Buffalo airport closed until Monday AM...Christmas in Chicago for the Bills?

[Beck Water]

9 minutes ago, boyst said:

I do not have exact specifics. Those aren't the points I'm sticking on to be disappointed with the government on. The government had travels bans in place and allowed this to happen. I don't have proof that they allowed this to happen but anyone with half a lick of sense would not only realize the government knew about this but likely provided security is telling.

 

I think it's a pretty good bet that Erie County knew the Bills were planning to drive chartered buses across the County line to the stadium.  We can agree on this.

 

Whether they provided a police escort, I don't know. 

 

But you were writing as though the government was "ignoring" people and "condemning" them to die, but helping the Bills... as though 1) being unable to reach someone to help them because your EMS is physically unable to reach them in blizzard conditions = "ignoring them" (I call shenanigans) 2) these events took place during the same time - not the case -while EMS was announced as being unavailable due to not being able to physically get out and get there, the Bills were...wait for it...playing a football game and then overnighting in Chi Town.

 

I worked as an EMT in my time and have friends and relatives who are EMS...police officers, nurses, paramedics, firefighters...they've worked through floods, the aftermath of tornadoes.  I was in Buffalo for the Blizzard of '77 in one of the hardest-hit areas and helped shovel out a pregnant neighbor and then knock on doors to find a neighbor with a Jeep when it was clear her studded snowtires wouldn't cut it so I have a damned good idea what conditions were like there Fri thru Saturday...frankly I find the implication that EMS was "ignoring" or "condemning" people and therefore shouldn't be trusted, because they actually couldn't physically get to people and were placing themselves in danger trying, to be despicable. 

 

Just my opinion, based on knowing these people and what they do and how they put their lives on the line at times.

 

It wouldn't bother me if the Bills or the players got a ticket for violating the travel ban, but it doesn't bother me if neighbors with 4WDs are out there helping folks get where they need to go in violation of the ban, either, and I think the police have better things to do right now than cite people as long as they don't get stuck and need help.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Beck Water

[Buffalo_Stampede]

19 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

You're way off.

 

This is totally not what happened.

 

911 wasn't able to serve calls during the actual blizzard - FRIDAY night, SATURDAY morning.  WIth zero visibility, rapidly falling and drifting snow, gale-force winds - ambulances and firefighters and police vehicles were getting stuck.  At one point, it was reported that 2/3 of the emergency vehicles in the worst affected areas were stuck.  They weren't "ignoring" people.

 

By Saturday noon, limited services were restored.  By Sunday, they were digging out and able to get to people. 

 

I don't know, and I'm pretty damned sure you don't know, exactly what emergency services or "government help" was provided to the Bills.  There may have been a state trooper or a EC sheriff or someone escorting the buses.  But that probably was the extent of it.  If you have actual sources and info, feel free....

 

<this space for rent>

 

But there's also the timeline of events.  It matters.

I didn’t see any type of police escort. I haven’t seen anything to support his claims.

 

But I repeat. Orchard Park was under a State Of Emergency. The driving ban literally went into place only a couple hours before players were trying to get to the stadium. There were many abandoned cars and blocked roadways. They had 80” of snow the night before. It was considered a feel good story then. We all were watching it basically live as players were live posting the events. Police were helping even with all the abandoned vehicles on the road. 
 

The video below was happening in OP as OP police helped the Bills dig out to get to the stadium.
 

 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2022 by Buffalo_Stampede

[EasternOHBillsFan]

13 minutes ago, boyst said:

I do not have exact specifics. Those aren't the points I'm sticking on to be disappointed with the government on. The government had travels bans in place and allowed this to happen. I don't have proof that they allowed this to happen but anyone with half a lick of sense would not only realize the government knew about this but likely provided security is telling.

 

Blaming the government for something like this is ridiculous... you people always want government out of things until a disaster happens and then you blame the government when they try to help people and ignore all of the help. If you don't have exact specifics then why do you even have an opinion like this?!?! Spinning people up based on garbage is obviously what you are doing...

