Holly MatkinBuffalo, NY – Throngs of looters ransacked stores and destroyed businesses as they tore through the Buffalo area in the midst of a massive winter storm over the weekend (videos below).
“People who are out looting when people are losing their lives in this harsh winter storm are absolutely reprehensible,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said during a joint news conference with New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Monday afternoon, according to The Buffalo News.
“I don’t know how these people can even live with themselves, how they can look at themselves in the mirror,” Brown added. “They are the lowest of the low.”
Footage of ransacked stores and demolished businesses have been shared widely on social media.
“They’re not looting food and medicines – they’re just looting items that they want,” the mayor said, according to WGRZ. “These aren’t even people in distress. These are people that are taking advantage of a natural disaster.”
Officials have described the deadly blizzard as a “once in a generation” winter storm that brought much of the area to a grinding halt over the Christmas holiday weekend, WIVB reported.
Loot revealed after a massive snowstorm hit Buffalo New York #snow #Breaking 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ks7trWxA0V
— Akıncı (@Aknc35624923) December 26, 2022
In addition to impassible roads snarled with hundreds of abandoned vehicles, the blizzard knocked out power for a huge portion of residents, according to CNN.
More than 25 people in western New York lost their lives in the winter weather, Poloncarz said.
“We do expect there will be more,” he added.
#buffaloblizzard got people acting up. This is so sad to see how people will jump at the opportunity to loot. pic.twitter.com/WR0VhNNdtg
— Dayz Moran (@Dayzkk) December 25, 2022
Police have been going car-to-car and house-to-house, checking to make sure people aren’t in need of help, CNN reported.
“In some of these circumstances, some of these people might not have survived if it weren’t for the efforts of first responders to rescue them from vehicles,” Brown noted.
“I’m heartbroken about the deaths,” Poloncarz told The Buffalo News. “Just absolutely devastated to see that many deaths and then to find out that there’s looting going on in our community at the same time we’re still recovering bodies is just horrible.”
Unfortunate part of #BuffaloBlizzard2022 is the looting picking up in parts of the city. This is a Family Dollar on Genesee Street @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/NXhHgyMPhz
— Dave McKinley (@DaveMcKinley2) December 26, 2022
More than 43 inches of snow and ice fell on the Buffalo area over the weekend, accompanied by high winds and frigid temperatures, Newsweek reported.
Another foot of snow was forecasted to fall by mid-week.
Travel bans were implemented in some areas and crews were working to clear snow from various routes to make roads passable for first responders, WIVB reported.
Video of shots fired while looting takes place in Buffalo. #buffaloblizzard #Buffalo #BuffaloBlizzard2022 #looting #loot #blizzard #blizzard2022 #gunfight @GovKathyHochul pic.twitter.com/hO2bCQkAtd
— Blue Line Defense LLC (@BLDefense22) December 26, 2022
Hochul warned that the National Guard would be stopping drivers who attempt to travel through areas where the travel bans were in effect and that violators would be cited.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said police have been investigating the reports of looting at locations throughout the city and that they were still unsure how may businesses had been targeted as of Monday, according to WGRZ.
#Update #NYC #Weather
Loot revealed after a massive snowstorm hit Buffalo New York pic.twitter.com/lk3EIaL4CU— RawNews1st (@Raw_News1st) December 26, 2022
“We have made a few arrests,” Commissioner Gramaglia confirmed.
He said officers also helped to board up at least one store after looters busted out the windows and ransacked the building, WGRZ reported.
More than a dozen gas stations were rendered inoperable by looters, Erie County Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Daniel Neaverth told The Buffalo News.
After assessment of current conditions, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) announced the airfield at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport will remain closed until 11:00 a.m.Wednesday 12/28/22.Read more here: https://t.co/56gnfEEYyX pic.twitter.com/4FTIQ3S0TL
— NFTA Newsroom (@NFTANewsroom) December 26, 2022
“This is a drastic implication for us that we now have to deal with to find alternate fuel sources,” Neaverth explained. “So that ambulance that is maybe just going to go a block to refuel now has to go to a facility sometimes outside of the city of Buffalo to be refueled.”
Other looted businesses include Rick’s Sports Apparel near Elmwood Avenue and Allen Street, a Family Dollar on Genesee Street, the Broadway Market, and Rent to Own, among others, WGRZ reported.
