Ortt, Gallivan seek oversight hearings on state’s response to blizzard

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

Today, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Senator Patrick Gallivan sent a letter to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Transportation, Investigations and Government Operations and Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs urging them to conduct oversight hearings to assess the state’s response during the historic storm of a century in Western New York last month.

“While we recognize the historic nature of the storm, and appreciate the hard work and efforts put forward by first responders, local officials, public works employees, and good samaritans, it is clear that we must learn the tough lessons gleaned from this event,” Ortt and Gallivan wrote in the letter. “A legislative hearing is a responsible way to understand the successes and shortcomings of the state and local effort, and ensure we are prepared to adequately respond to any future events in the Western New York  region or across the state.”

The storm hit the Western New York region over Christmas weekend, with a vast majority of the total snow falling within the first 30 to 36 hours. However, too many residents were still grappling with the crippling consequences more than a week later, with the City of Buffalo and surrounding areas being particularly slow to reopen, and over 1,000 calls to the City’s emergency system going unanswered.

Senators Ortt and Gallivan, along with Senators O’Mara, Oberacker and Ashby, directed their request to the Senate Committees that play a role in oversight into relevant areas including state roads and bridges, emergency response, and government operations.

A public hearing would give the Legislature the ability to gather comprehensive testimony to determine where the state’s response to the storm was successful, where the response had shortcomings, and what action can be taken to ensure the State is better prepared to ensure the safety of New Yorkers in the future.

“It’s important for the public to know when events such as this tragic blizzard happen, their public offices are willing to find ways to improve,” Ortt said. “We owe it to the people of Western New York to make safety a priority and to ensure our community is ready to respond to future emergency events.”

“The Blizzard of ’22 was truly historic, but we know it will not be the last snowstorm to hit our region,” Gallivan said. “It is also important to review procedures and operations to determine how to improve our response in the future.”