By Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz
Dealing with extreme weather conditions in Erie County means being prepared throughout the winter season for massive amounts of snow, high winds and freezing temperatures. Our Department of Public Works is ready thanks to our impressive combination of plow trucks, high lift loaders, snow blowers and road graders manned by professional employees to keep roadways safe and clear of snow, ice and other debris.
Erie County’s website has resources you can access to learn about road closures and other temporary travel restrictions and to find out what government agency plows a particular street. We also plan this winter to provide an online portal to allow the public to better understand and prepare for when extreme winter weather may be hitting a specific community. Visit www.erie.gov/dpw/ to stay up to date with the latest information from our well-trained professional DPW staff.
The Erie County Department of Health reminds everyone that winter weather can temporarily disable power and disrupt travel plans, which can include trips to medical appointments or to obtain prescription medication. If you or someone in your household has medical or physical needs that depend on electricity or the ability to get to medical care, please make and update your plans for care now so everyone is prepared if an emergency occurs.
Any home that has access to a generator should have a supply of fuel for their unit and the homeowner should practice turning it on and hooking it up a safe distance from the home that is safely away from doors, windows and vents to avoid allowing carbon monoxide from coming indoors. For more information about preparing for winter weather, be sure to visit www.erie.gov and click on “Prepare for Winter Weather”
Erie County’s Office of Health Equity has two editions of their newsletter available online that provide information about winter weather emergencies and how to prepare for other challenges that could occur during other types of emergency situations. “Let’s Get Ready for Winter Weather” and “Let’s Talk about Emergency Planning can be downloaded by visiting www.erie.gov/health/health-equity .
With winter’s arrival now upon us, it is important for us all to think through the most likely ways that a few feet of snow could disrupt or endanger your health and safety and to make plans now to help reduce those risks. Most importantly, think about older family members and elderly neighbors who could use some extra support in cold and dangerous weather and make it a point to regularly check on them by giving them a call or paying a personal visit.
Please don’t forget our free ReadyErie app can be downloaded to your cell phone to help guide you during an emergency. You can download it by visiting: www.erie.gov/dhses/get-readyerie-preparedness-app .