From the Innovation Trail Reporting Team.
BROOME COUNTY - Lt. Governor Duffy was at the Broome County Office of Emergency Management and made these comments about likely storm impact across the Southern Tier region earlier today:
"We expect high winds, we do expect several inches of rain. Hopefully far less than we experienced last time. The one thing that happened last time with Hurricane Irene any fluctuation can change things, so we just dont know."
"And what we want to reinforce is that while we have all these state resources and county resources and local resources in place, for things to respond, what we need people to realize is that common sense really has to take over here. And not to travel in these conditions. To make sure that they have supplies in their homes. I know, probably hard to get a d-cell battery anywhere in New York State right now, with bread and milk and batteries, just stock up just in case. And again this region has been through it. I don’t think anybody knows the pain of these emergencies more than this area, Broome County and the Southern Tier went through last year."
"The governor is in New York today. He’s doing a lot of things down where the storm is coming in. I listened this morning, the storm took a turn as they projected toward land so it’s pretty much on track right now."
"It’ll start tonight with the winds, or late this afternoon, the winds and the rain, probably tonight through tomorrow are going to be very, very difficult for that. I think again exercising common sense."
"There’s not an area of New York that I think will go without being hit. It just really depends right now with the path of the storm how difficult and how hard that storm will hit us. But we can expect high winds and rain and damage. We hope it passes through. Power outages are going to be something that we expect to see in some areas but I think with the crews in place they’ll be responded to very quickly. And if there is a power outage, just think, there’s going to be less political commercials on t.v. so you’ll get a little respite for a little while." - reporting by Matt Richmond/WSKG
CAPITAL REGION- The heaviest wind and rain is expected to hit the Capital Region around 4pm on Monday and continue overnight into Tuesday with winds over 30 miles per hour. Wind gusts could be 50-60 miles per hour or more. One to two inches of rain are expected. Governor Andrew Cuomo said this morning that 4,000 extra utility workers have committed to come into New York State, but warned that since such a large area is expected to be affected, outages could be extended. He told people to stay off the roads and use “common sense.” - Reporting by Marie Cusick/WMHT
OSWEGO - Winds will be the main concern for much of upstate New York as Hurricane Sandy blows through the region tonight. As WRVO’s Ryan Delaney reports, the winds will be twice as strong as a typical winter Nor’easter. With most of upstate forecasted to receive upwards of three inches of rain over the next few days, the main impact of Sandy could come from the wind. That could be downed trees and power outages. Dr. Steve Skubis is a meteorology professor at Oswego State College. He says the sustained winds from Sandy will be as strong as gusts from average severe winter storms.
SKUBIS:”Typically winds for a Nor’easter, here, they’re like 30-40 miles per hour – gusting up and it’s blowing, drifting. So this is something that’s greater strength.” The National Weather Service says gusts Monday night and into Tuesday could reach 60 miles per hour. Those winds will not be coming from their normal westerly direction, but instead from the nor-nor-east, Skubis says. - Reporting by Ryan Delaney/WRVO
MONROE COUNTY - Monroe County and City of Rochester have declared a state of emergency due to the approach of Hurricane Sandy. Libraries, recreation centers and municipal offices will be closed as of 4pm today.
The state of emergency gives them the authority to close roads, implement curfews and access federal aid. They are currently opening the Irondequoit Bay bridge to allow more traffic to head out of the area. They have had 5,000 requests for sandbags from people living along the shoreline, and they have 40,000 bags available. There are 13,000 residences along the shoreline they say.
Mayor Richards is advising people to stay at home, and Maggie Brooks says this is a “historic storm” and they would rather be over prepared than caught off guard. - Reporting by Kate O'Connell/WXXI
