The Town of Brookhaven declared a state of emergency as a major winter storm was forecast to bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions, prompting travel bans, service cancellations and widespread facility closures.
Under the emergency order, all nonessential vehicle travel was prohibited, with parking banned on town roadways to allow snow removal and emergency operations. Residents were urged to stay off the roads and follow all emergency directives.
Highway Superintendent Dan Losquardo said the town is mobilizing significant resources to respond to the storm. “We will probably have about 250 pieces of town-owned equipment out on the road, plus our hired contractors, but we say to people, don’t go out,” Losquardo said. “Stay home, enjoy yourself, be happy you’re not one of the people that has to be out there on the road.”
Garbage collection scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, was canceled due to unsafe conditions and will resume Thursday, Jan. 29, with possible delays because of increased volume.
All town recreation centers and the Brookhaven Aquatics Center were closed, along with the Rose Caracappa Senior Center, where all activities were canceled.
The Congregate Nutrition Program did not operate at its Brookhaven or Mastic sites, though additional frozen meals were delivered to homebound seniors in advance.
Brookhaven Calabro Airport was closed Monday and Tuesday for snow removal, and extended evening hours at the Town Clerk’s Office were canceled.
Losquardo stressed that staying off the roads is critical for public safety. “I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again… I say don’t go out, especially if it’s an emergency,” he said. “Let us do our jobs… get this cleaned up so life can return to normal.”