Plainview Rebounds from 20.5 Inches; Town Says All Roads Open

Plainview rebounded Tuesday from the big weekend blizzard as cleared roads and warming temperatures helped return life to normal.

Plainview saw 20.5 inches of snow as of noon on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. North Massapequa was the high snow fall for Nassau County, with 23.5 inches. All of Suffolk County saw less.

Central Park in Manhattan recorded 20 inches, the NWS said. Middle Village in Queens matched Plainview's total.

The main arteries through the community were cleared to the surface. Side streets appeared plowed, although there were rough spots in areas of the town. Some streets were slick with packed snow; others treacherous from clumps of slush.

The reported Tuesday afternoon that all of its roads were plowed and open.  The town, which includes Plainview and the surrounding communities stretching from Oyster Bay to the Atlantic, said plowing operations have been completed. Crews are now involved in final mop-up work.

Phillis Barry, a spokeswoman for the town, said there are no budget figures available yet for the costs of snow removal, either in terms of manpower or material. It will take days to compile those, she said.

"All of our roads are open, all parking lots, and parks," she said. "Everything has been plowed."

"We're in good shape," Barry said.

She stressed that not all roads crossing the Plainview community belong to the town of Oyster Bay.

The town has a 24-hour hotline to call for residents with additional plowing issues. That number is  516-677-5757.

The town used 300 pieces of snow-removal equipment during the two days of the blizzard. At least 350 town employees were used during the operation, including drivers, support staff and mechanics. Sanitation trucks were refitted with plows on their front ends to assist with the snow removal.

"The biggest problem was the blowing snow and staying ahead of the wind," Barry said. "Everyone had the same problems. Difficult driving and whiteout conditions."

"It was not a fun night to be out," she said.

Parking lots at most Plainview shopping centers were clear yesterday, although was difficult to navigate. Although the strip mall on Old Country Road was plowed repeatedly Monday, slushy snow still filled the parking lot Tuesday afternoon.

Shoppers and workers at encountered difficulty moving shopping carts across the lot.

"It's a two-person job," said Amy Bloom of Plainview, of pushing her grocery cart to her car.  

Across Old Country Road, the was open Tuesday after being closed Monday because of the storm. The lot there was much better.