JFK T1 a ghosttown
morning after blizzard.
AIRPORT V 26 OICE, FEBRUARY 2021
Orlena, worst
winter Nor'easter
in years plummets
Port airports
EOC COMMANDS AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSIST
STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH THE ONSLAUGHT
Snowstorm Orlena was
the worst blizzard to hit
New York area airports in
years. After the lessons of
storm Grayson a few years
ago, Port put together an aggressive
action plans for all
kinds of weather and other
emergencies.
Out of the analysis and
recommendations, the
Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) was born. Called
into action a couple of days
before this storm, contingency
plans in place for all
Port airports and mandated
that all stakeholders be actively
engaged in regular
communication and collaboration
for preparation
and post-snow resumption
of services. Despite difficult
snow conditions the entire
community of airlines,
snow contractors , AirTrain,
power plant, cargo facilities,
PAPD and federal partners
worked together to keep everyone
informed of the latest
conditions and safe during
the pandemic environment
and to report any issues that
might hamper operations
of necessary snow removal
or mitigation of impact on
the equipment and ramp resources.
.
Hotels rooms were fully
booked by the airport for
staff and any stranded passengers
and lots of blankets
and pillows were used in
terminal offices by managers
who slept at their work
places and for stranded passengers
just in case bedding
was needed. The storm created
some AirTrain track issues,
but airport buses were
ready to deploy and move
the tired staff around the
airport and to publlc transportation.
Airport management,
prepared for the challenges,
did their best job, and the
KAAMCO Board complimented
them for a job well
done.
Well, now you have it Port maintenance!
JFK AirTrain glides above snowbound cars.
ABM airport buses transportation in challenging
conditions.
Mountain of snow in JFK long term parking. Clearing the runways at JFK. Photos by Jeff Yapalater