Snowed In: Buffalo, N.Y.

Credit: Martha Muscarella

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Snowfall is never a surprise to snow contractors in Buffalo, N.Y. But after a warm November in which no snow fell - the first time that has happened since modern weather record keeping began in 1884 - some Buffalo snow pros wondered if snow would fall at all in 2001.

Did it ever.

More than 2 feet of snow hammered Buffalo, Dec. 24, effectively shutting down the city and Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Three days later another 25.6 inches of lake-effect snow piled up in the city, creating a total of more than 4 feet between Dec. 24 and 27. The 29.8 inches of snow that fell from 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26, to 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27, is the second snowiest 24-hour period in city history, The Associated Press reported.

In total, nearly 7 feet of lake-effect snow fell on Buffalo between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, prompting U.S. President George W. Bush to declare a state of emergency for areas of upstate New York and the city of Buffalo.

As part of the emergency declaration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse local and state government agencies for 75 percent of the total eligible costs of equipment, contracts and personnel overtime related to emergency services in dealing with the sno. Federal aid to pay for snow removal could reach $30 million, federal officials told the Buffalo News.

"JUST BRUTAL." As could be expected, city crews and private contractors shouldered the bulk of the storm's ferocity. "It started and didn't stop. Just brutal," said Mike Ortalano, vice president, Lushlawn Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.

Don Potenza, Lushlawn's owner, said, "The first foot of snow we had no problem, the second foot of snow was no problem, then we got one batch in 12 hours. It was snowing so hard that we couldn't even see where we were making passes."

To help keep up, Potenza hired subcontractors with front loaders at rates from $90 to $120 per hour, an expense passed on to the customer. "Our contracts specifically state right on the front page that any snow that requires high lift or removal from the site is not included in the contract," Potenza added.

Luckily, subcontractors were easy to find, as heavy equipment swarmed the city from neighboring areas. "We had a couple SIMA members from out of town call us to offer help. As we were going down the road, we'd stop and talk to guys with front loaders and they were more than willing to make some extra money," Potenza added. "I've never seen so many front loaders in my life. On every corner on every street, you'd see five or six," Potenza said.

Steve Hausrath, vice president, Hausrath's Landscape Maintenance Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., said his company managed to keep pace with the storm by starting early and staying out during the storm's entirety. "With our accounts, we have the right equipment and our employees are trained to handle these situations, so it actually went very well."

That's not to say fighting the storm wasn't taxing. "It was a tiring three or four days," Hausrath said.

Contractors in other parts of the country might be envious of the profit potential such a major storm brings. Not so fast, Hausrath said. "Profitable yeah, but we didn't make a killing - by the time you pay all your insurance and your people. We were running such long shifts that we were paying a lot of time and a half."

The author is managing editor of Snow Business magazine.