O'side, Island Park residents prepare for February snow storm

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As freezing rain and snow mixed Friday, residents of Oceanside and Island Park readied themselves by filling up tanks of gas and stocking up on food.

In preparation of winter storm Nemo, which is is expected to blanket the south shore of Long Island with anywhere from eight to 14 inches of snow, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray has declared a snow emergency.

Under town code, residents are asked to remove their cars from town roadways when a snow emergency is in effect, so salters and plowers have a clear path to maintain roads.

“With several inches of snow and blizzard conditions being forecast, we are asking homeowners to give us a hand by removing vehicles from the curbside,” said Murray in a written release. “Hundreds of town workers will do their best to keep local roadways passable. Our employees will be working hard to clear streets from curb to curb, and can only be successful if their path is free of obstacles."

The Town of Hempstead is responsible for moving snow from 1,200 miles of town roadways and municipal parking fields in unincorporated areas of the town. A spokesperson for the Town of Hempstead said the plows are fueled and ready to go.

The maintenance of Hempstead Turnpike, Newbridge Road and Front Street are the state's responsibility.

The town's Highways Department is equipped with Smart Boards so they can easily monitor and communicate with its trucks in order to assure peak maintenance, said the town's spokesperson.

“We would also ask residents to be considerate, asking them not to shovel snow from their sidewalks and driveways into the public street," said Murray. "This will keep roadways as clear as possible while reducing the risk of shoveled snow being redeposited into driveways by subsequent plowing operations.

All after school and evening activities in the East Meadow School District have been canceled for Friday, Feb. 8, said a district spokeswoman. All activities for Saturday, Feb. 9 have also been canceled.

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