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Tri-State Area Digs Out After Major Winter Storm

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Residents around the Tri-State were digging out Friday after a massive winter storm dumped heavy snow across the area.

Mounds of snow could be seen piled up as plows throughout New York City continued to make their way through snow-packed streets.

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"There's a lot of snow out there. There's a lot more snow than we thought there was going to be," city Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said. "We're going to continue to stay on snow and try and start pulling some of this out and hauling it away."

Alternate-side parking in the city has been suspended for Friday and Saturday.

A school bus got stuck trying to maneuver its way through mounds of hardened snow as it turned onto 85th Road in Kew Gardens, Queens.

"I don't know why the people don't clean the streets. It's bad here," said Kew Gardens resident Olivia Resprepo.

Another school bus driver gave up altogether, reversing back down a street that still looked untouched by plows well after dawn, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.

Frances Antigone's SUV also got stuck after she tried turning onto a snow-packed road.

"I think people should stay home because, look, I got stuck. This is my second time," she said.

It took several minutes of our CBS2 photographer and another driver pushing and the car spinning until they were finally able to get her out.

The roads were plowed on Long Island, but some drivers still ran into trouble.

In Baldwin, an 18-wheeler tried to make a U-turn on Merrick Road and was stuck in the snow for about an hour before police were able to dig it out, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.

Paul Goldstein made his way from Bay Terrace, Queens, to go fishing in Long Beach, but he said driving wasn't easy.

"About an hour and a half. Normally would take me 40 minutes," he said. "Too much ice and snow on the road."

"I'm slipping and sliding on the road. It's terrible out here," a truck driver told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "I learned that I can fishtail in a truck. I learned that I could Tokyo drift. It wasn't fun."

Navigating the snow and ice is not only tough for drivers, but also pedestrians.

"It's dangerous, very dangerous," one woman told CBS2's Janelle Burrell. "I almost fell."

"There's ice. You slide on black ice. So I'm safer in the street," another man said.

Garcia said crews were focused Friday on pedestrian infrastructure.

"Crosswalks, bus stops, step streets," she said.

CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported that a 65-year-old man who was shoveling snow died of cardiac arrest and another man survived a heart attack after being taken to a hospital.

Residents are on edge as the wind chill gets dangerous.

Phil Giannusa, of Port Jefferson, said he's concerned about back-breaking shoveling in the deep freeze.

"I have a heart condition," he said. "My doctor always says to me, 'Don't do anything that drastic in the cold weather."

In nearby Terryville, a community of 12,000, calls were coming into dispatch Friday and EMTs were on alert for "any medical emergency, any trauma, any type of accident," one EMT said.

Just across busy Jayne Road, two seniors were taking on the task alone.

McLogan urged 81-year-old Felix Blanco to take a break."

Terryville was hit with nearly 17 inches of snow.

"Lucky us," said resident Marie Erickson, 80.

As many struggled to clear their homes and cars, residents could be seen helping neighbors out on Long Island.

Evangelisto Silva spent the morning using a 20-year-old tractor from his construction days to dig out after getting plowed in.

Neighbors on Blaine Avenue in East Meadow said they're lucky to have him.

"He's vital to the block to get us moving every day," said Jeff Robinson of East Meadow. "He's so nice. He comes in, and he pretty much helps everybody out on the block."

In the city, there are speed restrictions at all of the major elevated roadways such as the George Washington Bridge, the Verrazano Bridge and East River crossings as well as the Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge crossing.

In New Jersey, the state's major highways are down to pavement. However, motorists are advised to use caution because of icy spots.

Speeds were reduced on the Betsy Ross, Commodore Barry, Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman bridges.

City schools were open Friday, but other schools around the Tri-State area were closed or had delayed openings.

Some students had been hoping for another day off from school because of the slick roads in their neighborhoods.

"I don't like snow," one student said.

"I was praying school would be closed, but it wasn't closed," student Maria Ramon said. "I'm sad."

Others were grateful for the snow day, but eager to get back.

"It's better than staying home and doing nothing," said student Emilay Ospina.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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