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CNN Saturday Morning News

Another Six to 12 Inches of Snow Expected Near Buffalo

Aired December 29, 2001 - 09:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Buffalo, New York, some people may be wondering what they did to upset Mother Nature, when the last few days are over six feet of snow has fallen, another six to 12 inches is expected today south of Buffalo.

Now this report from our affiliate WKBW on the snow. It's only the tip of the iceberg.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KOSICH, WKBW CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dealing with close to seven feet of snow in a year is one thing. Dealing with that same amount in one week is almost unbearable. But that is what the city of Buffalo finds itself trying to dig out from under.

With a state of emergency and driving ban in effect, road crews across western New York did their best to put a dent in this mountain of white. The only question facing plow truck operators, where to put it?

UNIDENTIFIED SNOWPLOW OPERATOR: I'm out of room now. I got to bring in high lifts and push it back. I got no place to put it. This is the worst I've ever seen. I've been plowing snow for 35 years, and this is the worst I've ever seen it.

KOSICH: Plows don't have the luxury or weight of trains. With the Buffalo Airport and the New York State Thruway closed again, rail service was the only way in our out of the region.

Once in Buffalo, this may have been the best mode of transportation.

With record snows comes an almost unbearable weight for many roofs and carports. This one collapsed, trapping a man and prompting rescue workers to issue this warning.

UNIDENTIFIED RESCUE WORKER: Stay out from under your carports. You have to have a contractor come in and clear them off. They're coming down, quite a few are coming down.

KOSICH: While some work to get the snow off their roof, we found others who were digging down simply in hopes of finding their roof.

(on camera): The whiteout conditions, once a cause of concern, are almost second nature now. All the people of Buffalo can do is sit and wait for this to eventually end -- if it eventually ends.

(voice-over): The snow may have broken records, but it couldn't break the spirit of the people of western New York. After all, this is Buffalo. This is winter. And when it comes to snow, you just deal with it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, just a footnote to John's story. Buffalo's mayor is directing emergency services by telephone from West Point. He went there for Christmas, and now he can't get back due to the snow.

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