New York City, Northern NJ, Long Island, Southeast NY, Connecticut OBS

[LocoAko]

Finally after about 30 hours after the last flakes fell a plow has come through. Never seen anything like this. :axe:

While it was pretty bad during the height of the storm, my street has luckily been (somewhat) plowed. What area of the city are you talking about?

Then again, I haven't left my house in days and will be venturing out today so I'll get to see the madness...

[Rib]

You guys are lucky to have your roads plowed. They only plow the main roads here. Side roads have to wait for it to melt.

[real]

I posted this in your guys picture thread, but maybe it goes better here.

I can't believe so many people are complaining about their streets not being plowed yet. It only stopped snowing yesterday morning. I agree with whoever said you need to remember what a blizzard is. There is a reason the Red Cross and Dept. of Homeland Security urge everyone to have a supply of food and water for up to 5 days incase of winter or other emergency. Last year, in Washington, some streets went unplowed for a week.

You all further north may have a bit more equipment or organization to handle it then we do, but it's still unrealistic to be complaining about not seeing a snow plow yet. In fact, I lived in some areas that got mulitple feet of lake-effect snow ever year. And even there, the streets would usually be a mess after a 20-inch snowstorm. First of all, there is simply no where to put the snow in a city. Once you hit about 16 to 18 inches, it becomes very hard to move it all around and the plows just basically shift it back and forth so it really needs to be scooped up and hauled away.

There is no city in the world where all streets can be plowed less than a day after a 2 foot snowstorm. Trust me. What is the point of getting a blizzard, if you just fret about when you are going to be able to get in your car again.

However, from afar, it does seem that New York and Bloomberg were a bit unprepared for this. I see no reason for all those buses and taxi's getting stuck, and the above ground trains get stranded. When a blizzard is in the forecast, it seems most prudent to do what D.C. does - shut down bus service, tell the cabbies to stay home, and close above ground subway service before they get stranded. Because, once the buses get stuck, how do you expect the plows to get through?

[Sock Puppet]

Hallelujah.... Plows finally came by to clear some roads. Hopefully I'll be able to get my car out tomorrow if they plow my street

[SnowDemon]

I posted this in your guys picture thread, but maybe it goes better here.

I can't believe so many people are complaining about their streets not being plowed yet. It only stopped snowing yesterday morning. I agree with whoever said you need to remember what a blizzard is. There is a reason the Red Cross and Dept. of Homeland Security urge everyone to have a supply of food and water for up to 5 days incase of winter or other emergency. Last year, in Washington, some streets went unplowed for a week.

You all further north may have a bit more equipment or organization to handle it then we do, but it's still unrealistic to be complaining about not seeing a snow plow yet. In fact, I lived in some areas that got mulitple feet of lake-effect snow ever year. And even there, the streets would usually be a mess after a 20-inch snowstorm. First of all, there is simply no where to put the snow in a city. Once you hit about 16 to 18 inches, it becomes very hard to move it all around and the plows just basically shift it back and forth so it really needs to be scooped up and hauled away.

There is no city in the world where all streets can be plowed less than a day after a 2 foot snowstorm. Trust me. What is the point of getting a blizzard, if you just fret about when you are going to be able to get in your car again.

However, from afar, it does seem that New York and Bloomberg were a bit unprepared for this. I see no reason for all those buses and taxi's getting stuck, and the above ground trains get stranded. When a blizzard is in the forecast, it seems most prudent to do what D.C. does - shut down bus service, tell the cabbies to stay home, and close above ground subway service before they get stranded. Because, once the buses get stuck, how do you expect the plows to get through?

Experience it first. Then remark.

[real]

Experience it first. Then remark.

Yes, sorry. I forgot. No one possibliy can know what's it like to get 2 feet of snow in one storm except those in New York. Pretty sure anyone who's ever lived from North Carolina on north has had more than a few storms that left them snowed in for 24 hours.

[tmagan]

Just dropped my brother at the LIRR train station, you could see the other rail was snow covered, doubt they return to normal service until Monday.

[Sundog]

Yes, sorry. I forgot. No one possibliy can know what's it like to get 2 feet of snow in one storm except those in New York. Pretty sure anyone who's ever lived from North Carolina on north has had more than a few storms that left them snowed in for 24 hours.

You may be familiar with 2 feet of snow, but what you are not familiar with however is the snow removal procedure of New York City. We don't sit around waiting a week to get our streets plowed. They are usually all plowed on a constant basis during and after the storm. I have NEVER waited for my street to be plowed; it's always plowed since they go back and forth during the storm. In this case not only did they not plow during, but they have yet to appear on practically all the side streets a day and a half later. This procedure may be ok for DC but not for New York.

