Town Officials Declare Snow Emergency

In advance of the blizzard predicted to hit the area starting tonight, Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone declared an official snow emergency, effective at 2 p.m., and announced the cancellation of events scheduled for tonight and tomorrow at Town facilities.

Supervisor Petrone also opened the Town’s Emergency Operations Center at 2 p.m. to help coordinate communications among Town departments and fire and rescue services. Representatives from several Town departments with key emergency responsibilities were told to report to the Center, in the Town’s general services facility on Pulaski Road in Huntington Station.

“The Town has been preparing for this storm for several days, and I hope that all residents have been, too,” Supervisor Petrone said. “With predictions of high winds and heavy now, the best place for residents is in their homes. At the same time, residents should feel confident that the Town is working hard to make roads passable and provide necessary services.”

Supervisor Petrone urged residents to stay off the roads and get cars off the street to make plowing more successful and to allow for emergency vehicle access.

Under a snow emergency, the Supervisor has the power to close roads, appropriate necessary equipment from all sources and make necessary purchases without following the usual procedures. The declaration also makes available to the Highway Department Town equipment and personnel to assist Highway Department crews.

Among the programs cancelled are tonight’s DJ Night at the Dix Hills Ice Rink as well as tomorrow morning’s group skating lessons and the afternoon public skating sessions. Also cancelled are creative arts programs at Lahey Elementary School, Southdown Elementary School, Silas Wood School and Signal Hill School; Saturday recreation programs for the developmentally disabled at Maplewood School; and the Friday night Pickle Ball program at Coindre Hall. The Coindre Hall Gym will be closed on Friday and Saturday.

The Recycling Center on New York Avenue will be closed on Saturday.

HART Bus paratransit service will not operate tomorrow, Saturday February 9. Scheduled HART bus service is suspended until noon on Saturday. A decision about whether service will resume in the afternoon will be made in the morning.

Persons who want to report a downed tree blocking a road should call the Highway Hotline at 499-0444. For emergencies, call the Public Safety Department at 271-2157 or 271-6573.

Supervisor Petrone advised residents to check the Town’s website, http://huntingtonny.gov, the Town’s Facebook page or government access channels 18 (Cablevision) and 38 (FIOS) for updates.