Crews from the FDNY and the Suffolk County Department of Public Works are both hitting the road north to help Buffalo dig out from the enormous blizzard that has pummeled the city with more than six feet of snow.
Crews from both agencies headed across the state late this week, leaving just enough time to pack a bag prepare equipment. The FDNY says it is sending 35 members of its incident management team to help with efforts, while the Suffolk County Department of Public Works says it's sending seven volunteers to help clear the roads.
"We don't really know what to expect, just that it's bad," said Richard Carey, the foreman leading the Suffok County crew. "It's going to be a big challenge."
It's a challenge county officials said they had to face, a chance to give back to the upstate crews who helped Long Island dig out after the blizzard of 2013.
Getting rid of snow is nothing new to Carey and Suffolk's other DPW road warriors, but Buffalo's blizzard is astounding even to them.
"This is beyond anything we have ever seen," said Steve Bellone. "And we stand with our fellow New Yorkers."
A police escort led a convoy of two pay loaders and two dump trucks as they began the journey Thursday, with county executive wishing them luck before they left. The trip will cost Suffolk about $5,000 a day, but officials hope to get that money reimbursed after the snow emergency is over.
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The FDNY's crew, which also responded to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and several other natural disasters across the country, left Friday morning from Randall's Island. They took with them dozens trucks and other equipment. They'll be assisting in a multitude of ways and plan to sleep in a Buffalo school in between shifts.
"The FDNY wants to do its part to help our neighbors in Western New York quickly get free from the effects of this deadly and crippling storm," said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.
It's unclear if either crew will make it back to the tri-state for Thanksgiving. One of Suffolk County's volunteers said he packed enough clothes for four days, and after that it's anyone's guess. He just hopes he can find an open laundromat if he stays.
