Long Islanders were blanketed in snow during the recent blizzard. Carolyn James/Herald photos
A major blizzard on Feb. 22–23 buried the Town of Oyster Bay and Massapequa Park Village under heavy snow, creating widespread disruptions and a massive cleanup effort.
The Town of Oyster Bay, which spans 104.4 square miles and maintains roughly 750 miles of local roads, faced the largest share of snow removal responsibilities within its borders, beyond state and county roadways.
Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino opened the Feb. 24 Town Board meeting by thanking town employees who plowed roads, driveways and municipal parking lots.
The storm blanketed the area with more than 20-inches of snow over the two days.
“Since all of our personnel are out in their vehicles continuing to clear away the snow, sanitation services would be delayed through the week,” said Saladino.
Saladino called it the most snow the town has seen in 30 years and described the storm as “both a blizzard and a hurricane.” He urged residents to clear snow from around fire hydrants on their property, noting that “the home you save may be your home or your neighbor’s home.”
As a final note, Saladino stated that “we appreciate people’s patience,” adding that “it is all very helpful when we all work together, and in the Town of Oyster Bay we’re known for just that.”
The Village of Massapequa Park, which covers 2.25 square miles and maintains about 30 miles of roads, also faced significant cleanup challenges despite its smaller size and workforce.
Village workers began preparing early Sunday morning and worked through 11 a.m. Monday, according to Mayor Daniel Pearl. “Within 24 hours all roads in the Village were open,” Pearl said. He thanked residents for keeping cars off the streets and for not pushing snow back into roadways after clearing their driveways.
Source: Massapequa Post
