Snow blankets WNY, residents dig out

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The snow made it a slow go in many places Thursday, with people literally spinning their wheels trying to get somewhere during and after the storm.

Buffalo officials say multiple people got stuck in intersections as they were traveling Thursday morning. The storm brought snow at a rapid pace, and officials say this was a tough one.

The first major storm of the winter season blanketed the area in snow. The City of Buffalo got up to 12 inches of it, making it challenging for people to dig out Thursday morning.

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Buffalo resident Brian Rivers said, “I got stuck last night so I shoveled myself out last night. Went to bed and then I came out this morning and realized I have to shovel myself out again.

Betty Piazza lives on St. Lawrence Avenue in Buffalo. She said,  “It's very difficult. My husband is handicapped and we can't shovel all this snow.”

She says when a private plow company removed snow from an apartment lot, they dumped it in front of her house.

Piazza said, “I want them to clean it up whoever is responsible for that. I would like them to clean it up.”

Buffalo Public Works Commissioner Steve Stepniak says 40 pieces of equipment are on the road clearing the snow. They began when the snow started falling Wednesday afternoon, plowing the main and secondary roads first. Then, they made their way to the residential areas.

Because of the amount of snow that fell overnight, the roads are wet and slushy, and could be tricky to drive on. News 4 met one woman on Elmwood Avenue that turned to miss traffic, and ended up on the sidewalk.

Becca Bliemeister said, “We spun in the middle of the street then got in the snow bank.”

Last year, Buffalo didn’t see snow falls like this. Now that we have had a first dose of the wintry weather, some are excited but others are not.

Rivers said, “It was very pretty at first, and I'm over it already.”

Buffalo resident Cathie Rieley Goddard said, “We didn't really have any good snow last year so I’m happy. I love snow.”

Stepniak says crews are still out plowing the roads. He says one thing that’s important for drivers to remember Thursday night is to follow any parking changes.