The deadly Buffalo Blizzard of 2022 claimed 47 lives in the region, stranded hundreds of motorists in blinding snow and left tens of thousands without power in subfreezing temperatures as emergency responders struggled to get to the people who needed the help most.
What if it happens again? What if it’s even worse?
On Wednesday, leaders of agencies in Buffalo, Erie County and New York State tasked with responding to emergencies were part of a seminar led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on how to respond to a “catastrophic blizzard” that was 1.5 times worse than the record-breaking three-day blizzard that brought Buffalo to a standstill last year.
The FEMA exercise involved a range of complications the agencies could face in the midst of a storm but could also be applied to an array of disasters, from a different kind of storm to a terrorist attack, said Clark Kimerer, a facilitator with FEMA’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
“We wanted it to be a worst-case scenario analysis,” Kimerer said after the four-hour session held at the Buffalo Convention Center.
“I think this deepens our relationship and deepens our ability to respond to extreme weather collectively in Buffalo and Erie County,” said Mayor Byron Brown.
Gil Kerlikowske, a former Buffalo police commissioner and former commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, recommended the seminar to Buffalo officials to help the region be prepared for future winter storms.
Later this week, Brown said the storm response task force, which includes representatives from the city, county and state, will present their findings. Shortly after, the city plans to release its new snow plan for the 2023-24 snow season that will include a specific plan for blizzards, Brown said.
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