[real]

You may be familiar with 2 feet of snow, but what you are not familiar with however is the snow removal procedure of New York City. We don't sit around waiting a week to get our streets plowed. They are usually all plowed on a constant basis during and after the storm. I have NEVER waited for my street to be plowed; it's always plowed since they go back and forth during the storm. In this case not only did they not plow during, but they have yet to appear on practically all the side streets a day and a half later. This procedure may be ok for DC but not for New York.

Point well taken. I've always marveled (from afar) how NY uses garbage trucks for snow removal. At times, I have wondered why DC/Baltimroe, etc, doesn't try it.. Anyway, good luck.

[ag3]

Good news. Plows are finally plowing side streets. They are making quick progress too.

About 25% of the side streets are now plowed.

[Rib]

Was that video from Break posted here yet? The one with the truck that is hauling a plow and keeps running it into a car trying to get down the street.

[dwang0725]

I THINK if there's a Blizzard Warning in effect, it's pretty sure that it will be big. When is the last time a Blizzard Warning was issued and we got less than 6" of snow?

Mar 2001, just to name one (not sure if Blizzard warning were around back then, but the forecast was for well over 6"). I'm not saying that the storm was not imminent, but merely saying that you can't have it both ways (more workers and lower taxes). NYC averages what 40 inches of snow per year? This one storm dumped almost 2/3 of the annual average. It's not a common occurrence and it won't happen every winter. Maybe the solution is to hire outside contractors for events like this. The sanitation dept alone does not have the manpower to clean up the mess.

[CTNoreaster]

Check this video out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt_r-jO3lKE&feature=player_embedded

Frankly I don't see what else could have been done. Thing was was beyond stuck. Of course it was operator error to begin with.

Another reason why I wouldn't park on the street, especially during storms.

[Sock Puppet]

Dumb post. Where would you park if not the street? Have you ever been to a big city before? Quit with the stupid remarks

Frankly I don't see what else could have been done. Thing was was beyond stuck. Of course it was operator error to begin with.

Another reason why I wouldn't park on the street, especially during storms.

[dwang0725]

Dumb post. Where would you park if not the street? Have you ever been to a big city before? Quit with the stupid remarks

When I'm in NYC during a storm, I park my car in the parking garages. $40 for a few days is a cheap price to pay for a peace of mind and not to mention the agony of digging out of 3 feet of plowed, crusty snow.

[Wannabehippie]

The plows came thru my street once or twice during the storm before midnight, then not again until 6pm yesterday.

Good news. Plows are finally plowing side streets. They are making quick progress too.

About 25% of the side streets are now plowed.

[Sundog]

Mar 2001, just to name one (not sure if Blizzard warning were around back then, but the forecast was for well over 6"). I'm not saying that the storm was not imminent, but merely saying that you can't have it both ways (more workers and lower taxes). NYC averages what 40 inches of snow per year? This one storm dumped almost 2/3 of the annual average. It's not a common occurrence and it won't happen every winter. Maybe the solution is to hire outside contractors for events like this. The sanitation dept alone does not have the manpower to clean up the mess.

They do every other year.

Also the March 2001 storm looked like crap more than day in advance. The models had already pushed it to New England; it wasn't like we were under warnings and nothing happened.

[psv88]

Great Storm. Central Nassau about 18 inches...drifts to four feet. Car completely buried...Not fun taking 4 hours to dig out though. The winds were simply amazing. The roads were awful this morning here too, no idea why Jericho Turnpike should have 3 inches of snow on it when plows are driving by with the plow UP.

[Rib]

Frankly I don't see what else could have been done. Thing was was beyond stuck. Of course it was operator error to begin with.

Another reason why I wouldn't park on the street, especially during storms.

That's the video. Hilarious!

[Wannabehippie]

Maybe he thinks we all have garages or pay for spots. I mean don't all NYC drivers have the money to afford 500 per month (or more ) for a rented spot?

Dumb post. Where would you park if not the street? Have you ever been to a big city before? Quit with the stupid remarks

[dwang0725]

They do every other year.

Also the March 2001 storm looked like crap more than day in advance. The models had already pushed it to New England; it wasn't like we were under warnings and nothing happened.

When was the last time NYC and the surrounding boroughs received over 20 inches of snow? I don't think that it happens every year.

Please do not tell me that March 2001 looked like crap days in advance. Models pushed the bulk of it to NE only as the mets began to nowcast the event. NYC was still modeled to receive more that a foot of snow 12 hrs ahead of the storm. Just ask John Bolaris. What was the storm total for NYC in March 2001? Warning criteria?

[CTNoreaster]

Dumb post. Where would you park if not the street? Have you ever been to a big city before? Quit with the stupid remarks

I've been to the city plenty of times... and I've found out that I would never live in a place without an off street parking spot.

That or own a crappy car.

Too many risks associated with parking on the street for me.

This is a prime example right here.

