ABC: At least 51 people have died nationwide from the wintry weather wreaking havoc across the U.S. over Christmas weekend.
The most deaths are in New York state, where 29 people have died in the wake of a massive lake effect snowstorm, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and local officials.
Hochul called the storm “the blizzard of the century” in western New York during a news conference Monday and said the White House has promised to quickly approve an emergency disaster declaration. President Joe Biden said he spoke to Hochul on Monday afternoon.
Twenty-seven of New York’s deaths are in Erie County, which includes the city of Buffalo, Mark Poloncarz, the executive of Erie County, said Monday. Among the causes of death confirmed by the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office were three people who suffered heart attacks while shoveling or blowing snow, 14 people who were found outside and three who died due to an EMS delay.
“We do expect that there will be more,” Poloncarz said.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said 18 bodies were recovered in the city of Buffalo; most were found by police inside of vehicles.
A driving state of emergency remains in effect in Erie County and Poloncarz said police will start issuing summons to people driving around — “joyriding” — in violation of the driving ban. He said the city of Buffalo remains impassable.
Poloncarz said another 8 to 12 inches of snow is forecast for the region through 1 p.m. Tuesday. Buffalo received 43 inches of snow over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. MORE
Noted over at the Feral Irishman this morning embedded in the memes is a picture of some gentleman standing in a thirties convertible with sixty to seventy foot snow drifts on either side.
Think maybe we were a tad more self reliant years back?
Upstate. Yes, that happens. Every single year. As far back as records have been kept. Why all the “acting” surprised?
p.s. How’s that white supremacy workin’ out for ya? Not enough rainbow shovels there?
At least we finally have a cause of death other than “Covid”.
Joyriding without a mask being a class 1 felony in New York.
Every time I see a picture of Hochul I feel sorry for her groanocologist. For erections lasting more than four hours, look at her.
If you vote Democrat, you deserve to freeze.
Sippin’ Coffee December 27, 2022 at 10:03 am
Upstate. Yes, that happens. Every single year. As far back as records have been kept. Why all the “acting” surprised?
————————-
Because I’d say most of the people around today, weren’t around in 1977 when the last great blizzard hit Buffalo. My SIL who lives in Buffalo, she’s 62 yo, can’t remember this severe of a blizzard hitting Buffalo. Like most disaster warnings, people don’t heed them. Probably because the weather guy has been wrong in the past. We’re getting slammed here in N. CA, we’re ready for whatever. We’ve never depended on others to make it through whatever.
As Pelosi said, “Happy Shwanzah!”
“…and three who died due to an EMS delay.”
…this would look extremely stupid as an actual cause of death in a coroner’s report. You can say that it would have increased the probability of a positive outcome had EMS not been delayed by bad weather/vehicle problems/personnel shortages/wrecks/whatever, but the EMS was responding TO something and was not the CAUSE of the problem they were being summoned to address.
There was a PROXIMATE cause of death that was present prior to any call to EMS. Everyone dies of the same thing; they stop breathing and their heart stops beating, but this is always subsequent TO some underlying pathology. Presumedly someone didn’t call EMS when they were feelng perfectly healthy and then died of broken heart syndrome because they felt like EMS didn’t love them.
There was SOMETHING that triggered the response, and that SOMETHING is what they died of. You get no guarentees that EMS can save EVERYBODY even if you go down in the ambulance bay in front of a full crew.
Saying “died due to an EMS delay” is like saying “I was late to work because of a car problem due to a tow truck delay”. At most it improves the odds of survival, but it wasn’t what caused the problem in the first place, there’s something in the middle there being left out.
I speak from the perspective of someone who has been on both sides of this, having had to make Squad runs in fithy weather and as someone who lives far enough out that it takes 20 minutes minimum in GOOD weather to get an ambulance. Stuff happens that can increase repsonse times, but that alone doesn’t kill.
Just last night some fellow stabbed himself in the city down the hill from my house. Because it takes a long time by land to get to a hospital even WITHOUT ice, a helicopter was summoned…which could not land because of the blowing and drifting snow would make that too hazardous.
Not sure what the patient’s outcome was, but if he died, it is not likely they will put “died due to a helicopter pilot not being a badass and risking killing everyone in the aircraft and quite a many on the ground”.
