Shelter Island Reporter

Blizzard fallout: Snowflakes fly in front of a snowed-in Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning. A Christmas concert, originally slated for Saturday night, fell victim to the forecast and then to an icy parking lot — it’s now rescheduled for Sunday, December 27 at 3 p.m. Both the Presbyterian Church and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church cancelled Sunday morning services.

"This might be a record breaker for one storm, Highway Superintendent Mark Ketcham said as he surveyed the Town of Shelter Island's snow-lined roads on Monday morning, taking the Reporter along for the ride.

Snow was still blowing from drifts onto the roadways a day after a slow-moving winter storm system spun out into the Atlantic after dumping over 2 feet of snow on the region. It arrived later than predicted Saturday night - snow fell elsewhere on Long Island that afternoon but Shelter Island seemed to be in a precipitation-free pocket until well after dark. But when it came, boy, did it come.

The National Weather Service has declared the weekend's snow storm the biggest of all time for Long Island, with measurements topping 26 inches at the agency's regional offices in Upton, the highest total for a single storm since official record-keeping started in 1949.

"Mother Nature, she sure threw us a curve ball, Mr. Ketcham said.

Snow fell at rates as high as 2 to 3 inches per hour. Town plows were out all night Saturday through late Sunday morning, keeping primary roads open, and that's why Shelter Island was the only East End town not to declare a state of emergency, Mr. Ketcham said. Riverhead, Southold, East Hampton and Southampton issued declarations on Sunday, warning residents to stay off the roads.

Town Supervisor Jim Dougherty conferred with Mr. Ketcham and Police Chief James Read and "we unanimously agreed that no circumstances necessitated a state of emergency, Mr. Dougherty confirmed by phone Monday. He credited chance, a quiet Sunday and the efforts of both town employees and private citizens to help each other during and after the storm.

"The guys did an excellent job, Mr. Ketcham said of the highway employees. The town's small, tight crew is willing to work overtime to keep the roads open, Mr. Ketcham said. Other towns, with recent layoffs, are struggling with that, he commented.

By 2:30 p.m. on Sunday all of the secondary roads were plowed. "Everything was open, the Highway Superintendent said.

Just the same, residents stayed home. "I have to commend the public for giving us a chance to do our job, Mr. Ketcham commented.

That also kept accidents to a minimum, according to Shelter Island Police Department reports.

Fallout from the storm included Saturday's Christmas Concert at the Presbyterian Church, which was postponed to Sunday, December 27, at 3 p.m. Some churches cancelled services Sunday. Island kids celebrated a snow day at the Shelter Island School Monday; the Shelter Island Library was closed as well.

The Island's two ferry companies kept operations on schedule. "Conditions were brutal, especially for the last boat crew on Saturday night/Sunday morning, South Ferry's Cliff Clark told the Reporter. They faced steady winds in the 30- to 40-knot range with gusts up around 50 and white-out snow at times.

"Our crews came in early to remove snow and be ready for our first trip on Sunday, North Ferry General Manager Bridg Hunt reported. A ferry deck creates a big catchment area for snow. At South Ferry, the night crews shoveled until 2:45 a.m. and then six men came in by 5 a.m. to be ready on time for the first departure at 5:40 a.m. They were successful and Sue Warner, a regular on the first boat from North Haven, got Fedi's open on time Sunday morning, Mr. Clark added.

"It's going to be a mess for a couple of days, Mr. Ketcham cautioned. Sidewalks have yet to be cleared and the Highway Department still has its work cut out. Drifts at some intersections will be carted off to increase traffic visibility, town landings will be opened to allow for Fire Department pumper truck access in an emergency, and more sand will be laid, Mr. Ketcham said. Blowing snow keeps covering over initial sanding. Sand is available to residents who need a bucket or two from the Highway Department's Bowditch Road facility.

The total cost of the storm to the town is not yet known. The town has budgeted $35,000 for snow removal personnel costs in 2010 and, prior to the storm, over $11,000 remained for 2009 snow removal.

Mr. Ketcham noted one bright side to the storm. "It gives a lot of people - from Highway Department employees to private plow drivers - "a little Christmas bonus.

Click here to view a gallery of blizzard images.