N.Y. highway opens as snow ends; flooding a concern

By Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 | 11:27 a.m.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A snowfall that brought huge drifts and closed roads in the Buffalo area finally ended Friday as the looming threat of rain and higher temperatures through the weekend and beyond raised the possibility of floods and more roofs collapsing under the heavy loads.

More than 30 major roof collapses, most involving farm and flat-roof buildings, were reported overnight, officials said Friday, after snow Thursday brought the Buffalo area's three-day total to an epic 7 feet or more.

The forecast called for a chance of rain on Saturday and more through Monday, along with temperatures of about 60 degrees.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Sunday through Wednesday, and meteorologist Jon Hitchcock said there might be trouble with drainage as snow and the uncollected autumn leaves underneath blocked catch basins.

As towns and villages began preparing for potential flooding, stir-crazy homeowners — some stuck inside since Tuesday — and store employees around the region climbed onto roofs to shovel off the snow and reduce the danger of collapse.

"Five hours yesterday and that's just the beginning," John Normile said Friday of the effort to clear snow from the roof of his Lake View ranch-style home. He, along with his daughter and her boyfriend, had knocked about 6 feet off the back of the house and planned to be back at it for a second day.

"We're getting really concerned about the weight of it," Normile said. "We've got to do it before the rain comes."

The latest was a 50-year-old man was found Friday morning in his car, which was buried in snow in Cheektowaga, police said. The cause of death wasn't immediately known.

One elderly resident of a nursing home died after it was evacuated amid concerns of a roof collapse, a spokeswoman for the home said. Deputy Erie County Executive Richard Tobe had earlier reported two deaths in the evacuation.

"We know that relocating people from nursing homes is a very tough thing to do," Tobe said.

More than 50 people were evacuated from several mobile home parks in suburban Cheektowaga and West Seneca on Thursday because roofs were buckling. Tobe said at least 90 small roof collapses involving carports and other structures had been reported by Friday morning, in addition to damage to a pharmacy and a metal warehouse operated by a Christmas decorations company, where damage was estimated in the millions.

With many roads still impassable, driving bans in effect and the Buffalo Bills' stadium buried in snow, the NFL decided to move the Bills' Sunday home game against the New York Jets to Monday night in Detroit.

A 132-mile stretch of the state Thruway, closed since Tuesday, reopened at 3 p.m., with some restrictions.

Several exit ramps remained closed along the westernmost 75 miles, so, "Assume if you get on headed west you can't get off until Pennsylvania," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, noting that roads remain "very dangerous."

Cities and towns were positioning pumps and other equipment in anticipation of widespread flooding. The worst is expected Monday when, with temperatures at or above 60, snow is expected to melt faster than it can be absorbed by the ground or snowpack.

Associated Press writers Michael Hill and Mary Esch contributed from Albany.