Politics & Government

Petrone Declares Snow Emergency

HHH schools cancel all evening events.

In expectation of a major storm affecting the area starting tonight, Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone declared an official snow emergency, effective at 5 p.m., and announced the cancellation of events scheduled for the evening at town facilities.

Petrone also ordered the Town's Emergency Operations Center to open at 6 p.m. to help coordinate communications among town departments and fire and rescue services. Representatives from several town departments with key emergency responsibilities were told to report to the center, in the town's general services facility on Pulaski Road in Huntington Station.

"We have been tracking the storm, and it is now clear that a significant snowfall will occur starting later this evening," Supervisor Petrone said. "I am declaring a snow emergency now, before we feel the brunt of the storm, to let our residents make appropriate plans and to put town workers on notice they might be needed at any time to assist in dealing with the storm's effects." 

Find out what's happening in Half Hollow Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under a snow emergency, the supervisor has the power to close roads, appropriate necessary equipment from all sources and make necessary purchases without following the usual procedures. The declaration also makes available to the Highway Department Town equipment and personnel to assist Highway Department crews.

With the predictions of snowfall intensifying, HHH school district canceled all afternoon and evening events for the day.

Find out what's happening in Half Hollow Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parents were being advised to check school websites Thursday morning for information about possible closings or delayed openings.

The National Weather Service increased its warnings about the snow, saying the storm is now expected to drop 8 to 12 inches of snow.

The Long Island Rail Road added an extra train to the Port Jefferson branch, a 
2:29 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington.


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