Hudson Valley County Sends Road Crews To Help In Buffalo

DUTCHESS COUNTY, NY — Eight members of the Dutchess County Public Works highway crew are headed to Buffalo to help the region dig out from a historic series of storms that have buried Erie County in snow.

More than 30 people died in the area after blizzard conditions dumped several feet of snow, and cause power outages and impassable roadways.

Dutchess County Public Works is sending eight crew members and equipment, including front-end loaders and dump trucks.

The crew left Poughkeepsie Tuesday and will begin working Wednesday, gathering with other crews from around the state at SUNY’s Buffalo State College.

County officials said the team will be there through the end of the week and travel back to the Hudson Valley Saturday.

Medical examiner and coroner staff have also been overwhelmed in the city of Buffalo and Erie County, resulting in requests for assistance with morgue and medical examiner services. The Duthcess County Medical Examiners’ Office is coordinating assistance response.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said the people in Erie County and other parts of western New York are dealing with overwhelming conditions as a result of the historic weather.

“Lives have been lost and their residents are in need,” he said, “so we are answering the call to pitch in to help.

“Neighbors help neighbors,” Molinaro said,” we are all New Yorkers and we help one another, it is what we do.”