Medina mayor commends first responders, volunteers for getting community through the blizzard

Posted 26 December 2022 at 4:31 pm

Editor:

Congratulations, Medina, we made it through the storm!

I would like to thank our Fire Department for going door to door at Lakewood Village to inform residents they would take them to a shelter where it was warm, with cots, blankets and food. They transported village residents to work at the hospital, and also transported families from Comfort Inn and Suites to the shelter.

The DPW kept the streets open, along with the driveway into the Oak Orchard School so residents and stranded families could get into the school.

The Medina Police Department were out checking on residents and stranded vehicles.

Many of our firefighters and police officers slept over night at the firehouse to make sure the next shifts were covered. Most of them had very little sleep.

Thanks to Mark Kruzynski, Medina school superintendent, who opened up Oak Orchard School as a shelter. He also authorized the use of the kitchen and any food that was needed to feed those that were stranded at the school and the Comfort Inn.

Coordination throughout the county would not have been possible if it was not for Justin Niederhofer of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office. He conducted up to three conference calls a day to keep county, village, town, fire, police, highway and health department officials informed of issues and services throughout the county. He was great help suppling the Medina shelter with cots and blankets.

I save the last for a person who stepped up along with her daughter by going to the school and opening it up. She was there from shortly after the power went out to Christmas morning around 9 when the last of the folks at the shelter left. Thank you very much Diana Baker and her daughter.

Mike Sidari

Mayor of Medina