It's day two after a blizzard shrouded Kings Park in more than two feet, and one question continues ring out from frustrated locals: Where are the plows?
While Patch was able to reach the town's public safety director John Valentine on Saturday, he was not able to give specific details on the state of the town's roads, and what is causing many neighborhood streets to go unplowed since Friday.
Multiple calls to town highway officials, meanwhile, went unanswered, and after 2 p.m. went straight to voicemail. The town also does not give updates on its websites, unlike nearby Brookhaven Town, which on Saturday opened a portal on its website where folks could report unplowed roads.
Officials in other towns have said the volume of snow, and the many abandoned cars on the major roadways, has slowed down plowing efforts.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said 529 pieces of equipment are being sent to the region that in some parts has nearly three feet of snow on the ground.
According to Cuomo, 412 plow trucks and 731 operators have arrived over the past 24 hours. As a result, nearly one-third of New York’s snow removal assets have been sent to Suffolk.
The Town of Smithtown did post this message in its site at 6 p.m. on Saturday: "Town of Smithtown Highway and Parks Departments are working diligently to clear Smithtown roadways. Please be patient as there is a tremendous volume of snow to be removed from town roads. Please stay off town roads if at all possible."
In the interim, comments on this site and social media have overflowed, with many calling out the town for what they say is a poor response to the blizzard.
"Have not seen a plow all weekend. Oak Hill Lane. The JCDA show will be short a few numbers as my kids sit here snowed in . How hard is it to come by just once." wrote Diane Ambrosio of Kings Park.
Some residents, however, say relax. "Stay in a couple days and let them do their job, which happens to be a difficult one. Just as you can't get to work, neither can the plow drivers," said Patch reader Tim.
At Patch, we'd like you to help us create a list of what's plowed and not plowed in town so far. Just add a comment below with the name of your street and whether it is plowed or not. Send this link to people you know so we can create a comprehensive list. We will be forwarding this link to the town, as well.
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