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Buffalo has been plunged into chaos as brazen looters wreak havoc on storefronts amid a historic blizzard that dumped six feet of snow on the northern New York city.
It has become the deadliest storm to hit the western part of the state in at least 50 years, with at least 27 people reported dead as scores of others remain trapped in their houses and cars.
Roads in the city remain impassable under several feet of heavy snow, as first responders struggle to reach those who remain trapped days after the storm hit.
Shelters and nursing homes are now starting to run out of food, Erie County Executive Marc Poloncarz said at a news conference Monday morning, while fewer than 10,000 people remain without power ahead of a second storm that is expected to dump another foot and a half on the already struggling city.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has now declared a state of emergency, and is asking for federal aid as residents become increasingly desperate.
A group of brazen thieves were caught on camera stealing a television from an abandoned storefront amid a historic blizzard in Buffalo, New York
Roads in the upstate New York city remained impassable days after the historic blizzard dumped six feet of snow on the city
Videos posted online show brazen thieves taking advantage of the chaos, trudging over mounds of snow to get into abandoned storefronts — like a Dollar General where shelves were overturned and items were scattered across the ground.
Residents filmed some of the thieves as they entered the store and left with handfuls of items like paper towels and toilet paper, as one shameless woman even posted a Facebook Live of her and her friends grabbing items from the store.
Others were filmed hauling televisions out of stores, and security footage caught one man breaking the glass of a liquor store door, where he allegedly stole $500 worth of goods.
The storeowner told WKBW reporter Michael Schwartz that he had to stay in the store overnight because he was unable to board up the hole amid the storm.
He added that the thief has ‘cheap and bad taste.’Â
Photos shared online also showed a Fasttrac convenience store in disarray, with Andre Brown noting that the perpetrators were not stealing food or medicine.
‘So these people aren’t people in distress — these are people that are taking advantage of a natural disaster and the suffering of many in our community to take what they want from retailers.’Â
One brazen thief even filmed herself on Facebook Live as she and a friend looted from a dollar store, where shelves have been overturned and items are scattered across the ground
Photos shared online also showed a Fasttrac convenience store in disarray, with Andre Brown noting that the perpetrators were not stealing food or medicine.
County Executive Poloncarz said on Monday authorities are investigating the widespread reports of looting in the city.
‘I’m heartbroken about the deaths, just absolutely devastated to see as many deaths,’ he said at a news conference. ‘And then to find out that there’s looting going on in our community at the same time we’re still recovering bodies is just horrible.’
Police were seen arresting some of the looters outside the dollar store, as they stocked their trunk full of stolen goods, and some on social media claimed vigilantes started shooting back at the thieves.
‘Our officers have responded to several reports,’ Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said on Monday.
‘We have made a few arrests, we have intervened in some of those. We have assisted at least one location that I’m aware of in getting a store boarded up,’ he added.
Daniel Neaverth Jr, commissioner of the state Homeland Security and Emergency Services, also said that more than a dozen gas stations in Erie County are now inoperable ‘because the convenience side of them has been looted and the equipment inside has been rendered ineffective, and thus the pumps for the fueling are ineffective.’Â
‘So if you don’t think there’s a trickle down from going looting and grabbing individual little things, this is a drastic implication for us that we now have to deal with to find alternate fuel sources’ for emergency vehicles.
Hundreds of cars were left abandoned on the roadways after failing to trudge through the feet of snow, including some tractor trailers and buses
A view of downtown Buffalo on Monday, several days after the storm ravaged the city
A man is seen walking the streets as a driving ban remains in effect in Buffalo
Meanwhile, there were also reports of price gouging during the storm.
At the press conference on Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul reiterated that ‘price gouging is illegal’ and the state will be ‘going after them.’
‘We have the attorney general’s office and our state is prepared to investigate any complaints of price gouging,’ she said.Â
‘Those who engage in this disgusting practice at a time when people in our community are hurting, when they’re trying so hard to get basic necessities, there’s a scarcity because stores have been closed since Friday, then shame on them.’
Trucks were stuck in the snow on a road in Buffalo following the historic storm. Officials say the looters have broken equipment at gas stations and hindered rescue efforts
Hundreds of cars were left abandoned on the roadways after failing to trudge through the feet of snow, including some tractor trailers and buses.
A driving ban is now in effect, with Poloncarz saying on Monday that police will start issuing summons to people found driving around ‘joyriding’ in violation of the ban.
Hundreds of people have now been rescued from their vehicles, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, but added: ‘We still have people who need to be rescued.’
On Monday, she spoke with President Joe Biden about potential federal aid to the struggling city, writing on Twitter: ‘We are extremely grateful to have the federal government’s support as we help Western New York recover from this historic blizzard. ‘
The Biden administration later released a statement saying he offered the governor the ‘full force of the federal government in support of the people of New York as the state grapples with the impacts of a historic winter storm.
‘The President relayed that he has directed his team to respond immediately to any request the Governor makes for federal assistance.’
Gov Kathy Hochul announced in a tweet that she has spoken to President Joe Biden about potential federal aid
Buffalo is now expected to receive another foot and a half of snow by Tuesday evening with wind gusts of up to 40mph, and areas surrounding Lake Ontario to the north may see another three feet of snow
She has called in the National Guard to help local authorities deal with the storm, which dumped a whopping 43 inches of snow on the city — so much that the Buffalo Fire Department was unable to respond to any calls.
From Saturday night into Sunday, officials from the State Police, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation and National Guard teamed up with local public safety officials and utility crews to form strike teams focused on conducting wellness checks.
On Christmas, the teams spent the day supporting power restoration efforts with heavy snow removal equipment.
The storm dumped a total of 43 inches of snow on the city — so much that the Buffalo Fire Department was unable to respond to any calls
A man is seen here walking his dog along the snow covered streets as residents were gearing up for even more snow
A wheel loader is pictured trying to clear the massive snow piles on Monday
Several residents also got involved in the area, like this man who is pictured shoveling
A winter storm warning remains in effect for the area as the National Weather Service warns the city could once again see lake effect snow
The area was inundated on Friday with peak wind gusts of up 79mph as snow fell on the city, while New York’s North County, Finger Lakes and Central New York regions all experienced gusts of 60mph.
Buffalo is now expected to receive another foot and a half of snow by Tuesday evening with wind gusts of up to 40mph, and areas surrounding Lake Ontario to the north may see another three feet of snow.
A winter storm warning remains in effect for the area as the National Weather Service warns the city could once again see lake effect snow — which occurs when frigid air moves over warmer lake waters and creates a freezing spray.
Hochul is now urging New Yorkers to continue to adhere to local travel bans.
‘We continue to work around the clock with local leaders to respond to this historic storm and are in contact with the White House to secure critical federal assistance to help our communities recover,’ she said at a Monday news conference.
‘I encourage everyone to continue to look after one another, sta6y off the roads and take precautions to stay safe in your home.’
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray added: ‘Stay home and adhere to local travel bans that are in place. This is for your own safety and to facilitate operations of utility crews, plow trucks and emergency responders.Â
‘Our state agency teams have been working hand in glove with each other and our local partners to help get New Yorkers through this historic storm.Â
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