charcoal grill or generator indoors and do not use a gas stove for heat-they could give off harmful levels of carbon monoxide.
- Turn off major appliances to prevent damage from a possible surge when the power comes back on-keep one light turned on so you know when power returns.
Home Heating
Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Keep loved ones safe by following these important steps:
- Keep all combustibles at least three feet away from heating equipment.
- Always plug appliances including space heaters directly into a receptacle. Never plug appliances into a power strip or extension cord.
- Make sure there is a working smoke alarm in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
For all non-emergency service needs before, during or after a storm, call 211 or visit 211nys.org.
For more safety tips, visit the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Safety Tips web page.
The winter storm bearing down on Western New York has a name: it's Elliott, and news reports say it is gaining strength.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for much of WNY, including Genesee County.
If the forecast holds up, total snow accumulations could be from 2 to 3 feet between Friday and Sunday, with wind gusts up to 70 mph.
A blizzard warning has been issued for 7 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. on Sunday.
An actual blizzard isn't expected to hit until Friday afternoon at the earliest but a rapid temperature drop from the teens to single digits will result in a flash freeze on Friday morning, the National Weather Service predicts.
Wind chills could drop to 10 to 20 degrees below zero.
The weather service states, "Travel will be extremely difficult to impossible at times. Widespread blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage and numerous power outages. The bitter wind chills as low as 10 to 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes."
This post will be anchored at the top of the home page for the next day or two. Scroll down for additional news items.
Please send closures and cancellations to news@thebatavian.com
The following places have made closure announcements due to the impending storm:
This list will be updated as new information is received. To submit your closure announcement, send to news@thebatavian.com
Press release:
“I did not support raising the salary of state lawmakers today. It was embarrassing to see all those that did and frightening to hear why they believed this was justified. It was the very definition of tone-deaf.”
“With the holiday season upon us, the Majority is forcing New Yorkers to dump more of their hard-earned money to fund a pay raise. During the winter months, New Yorkers should be putting their earnings toward heating their homes and sheltering their families from the frigid temperatures. Instead, The Majority believes it is appropriate to increase their salaries while leaving their hard-working constituents out in the cold. We have to do better in focusing on the real issues facing New Yorkers during the upcoming session.”
Press release:
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) introduced the American Property Act designed to combat the Canadian government’s discriminatory property tax set to potentially impact countless Americans with generational properties in Canada.
“For many Western New Yorkers, owning property in Canada has been a part of their family for generations. These homes are handed down, and visiting them, especially during the summer months, is a way of life,” Jacobs said. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Canadian government has made it clear how they view Americans who either have binational families or enjoying frequenting Canada – they have been ostracized and had countless ridiculous restrictions placed upon their travel. Most recently we witnessed this with Canada’s decision to levy a tax against ‘underused’ housing owned by foreign nationals. For many Americans with property, these places are vacation homes and thus remain uninhabited for months out of the year, putting families in jeopardy of having to pay additional money on top of the taxes they pay the Canadian government each year.”
Rep. Jacobs’ American Property Act would levy a tax equal to 1% of an underused property’s value that is owned by a foreign national. To be considered used, the property must be occupied for at least 180 days in one calendar year. This tax rate matches the one levied by the Canadian government on foreign-owned property which was enacted in June of this year.
“Canada’s tax is a slap in the face for many – we made clear should Canada pursue this action there would be retaliatory action, today that action is being taken through this legislation,” Jacobs said. “Underused, foreign-owned, properties in the United States will now be subject to the same tax levied by the Canadian government.”
Press release:
In anticipation of the forecasted severe blizzard-like conditions, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Genesee County Highway Department, Emergency Management Services, and the County Manager is issuing a travel advisory for all of Genesee County effective 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, until further notice.
Motorists are encouraged to avoid all unnecessary travel due to the expected flash freeze, strong winds, heavy snow and sub-zero wind chill temperatures. These conditions will undoubtedly create white-out conditions and extremely dangerous travel for all motorists.
During a travel advisory roads are not closed, however, no unnecessary travel is advised. A trip which could wait until the advisory is lifted should not be made. The Genesee County Sheriff's Office does not determine the necessity for any individual to report to work.
Sheriff Sheron encourages residents, “For your safety and the safety of first responders and highway snow removal personnel this holiday weekend, please stay off the roads until conditions improve.”
Press Release
City of Batavia and Genesee County offices and buildings will be closed on Friday due to the severe weather forecast.
The City and County are committed to ensuring the safety of their workforce and citizens and therefore are taking this precautionary measure. With the predicted drop in temperature, rain turning to ice, snow and high winds, travel should be avoided.Both City of Batavia and County offices are scheduled to re-open Tuesday, Dec. 27.
