New York - EMS Head: I Havn't Seen a More Difficult Emergency Situation “since 9-11.” |
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News Source: WCBS TV
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New York - A winter storm that dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on New York City is also whipping up criticism about how the city handled the response.
City officials said Monday night it could require another 24 hours to clear the snowy and icy side streets
EMS and fire sources questioned why the city didn’t call a snow emergency to keep cars off streets, which would have made it easier for emergency vehicles and snow plows to get around.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg blamed the fast pace of snowfall. He said it fell at 2 to 3 inches per hour during some periods overnight, and many main roadways had to be plowed repeatedly.
Bloomberg quipped back when asked about the long delays by Kramer.
“We are always concerned about any backlog. You can rest assured that is our number one priority,” Bloomberg said.
Patrick Bahnken, Head of the EMS union said he has not seen a more difficult emergency situation “since 9-11.” Senator Karl Kruger, of Brooklyn, is demanding hearings into the “highly disturbing” news that EMS was on a 3 hour delay for critical cases.
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Read Comments (16) — Post Yours »
1
Dec 27, 2010 at 11:24 PM mikeetg Says:Report as Inappropriate
Problem was the plows themselves kept getting stuck. you can see this yourself if you do a search for it.
2
Dec 28, 2010 at 12:13 AM BiggestFish Says:Report as Inappropriate
Problem is sanitation workers are not plowing. They want to stick it to Bloomberg for budget cuts so they drive through occasionally pretending to plow. Last year snow got cleared overnight. When the snow was falling, they were plowing. At night a truck went by every 10 minutes. Now not one truck...
3
Dec 28, 2010 at 01:47 AM Mark Levin Says:Report as Inappropriate
As much as I cannot stand this pompous arrogant bloomingidiotberg, we have understand that fighting a blizzard with lots of blowing & drifting snow is futile. The minute they plow, the street is covered again. It is impossible to have a sanitation truck on each & every block to keep it passable. These are the facts when it comes to a major blizzard.
NYC is a city of 8 million people & many many millions of cars, mostly without driveways. It is impossible to clean streets properly which is why the city looks like manure weeks after it snows.
4
Dec 28, 2010 at 07:30 AM janda3 Says:Report as Inappropriate
truck? what truck? here in FR it still hasn't been plowed. Not only that, bec. of the "yom tov", our garbage hasn't been collected!
5
Dec 28, 2010 at 07:38 AM OyGevald Says:Report as Inappropriate
The Sanitation Union boss was just quoted on the radio as saying it "is due to the City laying off 400 sanitation workers this year, while City Hall insists no snow-removal workers were affected by the lay-offs".
Sounds "work slow-downs" by the Union to me!!!
Sabotage!
Down with the Unions.
6
Dec 28, 2010 at 09:00 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Blame it on the unions? No. The blame belongs to Mr. "Let them eat cake" Bloomberg. He wants to run everything like a heartless corporation where the bottom line is money, not people. Unfortunately, Bloomberg fails even by his own "standards." Brooklyn is not a priority: it's really that simple. Heck of a job, Bloomberg!
7
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:19 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Let's impeach Bloomberg! This is New York's "Katrina"! He should resign without delay!
8
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:56 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Bloomberg and the sanitation workers are doing an outstanding job considering the circumstances...all the crybabies here whining about the snow are really funny. Somehow, many of us have been able to get off our duffs, dig out our cars/SUVs and get where we have to go. Otherwise, just walk to the nearest subway but stop whining about the snow. We are going to head up to mountains this weekend for skiing with the kids and presume the slopes will be croweded with all the ehrlicehe yidden from Brooklyn who have spent all week blaming Bloomberg for the ebeshter's snowstorm.
9
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:43 AM ann123 Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Problem is sanitation workers are not plowing. They want to stick it to Bloomberg for budget cuts so they drive through occasionally pretending to plow. Last year snow got cleared overnight. When the snow was falling, they were plowing. At night a truck went by every 10 minutes. Now not one truck... ”
true
10
Dec 28, 2010 at 10:33 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Problem was the plows themselves kept getting stuck. you can see this yourself if you do a search for it. ”
still no plow truck in the midwwwod section
11
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:25 AM Butterfly Says:Report as Inappropriate
There were 4 stuck snowplows (garbage trucks on 18th Ave. this morning at 7am. 1 reason they were stuck --question to Mr. Mayor --Do they have snow tires-- not chains--chains do not go over ice, snow tires have a better chance!! Same for city buses and ambulances!! Make an investment!! Put them on in / mid to end Nov until Pesach. Switch until the next year !! Have them stored away under lock and key!! Cleaning--that's another storycars should only be parked on one side of the street!! Plows go through like a hot knife through butter!! Then switch!! It works in Russia and Montreal, why not here??
12
Dec 28, 2010 at 11:35 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ still no plow truck in the midwwwod section ”
Why would a snowplow go to midwood or yenavelt, when portions of downtown manhattan are still not entirely clear. They prioritize clearing to the most important sections first..have patience...you will see a plow before the end of the week.
13
Dec 28, 2010 at 12:02 PM kalman1 Says:Report as Inappropriate
What gets me really nervous if this is the response to a snowstorm, how will NYC respond to a major disaster.
14
Dec 28, 2010 at 01:05 PM Butterfly Says:Report as Inappropriate
To #13 The Mayor says they practice, but truthfully I do not believe they have any plans for any major disaster!! If they cannot handle a snowstorm which should be cleared in 24 - 48 hours tops, then they have a problem!! It simply means they don't have the proper equipment and it is about time they got it!! Stop crying poverty!!! When companies move from the city you will really cry poverty!!
15
Dec 28, 2010 at 02:10 PM BiggestFish Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Bloomberg and the sanitation workers are doing an outstanding job considering the circumstances...all the crybabies here whining about the snow are really funny. Somehow, many of us have been able to get off our duffs, dig out our cars/SUVs and get where we have to go. Otherwise, just walk to the nearest subway but stop whining about the snow. We are going to head up to mountains this weekend for skiing with the kids and presume the slopes will be croweded with all the ehrlicehe yidden from Brooklyn who have spent all week blaming Bloomberg for the ebeshter's snowstorm. ”
I would like to go skiing in the mountains. But I can't. Do you know why? Because Sanitation hasn't plowed my street yet. I can't even get out of my block, so no way I am going to the mountains. Hey thanks sanitation for the work slowdown.
16
Dec 28, 2010 at 05:02 PM Butterfly Says:Report as Inappropriate
To #15 I do not believe that we can blame the sanitation dept. We can blame the mayor for firing sanitation workers. You cannot expect the same amount of work out of fewer people. Maybe the mayor ought to start shoveling some snow. A little bit of hard work never hurt anybody!! Bring him to Brooklyn for some practice and he can use the F train to get here!! I cannot get out either so join the club.