Edited December 27, 2022 by EasternOHBillsFan

[Beck Water]

54 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

Didn't the people stuck ignore the travel ban/warnings of the storm? Reports prior were that it was projected to be worse than 77. 

 

I could be wrong but I think the travel ban was put into place Friday am like 8:30 am, and a bunch of people were already at work and needed to get home.   People need to pay next month's rent, so if their employer says "we expect you at work today" they go.

 

Then there are people who lost power and decided they needed to try to get to a family member or friend who still had heat, or to a warming center.

 

And of course there are always people in every natural disaster who figure the news media is full of it and exaggerating, and don't decide they need groceries or whatever until they actually see the windows turn white.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Beck Water

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 minutes ago, EasternOHBillsFan said:

 

Blaming the government for something like this is ridiculous... you people always want government out of things until a disaster happens and then you blame the government when they try to help people and ignore all of the help. If you don't have exact specific then why do you even have an opinion like this?!?!

It’s because it’s a tragedy. People love to politicize tragedies. It’s honestly sickening. Government officials do it all the time as well. Anything for a vote.

[Beck Water]

8 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I didn’t see any type of police escort. I haven’t seen anything to support his claims.

 

But I repeat. Orchard Park was under a State Of Emergency. The driving ban literally went into place only a couple hours before players were trying to get to the stadium. There were many abandoned cars and blocked roadways. They had 80” of snow the night before. It was considered a feel good story then. We all were watching it basically live as players were live posting the events. Police were helping even with all the abandoned vehicles on the road. 
 

The video below was happening in OP as OP police helped the Bills dig out to get to the stadium.
 

 

 

 

 

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the Christmas Eve blizzard, and you're talking about the much more localized heavy snowfall in Orchard Park Nov 19th.   As far as I know, EMS services were not suspended during that event, nor were there reports of people calling for help and EMS not being able to respond.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Beck Water

[Seventeen]

55 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

Didn't the people stuck ignore the travel ban/warnings of the storm? Reports prior were that it was projected to be worse than 77. 

 

Weather reports leading up to '77 didn't have it anywhere near as bad as it turned out. But all we had was local news back then. 

 

Roommate and I shoveled out my car and we drove down Elmwood looking for food - were stopped by BPD who told us there was a driving ban. 

Instead of a ticket, he told us what was open and after getting our food to turn it around, head home, and park it. 

[Solomon Grundy]

9 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I didn’t see any type of police escort. I haven’t seen anything to support his claims.

 

But I repeat. Orchard Park was under a State Of Emergency. The driving ban literally went into place only a couple hours before players were trying to get to the stadium. There were many abandoned cars and blocked roadways. They had 80” of snow the night before. It was considered a feel good story then. We all were watching it basically live as players were live posting the events. Police were helping even with all the abandoned vehicles on the road. 
 

The video below was happening in OP as OP police helped the Bills dig out to get to the stadium.
 

 

 

 

November 19th?? 

[Big Turk]

1 minute ago, Roy Hobbs said:

 

Weather reports leading up to '77 didn't have it anywhere near as bad as it turned out. But all we had was local news back then. 

 

Roommate and I shoveled out my car and we drove down Elmwood looking for food - were stopped by BPD who told us there was a driving ban. 

Instead of a ticket, he told us what was open and after getting our food to turn it around, head home, and park it. 

 

Basically there was almost no lead time in 77...it was like people went to work going about their normal day and then the reports of a terrible storm came in...my Mom luckily listened to them and left to get home. She said she made it about 5 minutes before it started getting really bad.

 

Everyone else she worked with made fun of her and laughed at her for leaving but they all ended up stuck at work for a few days so she got the last laugh.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

November 19th?? 

Yes. When we were celebrating breaking the travel ban to get the Bills to the Airport. Remember Squirrel Winters?

Edited December 27, 2022 by Buffalo_Stampede

[Big Turk]

Just now, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Yes. When we were celebrating breaking the travel ban to get the Bills to the Airport. Remover Squirrel Winters?

