Nassau County Residents Urged To Stay Home

Though Winter Storm Gail was predicted to be the biggest storm of the season, she didn’t roll out her winds and snow quite as expected in Nassau County, but the nor’easter did leave her mark across the region. The snow and slush left in her wake was enough to contribute to hazardous road conditions — car crashes and snarled traffic — prompting County Executive Laura Curran to urge residents to stay indoors and enjoy their snow day, sort of.

The nor’aster blew through communities across the North Shore blanketing them with a little less than 10 inches of snow in areas such as Roslyn, Manhasset, and Glen Cove. Along the South Shore, in areas like Baldwin, Bellmore, and the Five Towns, communities saw between three and five inches. In coastal areas, there was only minor flooding.

Curran said the county deployed 85 trucks to salt the roadways and that workers would continue to plow as the day wore on.

“We are asking everyone to stay at home if you can,” she told news reporters during a blistery press conference outside the Department of Public Works’ headquarters in Hicksville. In what she described as "more sobering news," Curran noted that police responded to 43 auto accidents, 18 of which involved injuries. “It is still dangerous please be very, very careful,” she said.

Overnight, paramedics answered five COVID-19-related calls. When asked if she was concerned about whether the county’s medical response to COVID-19 cases could be affected by the storm, Curran urged residents to keep their cars off the roadways to clear a path for not only the cleanup effort, but also for first responders answering calls.

“It is a concern and that is why it is important to stay off the roads,” she said.

Due to the road conditions, the Nassau Inter-County Express, or NICE bus, was experiencing 40-to-50 minute delays in service and some routes were detoured, Curran noted.

The high winds did pick up during the storm, but PSEG noted there were only about 1,000 homes without power overnight, and that number dropped to nearly half — 570 — by 10 a.m., she said.

When asked about the response of PSEG, which came me under some heavy fire over the summer for its response to Tropical Storm Isaias when thousands were left without power, Curran said she was pleasantly surprised.

“I know that they are working as hard as they can to satisfy their customers,” she said.

Curran urged residents to take it easy as the harsh weather continues. Heart attacks from shoveling heavy, wet snow are common this time of year. To prevent that, people should volunteer to help out neighbors who might not be in the best of health, she said.

Other help is also available, Curran noted. The county’s warming centers are open today until 6 p.m. They include Cantiague Park in Hicksville, Wantagh Park, and Mitchell Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale. Curran also reminded residents who might know someone in need of shelter for the night, that help is available. The county does offer emergency housing which can be arranged by contacting 516-573-8626.

“It’s really important that we all look out for each other,” she said.