Village Working to Clear Streets From Blizzard

The Village of Patchogue is asking for its residents to keep cars off the road while its trucks plow the snow.

The village, which is posting updates from its official Facebook page, also announced that garbage pickup was cancelled for Monday.

The Department of Public Works (DPW), which runs the snow removal and sanitation services, said that while the trucks have been out, many roads remain impassable due to the blowing and drifting that is taking place. The department said that since sanding and salting could not take place Monday morning until the winds died down, some roads may still be icy.

Patchogue village trustee Joseph Keyes said that while the operation is still ongoing, main roads are looking good and that sand has since been placed on the side roads.

"We are keeping the operations going and expect by tomorrow morning's main rush that it should be good," Keyes said.

"Some of the side streets are not as good as the main roads but everybody can get out," said Paul Pontieri, mayor of Patchogue village. Pontieri said that the village code enforcement has been out since early afternoon Sunday, and on Monday have been reminding people to keep their vehicles off the road for the snow plow. The fire departments are also on standby.

The village also posted on its Facebook page that, as per village code, all residents that own motor vehicles must remove their automobiles from any street affected by an emergency due to snowfall, flood, fire or other extraordinary condition affecting normal flow of traffic. The code defines a snow state of emergency as anytime two or more inches of snow or ice have accumulated on streets.

In addition to removing vehicles, on the Patchogue village website the DPW advises residents to stay 200 feet away from plow trucks so they can backup, shovel snow from driveways into the parkway and not the street to keep conditions safe for motorists and pedestrians and to place property markers on property lines to help the person plowing distinguish between the road and property when there is a lot of snow.

The village, which generally comprises the area of Patchogue below Sunrise Highway, contracts its own snow removal services that are separate from that of the Town of Brookhaven. The includes North Patchogue, East Patchogue and Medford in its coverage for snow plowing.

Patchogue Village Hall and all other departments aside from code enforcement and the DPW remain closed Monday for the holiday weekend.