Storm update: 20 inches, travel ban extended

By THANE GRAUEL

A Nor’easter thrust upon an already winter-weary Westchester began in earnest late Sunday and piled up overnight.

Virtually all non-emergency governmental offices are closed Monday, with the Westchester county executive declaring a countywide emergency and a travel ban from 9 p.m. last night until 6 p.m. Monday.

Spotters for the National Weather Service reported more than 20 inches in some places in Westchester by 11 a.m. Monday.

In the early hours Monday, New York State Electric and Gas had about three dozen customers in the area without power, in Mount Kisco and Lewisboro. Con Ed had more than 300 customers out, but none in The Recorder’s area. To report outages go to coned.com or nyseg.com. Together the utilities had hundreds without power around 1 p.m. Monday in Westchester, but none in Mount Kisco, Bedford, Pound Ridge or Lewisboro.

Bedford

All town offices will be closed Monday.

Supervisor Ellen Calves reminded people in a Sunday afternoon email of the county’s travel ban.

“Only essential workers, which includes snowplows, may be on the roads,” she wrote.

She said snow was expected to be heavier and wetter than the last storm.

“Heavy snow and wind may bring down trees and poles that could result in power outages,” she said. “Do not go near downed wires and check your outage status on your utility's website.”

Lewisboro

Lewisboro Supervisor Tony Gonçalves also told people, except non-essential workers, to observe the travel ban.

“Staying off the roads will enable our Highway Department and NYS DOT to plow our roads, and allow our first responders to safely and quickly respond to emergency calls,” he said.

All town offices are closed. Monday's Town Board meeting has been moved to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Mount Kisco

Mount Kisco Village Manager Edward Brancati declared a snow emergency for the village and invoked emergency parking rules. There is no parking on-street parking until noon Monday. “Violators may be towed or ticketed,” he wrote in his declaration.

People are also forbidden from throwing snow on plowed streets, and are responsible for contractors working for them who do so.

Free parking is available in all municipal lots during the emergency.

Pound Ridge

The town’s Highway and Maintenance departments pretreated all town roads ahead of the storm, Pound Ridge Supervisor Kevin Hansan said in a Sunday email, and crews were ready for plowing and sanding operations as conditions worsened.

On Monday, he reminded people to stay off the roads so plows could do their work.

"Fortunately, we haven’t experienced widespread power outages in our community," he said in an update. "Most stores and businesses in the area are closed. Please stay home if possible until tomorrow and enjoy this snow day."

He also had asked people to check on the wellbeing of their neighbors, "especially seniors or anyone who may need extra assistance during the storm.”

The Town House and Town Court are closed.