Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Deadly Storm Sucker Punches New York

By DNAinfo Staff on February 26, 2010 7:46am  | Updated on February 26, 2010 12:01pm

By Mariel S. Clark and Jim Scott

DNAinfo Staff

MANHATTAN — Mother Nature sucker-punched New Yorkers Friday as they woke up to far worse weather conditions than forecasters and officials initially predicted from a massive and deadly snowstorm.

Nasty winds topping 50 mph and snow that fell at roughly an inch an hour didn't let up throughout the night, making for dangerous road conditions, public transit headaches and sporadic power outages. The National Weather Service extended its Major Winter Storm Warning through Saturday.

The storm killed a Brooklyn man in Central Park on Thursday and caused at least one partial building collapse, in Harlem, on Friday, officials said.

Just before dawn, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein reversed their decision made Thursday not to close public schools. At roughly 5:30 a.m., the city made the call to close schools.

A tree fell on a city bus on Fifth Avenue during a snow storm on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010.
A tree fell on a city bus on Fifth Avenue during a snow storm on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Jennifer Glickel

Alternate side parking rules were suspended for Friday, but parking meter rules were still in effect.

Before the storm clears the area on Saturday, as much as 20 inches could cover the city.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a Friday press conference that 2,200 workers were out clearing the snow, along with 365 salt trucks and 1,600 snow plows. Bloomberg said more than 170,000 tons of salt were available for use city wide.

The Dept. of Homeless Services said it had declared a Code Blue, and more outreach workers were deployed to help people living on the streets seek shelter.

Con Edison reported small outages in Manhattan. One outage was affecting 17 customers on Mott and Spring streets. Two others on the Upper West Side —  on 79th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues and on 85th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West — were also reported.

"We expect there to be more outages just due to the nature of the weather," Chris Olert, a Con Ed spokesman, told Channel 2.

While sanitation workers battled the blowing snow, many Manhattan offices told nonessential workers to stay home. While they're there, they should be careful, the mayor said.

"We're encouraging people to use caution when shoveling snow," Bloomberg said. "Don't over exert yourself."

Subway and bus lines were also affected by the winter mess.

Almost every line was running on a reduced service and making local stops. For a full list of subway and bus delays, check the MTA Web site.

Bus service was also delayed across Manhattan.

Several commuter lines, including Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North and NJ Transit were also experiencing delays.

The storm, which began with heavy rains mixed with snow on Thursday, turned deadly by late afternon.

Elmaz Qyra, 46, of Brooklyn, was killed when heavy snow caused a branch to give way and strike him in the head.

Interactive
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Jason Tucker

The Parks Department warned New Yorkers Thursday night to avoid city parks as the heavy snow and high winds created a falling branch danger.

Another tree hit a city bus on Fifth Avenue and a car was struck by a falling branch. No serious injuries were reported in those two incidents, according to the FDNY.

Area airports were also a mess with thousands of stranded passengers waiting at terminals in the hope that planes would leave Friday.

The weather caused massive delays and cancellations at all area airports. The severe weather caused a delay in the start of the borough's taxi share program, which was supposed to kick off Friday but instead will start March 3 at 6 a.m., Bloomberg said.

 

 

Cathy Marino, who works in Battery Park City, jumps a slush puddle in four-inch, open-toed heels.
Cathy Marino, who works in Battery Park City, jumps a slush puddle in four-inch, open-toed heels.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Josh Williams