STORM COVERAGE

Blizzard blankets Wantagh

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After a relatively calm winter, Mother Nature unveiled her wrath on Monday and Tuesday, dumping significant snowfall on the region. The blizzard closed schools, shut down roads and sent residents scurrying to stores to buy salt, shovels, food and water.

Snowfall greeted residents on Monday morning, and the day for most carried on as normal, though Wantagh schools let out early. By the time the storm was in full force that night, children were already assured of a snow day for the following day.

The conditions may have been treacherous, but most people were in good spirits, such as Brigid Smith, of Wantagh. Waking up on Tuesday morning to a sea of white, she said she was ready to make the most of the day. After four trips to King Kullen, and making sure her children had all the winter attire they needed such as snow pants and gloves, all preparations were done. “We had to make sure that the fridge was stocked up,” she said. “The last few days were spent running around a bit. With all the crazy forecasts we’ve had, it prompts you to get stuff together.”

Her two sons, 12 and 15, were looking forward to sledding at Cedar Creek Park while her two daughters, 6 and 8, were planning to build a snowman. “I do enjoy playing in the snow with them,” she said. “It’s nice to see their excitement.”

The day started out lazy, with the children sleeping late. But after a hearty breakfast, the plan was to bundle up and head out. Smith’s office was closed for the day. She said she loves one big snowstorm each winter, but her husband, Tony, prefers constant snowfall.

Smith added that she heard plows several times during the night, even on her cul-de-sac which is often the last to be cleared, so she was happy with efforts of the Town of Hempstead.

Town crews were out in full force once the snow began. The dangerous road conditions prompted the town to cancel all recreation and senior programs for Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as a town board meeting.

“Our government has continued its proactive practice of having salt spreaders on the roads prior to the first sign of snow,” Supervisor Kate Murray said. “We followed-up by deploying our large fleet of plows and other snow removal equipment.”

Businesses like supermarkets and hardware stores did well in the days leading up the blizzard, but Wantagh Chamber of Commerce President Chris Brown said a storm of this magnitude is typically bad for the business community. He said places like restaurants, specialty stores, barber shops, hair and nail salons, and other service-oriented businesses suffer from either having to close or a lack of customers.

“It affects the bottom line,” Brown said. “Anytime your doors are closed, that hurts business, and you have to do a mad dash to catch up.”

Brown said other businesses that do well in a storm are landscapers, which can offer plowing and shoveling services, and delis, convenience stores and doughnut shops which are frequented by the crews clearing the roads.

Sandy Gutsleish said her 15-year-old son, Sean, was looking to make a little money by helping people clear their sidewalks and driveways, while her younger children were excited about building a snowman and snow fort.

After enjoying a day in the snow, the family’s plan was to watch and movie that night. Gutsleisch herself was excited about the snow and said it was a “winter wonderland” when she looked out her window first thing in the morning.

“Absolutely beautiful,” she said. “We were prepared. We knew it was coming.”

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