Ambulances and other emergency vehicles do NOT get a special dispensation from God as they go about their duties, as anyone who ever slid sideways in the jumpseat of a 40,000 pound pumper can tell you. It doesn’t help ANYONE if you add to the EMS load by blocking approach to the scene with a wrecked ambulance and injured crew. If you live in places where delays like this are likely, as I do, you should take into account that rescue may not be ready at hand and prepare accordingly. Number one, don’t do stupid, risky things in snowstorms to reduce the chance of injury and/or cardiovascular problems right up front. Number two, equip yourself; if you have medicines for chronic conditions make sure you have a ready supply, and also have bandages, pads, tourniquets, splints, emergency blankets, blood stoppers, an EpiPen if you have allergy problems, Insta-Glucose for diabetic emergencies, etc., on hand, as well as whatever more advanced things you may require and can get legally and are trained to use like Narcan (not JUST for junkies, old folks sometimes forget a pill and OD on pain medication), an AED, suction devices, mask with a one-way valve (you’ll thank me when your patient vomits), things like this, the more the better as you may be alone for awile; and most importantly, TRAIN to help others, even if your own family, by taking a basic (often FREE) first aid and CPR course so you MAY save a loved one’s life while the ambulance crabs up your icy hill.
I would challenge a death certificate that had the PROXIMATE cause of death as a “Delay in EMS”. At most, it’s a contributing factor, the only way EMS could CAUSE the death is if they wreck on the way to and from the scene.
But saying “three who died due to an EMS delay” without any qualification whatsoever?
That’s just stupid.
SNS DECEMBER 27, 2022 AT 1:02 PM
“That’s just stupid.”
Wait, you’re telling me that the media is stupid!? Surely you don’t mean that there could ever be anything erroneous in their reporting. And perhaps governmental agencies less than efficient or unable to preform miracles???
I’m getting concerned now about everything that I’ve been told as being less than gospel.
IN NOMINE Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.
Anymouse
DECEMBER 27, 2022 AT 1:34 PM
“Wait, you’re telling me that the media is stupid!?”
…well, its MSN, so…
Anymouse
DECEMBER 27, 2022 AT 1:34 PM
“And perhaps governmental agencies less than efficient or unable to preform miracles???”
…not that they don’t have issues from time to time, but if we turn to the Book of Star Trek, the Next Generation, we find this…
“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.”
ST:TNG Season 2, Ep. 21
…and from the Book of M*A*S*H…
“Rule number one is: young men die. Rule number two is: doctors can’t change rule number one.”
M*A*S*H: S1, Ep.17
Humans have limits whether on time or late.
Shit happens.
Sometimes God says “NO”
…and I can take on any SOB in the house at Dominoes Voboscum
I read the entire article and to my amazement not one mention of “climate change” or C02 even from that bitch governor from NY… must be a statistical anomaly… *shrug*
/Salute
“We’re getting slammed here in N. CA, we’re ready for whatever.”
Yes we are. Second time in the last ten years I had to go back home and get a chain saw so I could get to work.
People have generally begun to question or ignore most of the news media, including weather people, because of the many, many times we have been intentionally lied to (politics) or mistakenly misled (weather).
The overwrought news and weather people have not helped. I would so much rather hear a concise, calm, discussion than the usual “hair on fire” reports.
SNS DECEMBER 27, 2022 AT 1:52 PM
Et Cum Spiritu Tuo
Or as my old man used to say, “I can play dominoes better than you can.”
A cappella, Schola Cantorum, Gregorian Chant were part of the life over sixty years ago. Then I escaped.
There’s a reason why Buffalo is known as “gangster town”. Disgusting place fit only for people such as Huckster Hochul.
They said Camaros and Snow don’t mix.
Anymouse
DECEMBER 27, 2022 AT 4:19 PM
Glad to see I can still make a recognizable Catholic joke.
Seeing as how the Communist “pope” is abandoning Latin mass, no one in the modern Catholic Church will be able to understand my joke or your continuation of it very much longer…
Lost me in 62′ when they gave me the perfect fast for Lent.
Gave up organized religion and have kept the fast for life.