Buffalonians may be caught off guard

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - So, are you ready for winter? Some people may get caught off guard overnight.

It's been a long time since we've seen any snow here in western New York and mother nature has decided it's time to return.

Valu Home Center shoppers were getting ready for winters return. Pat DiGiacomo picked up some brushes and a survival kit for his daughter.

"Even though she only drives back and forth to school it's just something to have in her car," said DiGiacomo.

This shopper had the same thought.

"They're calling for snow tomorrow and I don't have a brush for my car cause I gave my daughter my brush that was in my car for her car," said Vinny Digiovancarlo.

But not everyone has been thinking that winter's on it's way.
These shovels haven't exactly been flying off the shelves.
Store Manager Jim Surdej says most people wait until they see snow.

Surdej said, "Not too quick it's starting to turn but as the weather gets worse we'll be ready."

The drivers at Grabber and Sons are ready.

They have ten trucks and salters on stand-by for the overnight hours.

"[We] have trucks at secondary locations waiting to be dispatched," said Dick Remington of Grabber and Sons.

Remington says they have lots of customers already contracted, but they expect to hear from a lot more tomorrow.

Remington added, "As soon as it starts to fall, there's the phone, you can't keep up with the phone."

The city crews in Buffalo are planning ahead.

"We're gonna have 28 to 30 drivers on at 2 a.m. when it's anticipated that the snow is about to start," said Steve Stepniak, Buffalo Public Works Commissioner.

The city had anticipated getting its new GPS tracking system in place for the first now fall, but the Public Works Commissioner tells News 4 they were delayed by federal funding grants for the $274,000 project. They hope to have it up and running in a few weeks.