Update: Government offices and recycling centers will be closed on Monday, as will schools and departments across the South Fork. People have been asked to keep off the roads if possible to allow highway crews and emergency personnel to continue their work to clear the roads and respond to emergencies.
Original, Jan. 25, 10:15 a.m.: East Hampton Town and Village along with Sag Harbor Village and Southampton Town all declared states of emergency ahead of Sunday's snow and ice storm, mirroring actions by Suffolk County and New York State.
According to a News 12 forecast, six to 12 inches is expected, with whiteout conditions midday. Snow is expected to switch over to sleet after 3 p.m. That will make the snow very heavy. That is also the time when the wind speeds will jump.
Shoveling every couple of hours through the day until it switches over and the winds increase could help ease the burden later when it gets heavier.
Compounding the issue of the snow and ice that will fall today is the fact that temperatures aren't expected to rise above freezing for at least a week. What falls will freeze and be with us for days.
In East Hampton Town, the emergency declaration went into effect Saturday night and will last five days, through Thursday.
"This declaration allows us to respond quickly as conditions deteriorate," Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said in a press release. "Our crews are prepared and working together to protect public safety, but we need residents to do their part. Please stay off the roads if you can, do not park on public streets, and allow our highway and emergency crews the space they need to do their jobs safely."
If conditions allow, the state of emergency could be rescinded before Thursday.
Southampton Town's state of emergency went into effect at 3 a.m. Sunday. "In an effort to direct all necessary resources to snow plowing and snow removal operations, and to discourage drivers from being out on the roadways during the storm, all town facilities normally open on Sundays will be closed effective 5 a.m. when the precipitation associated with this storm is anticipated to begin," Ryan Murphy, Southampton's emergency management administrator, wrote in a release on Saturday.
The same is true in East Hampton Town and Village and Sag Harbor Village.
As in the town, the state of emergency in the villages allows the highway superintendent and Police Department to close roads or restrict travel as necessary to enable road crews to clear roads. Parked cars may be removed if necessary and checkpoints established.
In Sag Harbor, for example, street parking is prohibited and vehicles that are in the way of plows could be towed at the owners' expense.
According to a state press release, the leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Driving is strongly discouraged during the storm, however if absolutely necessary a greater than usual distance from any car in front of you should be maintained. Snowplows often travel slower than the posted speed limit and should be given wide berth.
Churches, too, have taken heed of the weather, canceling Sunday services or holding them remotely.
