MAYOR MASIELLO SEEKS NATIONAL GUARD ASSISTANCE; DECLARES LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
January 1, 1999
Contact: Peter K.Cutler (716) 851-4841

BUFFALO (1/ 11/99) - Following almost two weeks of continuous snowfall, Mayor Anthony M. Masiello has sought additional snow removal assistance from the New York State National Guard by declaring a local state of emergency.

"Given the conditions that have occurred following the repeated snow storms of the past two weeks, I have asked Governor Pataki to provide assistance to the City of Buffalo via the National Guard," stated Mayor Masiello. "Specifically, the large piles of snow that have been built-up around the city pose a health, safety and welfare problem for our citizens. The Guard will help us remove these concentrations of plowed snow and ease the burden on our crews who have been working around the clock to keep our streets open."

The declaration is a formal request following established protocol to access state assistance; it does not mean that the city is suspending or canceling any city services. There is no ban on driving throughout the city and the city remains open. In fact, the Guard is simply assisting the city in its clean-up efforts.

National Guard personnel are coordinating their mobilization with Commissioner of Streets and Sanitation Paul Sullivan and Deputy Fire Commissioner John Sniderhan, the city's Disaster Coordinator.