What better way to celebrate your 25th anniversary than a red carpet affair?
That’s exactly what Crossroads House organizers thought. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Jan. 28 at Batavia Downs Park Place Entertainment Center, Park Road, Batavia.
“We’re going to do a lot of celebrating,” Director of Development Vicki Johnson said. “There will be a memorabilia table and photos, and the auctions.”
For musical entertainment, Dueling Pianos International will be performing in a fun, light-hearted style, she said. Patrons can offer tips for a pianist to play a particular song, or to stop playing one, she said.
Going along with that musical theme, the reverse auction includes a piano pin with a flashing light to indicate who is still in during the drawing. Once a number is pulled, the light goes out.
A buffet dinner with cash bar will begin at 6 p.m. The evening will include several auctions in the form of a live one — maybe you’d like to bid on four tickets to see comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, a comfy recliner, or an overnight getaway — silent auctions of various gift packages and a reverse auction with a cash prize.
Never heard of a reverse auction? It works completely opposite of most raffle drawings, in which participants are eliminated as their numbers are drawn, dwindling down to a final winner. Or perhaps the last two remaining participants will opt to split the cash pot.
Star tributes may be purchased for $25 to honor or memorialize someone special, because, after all, this is a time to recognize the stars in one’s life, organizers said. Past and present employees, volunteers, board members and families served are invited to join in the celebration.
The first resident’s name was Jean, and she moved into Crossroads House on Jan. 7, 1998. A process that took two years and many hands — of staff, volunteers, board and community members — has established a comfort care home for 575 residents, Johnson said. (For the full story, click HERE.)
Future goals are to continue educating the community about the fragile topic of death and to open a second home.
In the meantime, the Red Carpet Gala is an occasion to celebrate the accomplishments and lives that have been touched by Crossroads House.
Tickets are $75 each, which includes dinner, entertainment, auctions, free 5X7 photos for each couple or group, and $15 Free Play. A VIP sponsorship is $1,000 for a table of eight, and also includes an hour of open bar at 4 p.m., special seating and advertising throughout the evening.
“We’re lining our red carpet with stars in memory or honor of someone,” Johnson said. “The board is hosting it, and the goal was really to celebrate.”
Go here for tickets. Seating is limited to 350, and Johnson recommends reserving your spot soon. Stars may be purchased up to the date of the event.
Photo: Vicki Johnson, director of development, Kathy Panepento, founder and director of resident care and doula services, and former nurse Betty James reminisce with a scrapbook of history about Crossroads House. Photo by Joanne Beck.
Memories began as a trickle, and soon they were gushing as Kathy Panepento and Betty James recalled the early days of Crossroads House.
There were certainly recollections of how the comfort care home became a fixture in Batavia, but perhaps even more special were the people that filled the beds over the last two and a half decades.
Like the gentleman who had three wishes to not die at his residence, have a beer and watch the Buffalo Bills game scheduled for later that day, Panepento said. He moved into Crossroads, and she went home to get him a beer; however, he died in a short six hours, before the game came on.
“But he got two wishes,” she said.
Crossroads House will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a Red Carpet Gala on Jan. 28 at Batavia Downs. (See related article for details.)
Panepento has been the face of Crossroads as a registered nurse in the hospice field and eventual founder of the site in January 1998. She has worked at Buffalo Hospice and helped to get a hospice for Genesee, and Wyoming County certified, training volunteers and continuously learning about the needs of the community.
She had gone from the OB-GYN field to hospice because “I fell in love with it.”
“You know, it’s such a personal approach,” Panepento said. “So then I got involved with the planning committee with them starting hospice with JD LeSeur and Father Scheider. And I was the first paid employee and training the hospice volunteers … and then getting it to certification and getting it approved by the State Department of Health.”
Filling a need
That was for the two-county hospice program. Panepento observed something about how the medical system was working: people weren’t dying quickly enough, which meant they couldn’t go to a hospital, yet also couldn't safely remain at their own residence, and instead were transferred to a nursing home.
“And a lot of times, they died before the transfer or in an ambulance on the way to the nursing home. So it's like, man, we're missing something. Even though Hospice is a great organization, they're limited in what they can give. So we just need something to fill in that crack there,” she said. “So I had the dream in ’95, my husband will recall: he said, ‘Oh no. What is it now?’ And I said we need to open up a comfort-care home. Batavia does not have an inpatient unit. They don't have a palliative care unit. There's only three beds in Genesee County for people that are dying.”
James, also a registered nurse who lives in Perry, became involved by way of Florida. One of her favorite aunts had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, and James and husband Tom went to Florida to see her. Her aunt was in hospice care at home. And her uncle was “just on edge.”
