LIRR Service Suspended Starting at 1 a.m.
By Hank Russell
A day after declaring a state of emergency in New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul updated New Yorkers on ongoing State preparedness efforts ahead of a severe winter storm set to impact the state and directed all non-essential employees to telecommute on February 23. In addition, she announced that she has activated the New York National Guard as a blizzard is forecast to hit Long Island.
According to the governor’s office, forecasts now indicate 18 to 24 inches of snow with winds potentially gusting at more than 65 miles per hour on Long Island. Nassau and Suffolk are under blizzard warnings. These blizzard conditions will create extremely dangerous travel conditions, coastal flooding and the potential for power outages.
Beginning Sunday, 100 members of the New York National Guard with 25 vehicles will be staged across the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island to support Downstate response operations and local partners. Additionally, the State Emergency Operations Center was activated Sunday morning.
Long Island Rail Road service will be suspended effective 1 a.m. on February 23, with the suspension expected to last through the morning rush. With the anticipated winter weather conditions, customers are strongly encouraged to check MTA.info or the MTA app for subway and bus service updates, and the TrainTime app for commuter rail information before traveling.
MTA paratransit services will be suspended starting at 9 p.m. tonight. MTA bus service will continue to run, but road conditions may impact service.
Hochul said Long Island will receive critical snow operations throughout Long Island. This includes four operators from the Capital Region; 21 operators and three supervisors from the Mohawk Valley; 16 operators and two supervisors from Central New York; 16 operators and two supervisors from North Country; and eight operators and one supervisor from the eastern Southern Tier.
The loader-blowers have already been deployed to Long Island. In addition, the state will provide 254 large plow trucks, 19 medium-duty plows, one tow plow, 35 large loaders and one snow blower.
The New York State Department of Public Service remains engaged with the regulated electric and gas utilities to ensure adequate preparations are being made for the winter coastal storm system. The Department’s priority remains on safeguarding reliable and resilient electric and gas service for New Yorkers throughout this storm by maintaining regulatory oversight of the utilities’ preparedness and response to any outages that may occur.
New York’s utilities currently have about 6,016 workers available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair, and restoration efforts across New York State. This includes more than 500 mutual aid workers secured by PSEG-LI, Con Edison, O&R, and NYSEG. Utility crews are prepared to respond in these adverse conditions and are implementing resource plans, including shifting resources to support areas anticipated to receive the greatest impact. Department staff will continue to track utilities’ work throughout the event.
The Department has additional information available on Winter Preparedness, including Winter Safety and current consumer protections available at: Winter Preparedness | Department of Public Service. The public is encouraged to contact the Department’s Office of Consumer Services for complaints or concerns regarding their utility Contact Us | Department of Public Service.
The State Police has added extra patrols to the areas that will be affected by the storm, and additional personnel will be deployed as needed. State Police have also moved additional four-wheel-drive utility task vehicles to Long Island, and all four-wheel drive vehicles and snowmobiles are staged and ready for activation.
To report an outage, call National Grid at (800) 867-5222 for electric, 1 (800) 490-0045 for gas or PSEGLI at (800) 490-0075.