 

Clearly it wasn't "breaking the travel ban" as they worked closely with local authorities to get them to the airport safely.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

6 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the Christmas Eve blizzard, and you're talking about the much more localized heavy snowfall in Orchard Park Nov 19th.   As far as I know, EMS services were not suspended during that event, nor were there reports of people calling for help and EMS not being able to respond.

It’s the same exact location. Orchard Park to the Airport. 
 

The conversation is about the Bills breaking the travel ban. They did it twice recently. Once was celebrated and this time criticized.

 

 I don’t see reports of police assistance this time. All we know is the team broke the travel ban.

[PromoTheRobot]

This is probably why the Sabres cancelled their game in Columbus tomorrow.

[Solomon Grundy]

12 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

I could be wrong but I think the travel ban was put into place Friday am like 8:30 am, and a bunch of people were already at work and needed to get home.   People need to pay next month's rent, so if their employer says "we expect you at work today" they go.

 

Then there are people who lost power and decided they needed to try to get to a family member or friend who still had heat, or to a warming center.

If I'm at work and the storm is approaching then I'm work's responsibility. They're to nourish me and shelter me. 

Warnings were given for the storm. Food, blankets, candles, flashlights were necessities that should've been had. 

The problem as I see it is that some people have that "it won't happen to me" mentality until it happens to them. 

I'm presently watching neighbors who are NOT essential workers driving their vehicles during a travel ban

[Buffalo_Stampede]

6 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Clearly it wasn't "breaking the travel ban" as they worked closely with local authorities to get them to the airport safely.

I’m just posting the double standard. People want to cry outrage because there are deaths that have nothing at all to do with the Bills. Politicizing a tragic storm.

[Buffalo716]

19 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

I could be wrong but I think the travel ban was put into place Friday am like 8:30 am, and a bunch of people were already at work and needed to get home.   People need to pay next month's rent, so if their employer says "we expect you at work today" they go.

 

Then there are people who lost power and decided they needed to try to get to a family member or friend who still had heat, or to a warming center.

 

And of course there are always people in every natural disaster who figure the news media is full of it and exaggerating, and don't decide they need groceries or whatever until they actually see the windows turn white.

Friday at 930 am and there were definitely people on the rode

 

my older mother wanted to make a quick stop at wegmans at 9am right as it was starting and I said it was a horrible idea and not too

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

This is probably why the Sabres cancelled their game in Columbus tomorrow.

The airport is closed tomorrow.

[Beck Water]

3 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Basically there was almost no lead time in 77...it was like people went to work going about their normal day and then the reports of a terrible storm came in...my Mom luckily listened to them and left to get home. She said she made it about 5 minutes before it started getting really bad.

 

Everyone else she worked with made fun of her and laughed at her for leaving but they all ended up stuck at work for a few days so she got the last laugh.

 

My (single parent) mom who was supporting 4 people worked 36 miles away in Batavia.  She was on the road home when it hit.  She made it, but it was tough, IIRC the Thruway closed and she drove Rt 5 then some back roads.  Of course this was before cell phones.  I remember how anxious we were when she called to tell us her work was closing so she was leaving a bit early, until she made it home.  Visibility sucked and she was powering through small drifts already.  She was driving some really rugged snow handling car - a Ford Maverick I believe, LOL.  Mom was tough.

 

She did have some emergency supplies with her, like a sleeping bag and nut mix and sterno and flares, sand and a shovel.  But still.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Just now, Buffalo716 said:

Friday at 930 am and there were definitely people on the rode

 

my older mother wanted to make a quick stop at wegmans at 9am right as it was starting and I said it was a horrible idea and not too

A lot of people ignore travel bans. People probably thought it’s just another snow storm. Didn’t help that Christmas shopping was still going.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

The airport is closed tomorrow.

 

Yes, but they could have driven to ROC but probably decided not to because of the uproar caused by the Bills.