Watch CBS News

L.I. Residents Stock Up On Snow Supplies

SYOSSET, N.Y. (CBS New York) -- Residents have been stocking up on supplies Tuesday on their way to work to get ready for the coming snow, Jay Dow reports.

Last month's blizzard left its mark on Long Island resident Patty Barbosa. "My house was just full of snow and I couldn't even get in. So I said this time I'm going to prepare myself."

She picked up three bags of salt, hoping to keep her property accessible during and after the storm that's expected to hit late tonight.

Podcast

WCBS 880's Levon Putney on NJ Transit's snow prep

Podcast

WCBS 880's Sean Adams searching for snow supplies in Hackensack

Podcast

WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs in Melville

Podcast

WCBS 880's Paul Murnane in Nanuet

Home Depot assistant store manager Chris McMullen said he and his staff has been working overtime to keep up with demand. "It's been a little rough. We've had constant foot traffic coming in here. I mean, people are trying to get ready. I think they're a little nervous over last week's storm. We had gone through a little over 2,000 bags of just ice melt alone."

The store was stacked high with salt and ice melt, more than enough for anxious customers, but McMullen said snow blowers and shovels were selling faster than he could keep them in stock.

In fact, the store's last six shovels sold out in just two minutes.

"We had one shovel in our house, so I needed to get a second one. But I guess I'm not getting one here, now," said Lauri Margolis of Long Island. "Sold out."

McMullen said more shovels were on their way from his distribution center. At the rate they've been selling, it's likely when they arrive, they won't be at the store for long.

Not only residents were getting ready, but crews were as well. The storm headed our way has already blanketed the South with snow. State Department of Transportation crews were readying plow trucks and pre-treating roads with salt and sand in advance of the storm.

"We are bracing ourselves in Suffolk County for up to 18 inches again," Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said.

Podcast

1010 WINS' Mona Rivera with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy

Podcast

1010 WINS Reporter Mona Rivera reports on the GPS-equipped snow plows in Islip

The goal is to avoid the kind of mess that unfolded during last month's blizzard, when many roads and vehicles were buried under more than a foot of snow.

"Our shoreline has been eaten away at with six major storms over 2010 and to start off 2011 with another Nor'easter poses a great difficulty for us but we'll be ready, as we always are, with 250 trucks ready to roll and we're going to keep it under control," Levy said.

The MTA was warning rail commuters that 10 to 13 inches of snow on the rails Wednesday morning could trigger LIRR service disruptions and schedule changes.

Podcast

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports from Hempstead

Podcast

WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau on prep in Danbury

Podcast

WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi reports from White Plains

Podcast

WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports from Hoboken

Across the Hudson River in New Jersey, the fear of a repeat pounding has elected officials in Hoboken reassuring the public of their readiness.

"We want to make sure that our community is comletely safe for the storm," said Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. "We recognize from the last storm that we need to do a better job of reaching out to residents to alert them of the storm, and to advise them, in a snow emergency they do need to remove their cars from snow emergency roads."

Hoboken will even warn residents via reverse 9-1-1 calls about the upcoming snow emergency.

Meawhile, Connecticut residents are also ready to get out their shovels for the third time in recent weeks. Forecasters are predicting 10 to 12 inches of snow in most of the state Wednesday.

Connecticut transportation officials say they are preparing hundreds of plows for sanding and salting duties. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and officials from several state agencies also are talking with municipal leaders Tuesday about preparations.

Dow o/c open, clip #46, 00:13-00:28,
Jay dow, syosset, long island)
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.