Buffalo's weather needs therapy – but so does our emergency system

By: Rivy Mosegi, Opinion Editor

Buffalonians and non-Buffalonians, winter is upon us. And you know what that means! Time to prepare for Buffalo's notoriously inconsistent weather. Buffalo is a city known for its harsh winters, but the devastating storms of recent years – especially the deadly December 2022 blizzard – exposed deep weaknesses in the city’s emergency planning and leadership under former mayor Byron Brown. More than thirty people lost their lives, and a large number of those deaths occurred on the East Side, an area already burdened by poverty, limited resources and aging infrastructure. The disaster revealed that Buffalo was far less prepared for extreme weather than many residents believed. As the city transitions to new leadership, it is crucial to examine what went wrong and outline the systems the next mayor must strengthen to protect all Buffalonians, particularly those in the most vulnerable neighborhoods.

One of the most significant failures during the storm was the collapse of the city’s communication network. Investigations found that the administration issued critical warnings too late, leaving many residents unaware of the severity of the approaching blizzard. Only a small fraction of households were signed up for the city’s alert system, and some of the public briefings lacked ASL interpretation, excluding Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents from essential information. Warming shelters were not advertised clearly or widely, and many were located far from the neighborhoods that ultimately suffered the greatest harm. Because of these communication gaps, several victims left their homes during whiteout conditions in search of food, medication or warmth, unaware that stepping outside could be fatal.

The worst of the disaster fell upon the East Side and parts of the West Side, where long-standing inequities left residents especially vulnerable. Many East Side neighborhoods are food deserts, with limited grocery stores or pharmacies, making it difficult for families to gather supplies before the storm hit. Car ownership is lower in these areas, leaving residents dependent on public transportation – which shut down early in the storm. Narrow residential streets in these neighborhoods were among the last to be plowed, trapping people in freezing homes or leaving them stranded outdoors. The West Side, with its dense immigrant population and many low-income renters, faced similar challenges. The storm’s impact was not random; it followed the same patterns of disinvestment and inequality that have shaped Buffalo for decades.

National Grid, the region’s primary utility provider, also faced heavy scrutiny during and after the 2022 blizzard. Thousands of households across Buffalo – particularly on the East Side – lost power for days, leaving families trapped in freezing homes without light, heat or access to essential medical supplies. News reports highlighted heartbreaking stories of parents trying to keep infants warm with layers of blankets as indoor temperatures dropped below freezing, while elderly residents and people with chronic illnesses were left in life-threatening conditions. Those with asthma were especially vulnerable – several individuals could not reach inhalers, pharmacies or hospitals because unplowed streets made travel impossible. Some relied on electrically powered medical devices like nebulizers or oxygen units that became unusable during power outages. While the severity of the storm played a role, critics argued that National Grid had years of warnings from previous storms to reinforce the grid, bury vulnerable lines and improve emergency staffing. 

As Buffalo moves into a new chapter of leadership, the incoming administration must prioritize building a disaster-response system that is proactive, not reactive. This begins with investing in modernized snow-removal strategies, increasing the number of plows assigned to historically underserved neighborhoods and maintaining real-time GPS tracking so residents can see which streets have been cleared. Emergency shelters must be expanded, better publicized and equipped with transportation options for people who cannot travel in severe conditions. The new administration must also create a transparent communication system that alerts residents early and consistently – through text messages, social media, local news and multilingual outreach. By integrating updated weather modeling, strengthening partnerships with county and state officials and hiring additional emergency personnel, Buffalo can finally build a system capable of responding effectively to the storms that have repeatedly overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure.

Another critical responsibility of the next mayor is addressing the long-standing racial and economic disparities that storms continuously expose. The East Side and parts of the West Side have faced decades of underinvestment and fragile electrical systems that fail faster and stay down longer. The administration must demand accountability and substantial reinvestment from National Grid, including accelerated grid upgrades, more accessible warming centers and emergency crews dedicated specifically to vulnerable zip codes. Beyond storm response, year-round resilience must become a priority – fixing vacant homes, improving insulation and heating systems, expanding access to medical resources and ensuring essential inhalers, oxygen equipment and medications are reachable during emergencies. By centering policy around equity, health and infrastructure, the new administration can rebuild trust and protect Buffalonians who have historically carried the greatest burden during disasters.