Buffalo to host “taste of the big easy” week

Over thirteen months later, and it’s déjà vu all over again—only the temperatures have been changed. . . .

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The strain of last week's surprise 2-foot snowfall showed itself yesterday as people in shelters worried about flooding basements and fallen trees, and elected officials lashed out at the federal government's response to the storm.

With around-the-clock cleanup efforts continuing, nearly 150,000 homes and businesses remained without power and schools in Buffalo and surrounding towns said they would be unable to reopen until next week.

"We're four or five days into the (recovery)," Erie County Executive Joel Giambra said. "This is about the time where people's anger and frustration is at the boil-over point."

U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response in the region as inadequate, saying the agency had offered little guidance on reimbursement and loan programs and snubbed the city of Buffalo during a tour of damage this week.

I kind of think this should be a bigger story—especially with House seats in affected regions in play. I mean, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice. . . .