AAA: Stay home today

By AAA of Western and Central New York

AAA is seeing extreme call volume in Buffalo and surrounding suburbs. AAA roadside assistance response is limited: commercial truck bans, driving bans, gridlock on roads with heavy snow and stranded vehicles. Police may turn AAA trucks away for safety reasons.

AAA is urging people to stay home. Obey all driving bans and avoid travel across the WNY region.

AAA is prioritizing service. Those who are safe at home should remain patient while crews attempt to assist those on the roads. Even if a tow truck is able to get a vehicle back on the road, the vehicles may get stuck again in heavy snow.

If you go off the road or get stuck in heavy snow, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and call 9-1-1. Only exit the vehicle to verify the tailpipe is clear of accumulating snow. Otherwise, you risk being struck by another vehicle.

AAA Orchard Park, Amherst, Kenton and Watertown branches will be closed today. Staff will be working remotely and available to assist over the phone or email. AAA has extra crews on the phones and on the roads, but again, road service is hampered by current conditions. Expect service delays.

Cleanup from the first storm was not yet complete when this next system arrived. It is creating challenges for people across WNY, and AAA reminds everyone to stay safe at home.