Patchogue Storm Prep: 'Everything We Do Is Based On The Health And Safety of The Residents,' Mayor Says

PATCHOGUE, NY — Patchogue village officials are on the ready for what forecasters are predicting it will bring between four and eight inches to the region.

On Friday morning, they started by warning of a potential snow emergency in a post to Facebook, explaining that village officials can declare a snow emergency in the event of the accumulation of more than two inches of snow.

That itself should serve as notice that residents should remove their vehicles off the streets.

In anticipation of the expected snowstorm, officials explained the village's code "determines" a snow emergency and its requirements.

No one is permitted to park in the street "affected by an emergency due to snowfall, flood, fire, or other extraordinary condition affecting the normal flow of traffic," according to the post.

The accumulation of more than two inches of snow or ice as a result of a snowstorm, hail, sleet, or flood water, "shall be deemed notice to all persons that a state of emergency" exists, the post read.

Mayor Paul Pontieri "may also issue a snow emergency dictate with the same force of law."

Vehicles can be moved to village parking lots during the emergency, according to the post.

Pontieri issued a State of Emergency directive two weeks ago during the last big snowstorm on Dec. 14, when parts of Long Island saw up to eight inches.

Pontieri told Patch the village always has problems with residents parking on the street, and that the post was made to head some of those problems off.

He explained that the storm two weeks ago came out of nowhere, and was not believed initially to be of major concern, but then the village saw an accumulation of six inches.

"We ended up getting six inches of snow, which, with the more vehicles they can get off the roads, the closer you can get the cleaning the roads," he said. "Curb to curb is really what you want."

That wasn't the case.

"I don't think anybody expected it to be what it was," Pontieri said.

Since the storm, Village Hall has received several calls from residents airing concerns about the cleanup.

Mid-morning on Friday, the Department of Public Works was busy getting vehicles ready, checking them, and making sure there weren't any issues, Pontieri said, adding that on Friday afternoon, the department will start by dropping some salt at the intersections and major roadways.

"We have an agreement with the county, which is wonderful: Salt for services," he said.

Suffolk County gives the village salt, and in turn, the village takes care of its properties, including the courthouse on Main Street, the police department's 5th Precinct on Waverly Avenue, and the parking lots. The properties' lawns are mowed in the good weather, and then plowed in the winter.

"This is very advantageous to us, because we got guys out, plowing anyway, so why not have them plow the parking lot? They're doing it anyway," he added.

"Everything that we do in terms of the storm is based on health and safety, about the safety of the residents," he said, adding that he understands some residents might have to go out and drive in the bad weather. "If they must, we may have to make sure our streets are clean and clear."