I wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank the residents of Nassau County and the members of our Department of Public Works and Emergency Management Team for their efforts in making Nassau's response to the December 30 winter storm a tremendous success.

With reports predicting up to a foot of snow and wind gusts of 30-40 miles per hour, I initiated the country's emergency response plan in preparation for the storm 48 hours before the first snowflake began to fall. We readied our salter-sanders, plows and pay loaders and urged residents to take adequate precautions. First, we reminded residents to use 911 only for emergencies. Second, we urged residents to stay off the roads during the storm, except for an emergency. Third, where possible, we asked everyone to remove cars from the roadways. Fourth, we reminded residents not to shovel snow back onto the roadway. Fifth, we urged residents with cardiac and respiratory problems not to shovel the snow because it was particularly dense, wet snow.

Thanks to the overwhelming cooperation we received from the residents and for the tireless efforts of the staff of the Public Works Department and the Emergency Management Team, many of whom worked long hours and spent time away from loved ones through the holiday weekend, I am very proud to report that Nassau's response was a tremendous success. Although we received as much as 18 inches of snow in parts of the county, with much of it falling in the early morning hours, Nassau's 2,200 miles of line roadways remained passable during the storm.

Nassau County only has jurisdiction over major roadways. We offered the county's assistance to the towns and villages, some of which experienced problems in clearing secondary roadways and side streets over which they have control. No major accidents or power outages were reported as a result of the storm.

With bad weather already being forecast as I write this, and with nearly three more months left of a winter that has already seen lower than normal temperatures, we can anticipate future storms. Nassau's dedicated workforce will spare no effort to keep you safe. As we move forward, I urge you to please remember our neighbors, especially the elderly during and after a storm. Ask if you can be of some help, especially, our young people, who can do so much good for a senior by offering to shovel a driveway or sidewalk.

Thank you again for making our response a success. As always, if there is anything I can do to help you, please feel free to give my office a call.