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First major snow storm of 2013

| 14 Feb 2013 | 09:17
    Three cheers for snow! Many families took advantage of the excellent sleigh riding conditions in the Village of Warwick at Stanley-Deming Park.
    Three cheers for snow! Many families took advantage of the excellent sleigh riding conditions in the Village of Warwick at Stanley-Deming Park.
    Photo by Roger Gavan Clear blue skies provide a good photo opportunity along Lower Wisner Road.
    Photo by Roger Gavan Clear blue skies provide a good photo opportunity along Lower Wisner Road.
    Photo by Roger Gavan Phyllis Briller found the best and healthiest way to get around and visit neighbors was on cross-country skiis. Additional photos can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com
    Photo by Roger Gavan Phyllis Briller found the best and healthiest way to get around and visit neighbors was on cross-country skiis. Additional photos can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com
    Photo by Robert G. Breese A Pine Island classic with the red gift shop at Scheurmann's Farm and St. Peter's Lutheran Church in the background after a fresh snow has fallen.
    Photo by Robert G. Breese A Pine Island classic with the red gift shop at Scheurmann's Farm and St. Peter's Lutheran Church in the background after a fresh snow has fallen.

WARWICK — Although blizzard conditions paralyzed much of the Northeast, causing Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to declare a state of emergency in the state’s lower counties including Orange County, most Warwick residents awoke Saturday morning, February 9, to a typical winter day for this area.

Nevertheless, it was the first major snowstorm of the year, leaving more than 600,000 homes in other parts of the Northeast without power.

Before the storm, Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc., made robocalls to customers that provided emergency numbers and warnings to stay clear of downed wires.

O&R spokesperson Maria Pollard, reported approximately 2,000 power outages but most of these, she added, were in Rockland County.

“We were well-prepared and it was helpful that there was little icing to contend with,” said Pollard. “We were able to be demobilized by mid-Saturday.”

Mount Peter Ski Area reported 13 inches of fresh snow, which translated into a 24- to 50-inch base for skiers and snow boarders. That was good news for people who enjoy winter sports and a welcome improvement over last year’s mild and snowless winter.

It was also good news for families who took advantage of the excellent sleigh riding conditions in the Village of Warwick at Stanley-Deming Park.

Besides escaping the almost three feet of snow that blanketed parts of nearby Connecticut and Long Island, the snowstorm also arrived at the very beginning of the weekend when most people were at home while town and village crews cleared the roads.

“I am proud of our Department of Public Works and the outstanding job they did over the 24 to 36 hours of this significant snowfall,” said Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton. “Our roads were clear by daybreak and our crews continued battling drifts all day to make our roads safe.”

Mayor Michael Newhard was also pleased with the preparation and work of the Village Department of Public Works.

“The Village DPW did an excellent job before, during and in the aftermath of the storm,” he said. “It is hard to predict where resources are to be best used. Our DPW Supervisor, Kirk Williams, made sure we were prepared for the worst case scenario. We had plenty of salt and he worked with Keith Herbert, our water plant operator, to make sure there were auxiliary generators in the event of power outages at any of our pump facilities.”

- Roger Gavan