More than two feet of snow blanketed eastern Long Island forcing police to use snowmobiles to rescue some of the hundreds of drivers stranded on the Long Island Expressway.
At least 40 of the stranded motorists were given shelter at Brookhaven Town Hall. Officials closed the LIE and other major roadways in Suffolk County.
Ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles and some snowplow trucks as well as passenger vehicles got stuck overnight throughout the area, said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, spokeswoman for Suffolk County.
The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y., reported a measurement of 30.3 inches outside its offices. Setauket, Smithtown, Port Jefferson, Mount Sinai, Islip, Huntington and Commack all measured more than two feet of snow.
Suffolk County was slammed harder that Nassau County, which was a relief for south shore communities that were flooded out during Superstorm Sandy. The Weather Service says coastal flooding did not create major problems this time.
In Nassau County, firefighters were at an apartment blaze in Hempstead. No injuries were immediately reported.
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said Nassau was coping well.
"For the most part, we're moving here in Nassau County although we ask our residents not to take the roadways unless absolutely necessary," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
At least 40 of the stranded motorists were given shelter at Brookhaven Town Hall. Officials closed the LIE and other major roadways in Suffolk County.
Ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles and some snowplow trucks as well as passenger vehicles got stuck overnight throughout the area, said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, spokeswoman for Suffolk County.
The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y., reported a measurement of 30.3 inches outside its offices. Setauket, Smithtown, Port Jefferson, Mount Sinai, Islip, Huntington and Commack all measured more than two feet of snow.
Suffolk County was slammed harder that Nassau County, which was a relief for south shore communities that were flooded out during Superstorm Sandy. The Weather Service says coastal flooding did not create major problems this time.
In Nassau County, firefighters were at an apartment blaze in Hempstead. No injuries were immediately reported.
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said Nassau was coping well.
"For the most part, we're moving here in Nassau County although we ask our residents not to take the roadways unless absolutely necessary," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.