[CTNoreaster]

When I'm in NYC during a storm, I park my car in the parking garages. $40 for a few days is a cheap price to pay for a peace of mind and not to mention the agony of digging out of 3 feet of plowed, crusty snow.

BINGO!

[Ababa]

Try living in nyc....don't park on the street....great advice. I have ttopark on the street....its not like there are garages on every corner. In addition thats prohibitively expensive advice.

This storm has been a diasaster. You have bloomy on tv saying" this monday is like every other monday"....no its not. This tuesday wasn't like any other tuesday either. After waiting 1hr for a bus a couple of us were saved by a gypsy cab that we split the fare to get to the subway. People have mta buses abandoned on their sidewalks. I think everyone understands that it is a difficult situation....however the leadership in this city is coming off as totally tone deaf by telling people to go shopping and to go to broadway shows. Stories from one person after another in the outer boros of abandoned cars and buses blocking roads. I just hope I don't have a medical emergency in the next couple of days.

[Stormlover74]

Sorry but you're incorrect there. we absolutely were under warnings starting Saturday and well into monday when the storm should have been underway. 12 hours into the storm when most of us were getting light snow or freezing drizzle we were still forecasted for a foot of snow (which of course never materialized)

They do every other year.

Also the March 2001 storm looked like crap more than day in advance. The models had already pushed it to New England; it wasn't like we were under warnings and nothing happened.

[nzucker]

There is no city in the world where all streets can be plowed less than a day after a 2 foot snowstorm. Trust me. What is the point of getting a blizzard, if you just fret about when you are going to be able to get in your car again.

I agree with this partially. One of the beautiful things about a blizzard is the way it paralyzes the frenetic pace of modern life: speeding cars, rumbling trains, hectic work schedules. It demonstrates our inherent inferiority to the power of nature and allows us to do the things we rarely spend time on: sit around reading a book and watching the snow, paying more attention to family etc. Too many people are trapped in the "When can I get back into my car?" mentality, which is unfortunate. There's nothing wrong with having a couple days when you can't drive, especially considering how excessive our automobile usage and fast lifestyles are.

Of course, that doesn't excuse Bloomberg's poor response to the storm. He should have taken buses off the streets and made sure main thoroughfares were plowed for emergency vehicles. It was definitely a dangerous situation in many ways. However, the storm was poorly timed as it came a day after a national holiday as well as being poorly forecasted; these factors definitely delayed the response we usually see.

[CTNoreaster]

Try living in nyc....don't park on the street....great advice. I have ttopark on the street....its not like there are garages on every corner. In addition thats prohibitively expensive advice.

This storm has been a diasaster. You have bloomy on tv saying" this monday is like every other monday"....no its not. This tuesday wasn't like any other tuesday either. After waiting 1hr for a bus a couple of us were saved by a gypsy cab that we split the fare to get to the subway. People have mta buses abandoned on their sidewalks. I think everyone understands that it is a difficult situation....however the leadership in this city is coming off as totally tone deaf by telling people to go shopping and to go to broadway shows. Stories from one person after another in the outer boros of abandoned cars and buses blocking roads. I just hope I don't have a medical emergency in the next couple of days.

This may be a reason why I don't live there.

It also is the real reason why its so hard to cleanup after the storm. Its not easy to manuver a large piece of equipment down a one way street that is line with cars, lets also take into consideration that most people don't park correctly, and if they are sticking out into the traffic lane just a bit, forget about plowing that street.

Sure these can be construed as cheap excuses, but I think it needs to be taken into consideration.

Its clear that the conditions during the height of the storm were extreme, especially when you see how many plows and other pieces of equipment got stuck.

I have to agree with others that having this much snow consistently in all 5 boros of the city, along with the challenge of the city landscape means its going to take a while to clean this up.

[A-L-E-X]

Plus the MTA is a wasteful joke of an organization that needs to be dissolved.

[dwang0725]

Try living in nyc....don't park on the street....great advice.

I have (NYC, upper west side) and I didn't park on the street during snow emergencies situations like these (over a foot of snow). I always parked in the garages. When you think about it, it's really not that cost prohibitive. $40 for 2 days is really not that bad. I know an hour worth of my time (shoveling and trying to get my car out of the spot) is worth a lot more than $40.

[Sock Puppet]

First off there aren't enough garages to park all the cars, second while Manhattan may have garages the other boros do not and this stupid assumption that people can just park their car off the street makes you sound like a fool

When I'm in NYC during a storm, I park my car in the parking garages. $40 for a few days is a cheap price to pay for a peace of mind and not to mention the agony of digging out of 3 feet of plowed, crusty snow.

So true. Getting really tired of these dumb comments that we can just park off the street at will

Maybe he thinks we all have garages or pay for spots. I mean don't all NYC drivers have the money to afford 500 per month (or more ) for a rented spot?