“There was a knock on the door, and a hospice nurse entered. I could see a visible relaxation of him, and I thought it was just a wonderful thing,” James said. “When I came back, I talked it up. That didn’t go anywhere.”
Then she saw an ad for a nurse at the Hospice of Genesee and Wyoming County and became Panepento’s first hire.
“She had to teach me a lot; you’re going into people’s homes. They’re hurting; it’s more symptom control management,” James said. “God ordained me to this field. You get to know the person and their disease process.”
Panepento had to insert a story about James and a male patient with a king-sized bed. Part of the job is to assist people where they’re at and not move them, so James attempted to care for him. She admitted that she had never seen a bed that big, so it was a challenge to reach him.
“And she fell into bed with him,” Panepento said as she and James broke into a laugh.
“You have to have a sense of humor,” James said, recalling the reaction of her and the man. “We laughed.”
What's in a name?
The name Crossroads came during what the women believe was a divine moment. A group of them was having lunch — a routine event at the Red Osier — and had been trying to come up with a name for this comfort care home in Batavia. James was sitting next to a nurse at one end of the table.
“I said, ‘Oh, that sounds wonderful.’ She said, ‘what, I didn't say anything.’ And I heard it: Crossroads House. And she said, ‘that's it,’” James said. “That was heavenly ordained because I remember there was a God wink. Yes, I like that term.”
Panepento began to cite a Jeremiah verse: “Thus says the Lord: Stop at the crossroads and look around you. Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. You will find rest for your souls.”
“I believe that God led us to bring it to reality,” James said.
And over these more than two dozen years, there have been people who came — not to die but to live — out their remaining days at the home on Liberty Street. There have also been families of those 575 residents that settled in to support, and spend time, laugh and cry, and often reconcile old hurts with, a loved one.
There was an older gentleman who was there with his wife. And they were just so tight, James said.
“He was here every morning and he'd sit by her side. Every Thursday, he knew I was working. This is about the connection you get. And he'd come with a bag of (items) for the house. And after she passed, I think he just needed to keep the connection here for a while. Every Thursday, he’d bring things like paper towels … it's just one of the thousand things in my head about this place.”
Over the years, there have been countless stories, and many events, including baptisms, weddings, birthday parties and showers.
Panepento added that families do come back after a loved one has died, “because we nurture them.”
“We've held them up. And you know, they come back, and it's like reunion time,” she said. “We always tell our families, you're gonna adopt the Crossroads House family, but we're gonna adopt you too. You’re family.”
Community support
That nurturing has also come from a supportive community — First Presbyterian agreed to rent a vacant property for $1 a month when nobody knew where and how a home would be established, and well-attended fundraisers and donations have helped to float the nonprofit all these years while it charged nothing for the service.
“What a blessing! Now we had a home that needed extensive repairs, and with no money to start the renovations. Then came more blessings. On two different occasions, we were able to get prisoners to help with the remodeling process. The community came through for us, and area businesses donated building supplies and equipment. We even got volunteers to provide the manual labor,” Panepento said. “Staff was hired, volunteers were trained, the house was named Crossroads House, marketing was begun, and we fund-raised until we knew we had enough operating capital to open our doors and provide our services.”
Organizers themselves also “dug into our own pocketbooks,” James said. It took $7,000 just to get incorporated. As the house furnishings — donations seemed to miraculously fill the void when needed. Learning that a new furnace requiring $800 down was soon followed by a donation of $800. Needs of furniture and appliances often happened the same way. It was as though their needs — often seemingly out of reach — were somehow met time and time again.
Panepento looked up from the sitting room, recalling a huge hole in the roof over the kitchen. It got repaired, and they just carried on, focusing on providing services of care, comfort, and genuine love. More recently, the donation of a handicap-accessible van has furthered the offerings to include outings with residents.
Living at Crossroads
They took in the first resident, Jean, on Jan. 7, 1998. She was a good friend, nurse and mentor whose husband came with their dog and stayed there with her. Jean even helped to train volunteers, giving nuggets of advice such as how to move someone properly. There are even committee meetings conducted in her room to keep her involved.
“So we brought that to her bedside, and she did life,” James said. “And that's when we say you're not here to die. You're here to live until you take that final breath, whenever that may be.”
Top Photo: Kathy Panepento and Betty James look at a scrapbook of Crossroads House history at the comfort care home on Liberty Street, Batavia. Photos by Joanne Beck.
Press Release:
National Grid has increased its upstate New York field force to more than 2,800 line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety workers in preparation for a major storm forecasted to begin Thursday afternoon and continue into the holiday weekend.
