I wanted to take an opportunity to just brief everyone on the current response to the significant winter storm that we've been experiencing over the past 12 hours or so.

Snow started last night, came on heavy DPW is out there immediately clearing the streets.

Of course, that went through the night into this morning.

DPW is doing a great job.

I want to I want to emphasize that the drivers that we have out there are facing extreme conditions and they're doing uh a very good job.

We have we have all available vehicles out on the street right now.

I think it's important to note while a lot has been made about the number of big plows that we have on the on the road.

We have a number of different pieces of equipment.

We have over 30 pieces of equipment between the big plows, the pickups with uh with plows on them.

Um we have a payloader that has a plow on it.

So we have well over 30 pieces of equipment out on the road right now.

Um something that's important to note for folks that are uh following our our snowplow map.

Uh it is important to note that while all of the DP, the large DPW vehicles have the GTS units on them.

Some of the pickup trucks do not uh have the GPS units, so your street may have been plowed by one of those smaller vehicles and it might not be showing up on the map.

Again, the map is meant to help give a better sense of uh what's happening out there, but it's not uh 100%.

We also have a third party contractor that we've been contracting with for the past few years for larger storms who's out there, they cover much of the south side into the valley.

Um so between our our big plows, uh our smaller rigs, our contractor, uh we are uh we are fighting the good fight, and I feel good uh about where we're at right now.

Uh we had a little bit of a break, so obviously when the snow's coming down hard and fast, uh we are spending most of our time on the hills and on the main um primary routes.

Uh, when the snow led up, we were able to break out into the neighborhoods.

We understand that you know people need to be able to get from their house to the main roads that are clear, and so we are clearing neighborhoods now as well.

And as the snow is picked up, we're gonna try to continue to keep that balance so we can continue to clear the roads and haven't been cleared.

Um, but again, this is the largest storm we've seen in many years.

DPW has never been better prepared uh for it, certainly not uh over the eight years that I've been mayor.

Uh we have a restored fleet that will be out.

We can always use more drivers, and you'll hear more about that, I'm sure, from the commissioner, probably mayor elect.

Um, but we are uh we're putting up a good fight.

I'm proud of uh the work of the DPW workers.

Um, probably meet DOD move.

Uh also wanted to mention uh, in addition to our third party contractor, I want to thank the New York State DOT who reached out.

The regional director Betsy Parmley reached out first thing this morning, asked if they could be of assistance.

Uh, we're currently working with them to get them out on some of our major arterials to help as well.

So it's uh as always, it's a team effort.

We know neighbors are out there snowblowing for each other.

Uh private plow contractors, uh, it's uh it takes the entire community, but I think we are collectively rising to the challenge.

Uh, again, I feel really good about it, and I'd like you to hear from some of our colleagues just for things uh for some additional context about our response as well as things for people to be aware of.

So, first I'm gonna invite our DPW commissioner Jeremy Jeremy Radically to say a few words.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh just like to say the storm came in overnight uh really fast in a hurry.

Uh we were responsive right away.

Uh this is this was a storm that we had to get on it right away.

So uh I'm proud of our team.

Um, how we handled it in the beginning uh was was like no other.

So I'm very proud of our our team jumping on it right away.

Um's been said of our fleet, but like the mayor said, we got about 30 pieces of equipment out there trying to handle uh what we what we call a major, major storm.

Um and I commend all the uh efforts that uh other departments have been helping parks, water, New York State DOT.

I mean, it's a family.

I mean, we we're trying to uh do the same thing is clear the roads as fast as we can.

Um I very and I appreciate that very much.

Thank you.

Thanks, Commissioner.

We're gonna bring up Chief Bonds from the fire department.

Hello, everybody.

Um Mike Mons from the fire department.

Um there's a few things I want to go over.

Number one, um, there are 55 hydrants in the city of Syracuse.

Uh right now, our firefighters are up clearing hydrants.

Um, but I will ask if you are physically able uh to assist our firefighters.

Uh we're asking um that you clear a path from the street to the hydrant and then a three to five foot path around the hydrant.

Uh you'll never know when a fire hydrant in the city um in your neighborhood will need to use to help save somebody's property to save somebody's life.

Uh, number two, I wanted to also say a while.