Death Toll In Buffalo Area Rises To 37 From Brutal Blizzard

Erie County (which includes Buffalo, New York) has seen the highest death toll. has risen to 37 From the blizzard that swept the region late last week.

According Mark Poloncarz from Erie County Executive said that 17 people were found outside, nine in homes without heat and four in vehicles. Fourteen people were also found dead. Four died from heart problems resulting in shoveling or snow blowing. Three people died because emergency medical services were delayed. Buffalo was the scene of 29 deaths. Local officials were criticised for not having implemented a travel ban earlier. Erie County issued an emergency travel ban at 9:59 a.m. Friday but many people were already headed to work.

“I think a travel ban should have been put in place a lot earlier,” Buffalo EMT Felicia Williams told The Washington Post.

Poloncarz acknowledged Thursday that listing weather events as capable of “extreme impact” He had seen it only twice in his tenure.

John Garcia, Erie County Sheriff, said that his initial reaction when he heard about the aforementioned was “shocking.” “bomb cyclone “ was “this is something that we are used to.” He later admitted, “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Reed Timmer, Meteorologist, stated it simply: “Worst blizzard I have ever covered.”

Extreme #blizzard Downtown Buffalo stranded motorists This family was left homeless after being stranded for seven hours. @bclemms I took them to shelter. This looks like a survival situation playing out in whiteout a block away. Worst blizzard I have ever covered pic.twitter.com/ZvnBR9KeX7

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) December 24, 2022

Mark Wysocki, Cornell University professor of atmospheric sciences, was there to help days before the storm. warned, “It could be another one of these messes where we get this ice, freezing rain and snow. We could have a lot of issues with travel and downed power lines.”

A 63-year old woman needed to be connected with an electric oxygen machine because she lost heat and power. According to The Buffalo NewsBecause of the blizzard, she couldn’t access emergency services. Her son and stepbrother traveled from Cheektowaga towards her home in Lovejoy, New York. They attempted to drive her to their car, but she was too tired.

“She’s like, ‘I can’t go no further.’ I’m begging her, ‘Mom, just stand up.’ She fell in my arms and never spoke another word,” Her son remembered.  After her son tried to get help from nearby homes, one couple admitted him and his mother, but the woman later died.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the North American Reliability Corp. have been conducting a joint investigation Millions of Americans were affected by blackouts.

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