Forecasts for Genesee, Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties include a blizzad warning from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Sunday. Estimates call for total snow accumulations of one to three feet, and winds gusting as high as 70 mph Friday and Friday night.
A rapid switch from rain to snow with sharply falling temperatures into the teens and single digits will result in a flash freeze on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Blizzard conditions will develop Friday afternoon lasting into Saturday night.
The storm is expected to bring a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow, along with plummeting temperatures, ice buildup and extremely damaging winds, a National Grid press release states.
In addition to ensuring all National Grid field- and office-based employees are available for this storm, the company has secured external resources, including hundreds of contractor crews, some coming from as far away as Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Canada. The company also has activated its comprehensive emergency response plan, which includes:
• Securing external resources and pre-staging crews and materials in areas anticipated to be
most severely impacted.
• Initiating patrols to monitor our gas system for any impact from potential flooding.
• Proactively reaching out to elected, municipal and emergency management officials to keep them updated on our preparations and provide safety information.
• Reaching out directly to customers through traditional and social media, email and texts and on our website to provide safety information and to encourage them to be prepared.
• Conducting outbound calls to life support and critical facility customers to ensure they are prepared.“Heading into the holiday weekend, our line workers, field teams, support staff and contractor crews have made the commitment to be away from their families if they’re needed to restore service to our customers,” said Brian Gemmell, National Grid’s Chief Operating Officer for New York Electric. “We know that there is never a convenient time to endure a storm, especially during the holidays, and our crews are at the ready if the weather impacts our energy delivery system.”
Gemmell said the company will continue to closely monitor weather forecasts and he encourages customers to keep safety a priority with the following reminders:
Electricity & Generator Safety
• If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
• Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
• Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a
respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642-4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.
• Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to
charge all electronic devices before the storm.
• Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
• Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.Safety Near Downed Power Lines
• Stay away from downed power lines and wires; use caution if one is nearby, and always assume that they are carrying live electricity.
• Never touch a person or an object that is in contact with a downed line, as electricity can pass through to you.
• Take caution when approaching fallen trees, which could have power lines caught in them.
• Remember that water can conduct electricity. If you see a line down in a puddle or flooded
area, avoid contact with the water to prevent risk of shock.Learn more about downed power line safety at our website.
Stay Informed and Connected
• Customers with active electricity accounts who text ‘REG’ to 64743 can have
personalized alerts sent to them via text, email or phone call when we detect an outage on their properties.
• Customers also can text ‘OUT’ to 64743 to report an outage.
• For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit National Grid’s Outage Central website. Customers who create an online profile also can sign up for email alerts.
• Customers can read the latest company news, check outage status and report an outage by using the National Grid app.
• Visit our website, follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.
• Click here for details on the company’s storm preparation and restoration process.
Our friend Paul Saskowski asked us to take a look at his impressive Christmas light display in Darien, at Harlow and Sumner roads. Some of his lights came from the light display the DiSalvos used to put up on Fargo Road, so The Batavian made the road trip last night, stopping along the way to take pictures of the lights of other homes.
A country drive on a snow-covered December evening is good entertainment. Christmas lights aren't just for city folks. There's a particularly nice stretch along Alexander Road in Batavia where nearly every home on both sides of the road are lit up, and it's almost magical to drive through. A photo couldn't do the stretch justice.
The first four photos are of the light display of the Saskowski homestead.
Pearl Street Road.
Sumner Road
Sumner Road
Fargo Road, Darien
Route 5, Corfu
Route 5, Batavia
Area musician and songwriter, and former WBTA news producer, Alex Feig has released a new Christmas song, "The Truth About Christmas," and a video shot in Medina to go with it.
A Batavia man accused of possessing a handgun during an incident in the area of Ellicott Street and Court Street on Sept.30 entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge on Tuesday.
Terrance Y. Williams, 23, had sought a new attorney at a previous court appearance because he thought a new attorney could get him a better deal after he committed a crime while awaiting sentencing on a drug possession conviction.
As part of his plea deal, the cases were consolidated so he could be sentenced on both convictions simultaneously, but by law, whatever sentence he gets will be on both convictions, which will be served consecutively.
He faces up to seven years in prison on the weapons charge. He can also be placed on parole for seven years and fined up to $5,000. He's also eligible for probation. The full range of sentencing options are open to Judge Melissa Cianfrini.
He was originally going to be sentenced on Tuesday afternoon, but because of a timing conflict with an ongoing, unrelated trial, Williams will be sentenced on a later date.
He entered a guilty plea to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a Class D felony.
In August, Williams entered a guilty plea to a count of attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
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