Snow Emergency Declared in Suffolk County

Update, 1:30 p.m.:  In the hours since East Hampton Town and Village declared a state of emergency, other municipalities have followed suit.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone declared a state of emergency at 11 a.m. The Town of Southampton did so at noon, Supervisor Jay Schneiderman announced. Mayor Sandra Schroeder declared a snow of emergency, effective 2 p.m. 

Parking on public streets is probited during snow emergencies. Motorists are asked to stay off the roads.

Originally, 9:50 a.m.: With the snow steadily falling, officials are telling residents to stay off the roads and let highway crews do their work without vehicular traffic. 

On his Facebook page, East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell advised constituents that parking on public roads is suspended, town offices and recycling centers are closed, and people should stay home. "With snowfalls forecast up to three inches per hour later this morning and afternoon, and a foot or more accumulations in blizzard conditions, the Town of East Hampton has declared a snow emergency," he said. 

East Hampton Village is also under a state of emergency. All South Fork schools are closed.

There was at least one accident in East Hampton Thursday morning. A two-car crash on Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road, near Gann Road, at about 8:40 sent one person to the hospital, according to fire officials. No serious injuries were reported.

Suffolk County Transit canceled all bus service ahead of the storm, and the Hampton Jitney canceled all operations until at least late this afternoon. 

A blizzard warning for Suffolk County remains in effect until 6 p.m. The latest update from the National Weather Service forecasts 10 to 16 inches on the South Fork, with lesser amounts possible. Heavy snow and strong winds could provide whiteout conditions and power outages, and downed trees are possible.

In the Town of Southampton, town offices and transfer stations are closed. Residents with storm-related emergencies can call the Emergency Operations Center at 631-728-3400. Power outages can be reported directly to P.S.E.G.-Long Island at 1-800-490-0075.