Erie County’s Mark Polonkers said Sunday evening there were 12 confirmed storm-related deaths in Erie County, including six in Buffalo, three in Amherst and three in Cheektowaga. Separately on Sunday, they reported one confirmed storm death.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia later confirmed four more deaths, bringing Buffalo’s total to 10.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said Sunday night, “We have had more 911 calls regarding the bodies, and we are working diligently to identify and recover them.” We are working very hard to complete it.” He said the dead were those found outdoors and in vehicles.
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Polonkaerts said he expects additional deaths to be reported later on Sunday.
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Mayor Byron W. Brown said at a press conference on Sunday that the death toll in Buffalo was “expected to rise.”
Three people died in the Cheektowaga storm, police chief Brian Gould told the Buffalo News.
Niagara County officials also confirmed the first death associated with the storm. A 27-year-old Lockport man was pronounced dead Sunday of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Authorities responded to reports of two people unconscious at a Dogwood Drive home at 9:13 am. The 27-year-old, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.
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A second patient, also unidentified, was taken to Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston for treatment.
According to the sheriff’s office, a preliminary investigation found that heavy snow had blanketed the furnace outside, causing carbon monoxide to enter the residence.
In Buffalo, police recovered three of the six bodies, Gramaglia said Sunday morning.
Gramaglia said all three of the recovered bodies were those found outdoors.
According to the mayor, one of the recent fatalities was a person stuck in a car.
“There are other unconfirmed 911 calls for fatalities,” Brown said.
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The commissioner said there were other reports of deaths occurring in vehicles that police have yet to confirm.
Confirmed deaths in Buffalo include officials reported Saturday of a man found on a road near Kensington and Bailey streets.
Of the 12 deaths confirmed by the Erie County Coroner’s Office, three died due to “delays in EMS response,” county commissioner Mark Poloncarz tweeted Sunday night. said in
Three of the people who died had heart attacks from shoveling or shoveling snow, according to Polonkatz’s post.
Four of the bodies were found outside, one inside and one inside a car.
Reach Aaron with Abesecker[at]buffnews.com or 716-849-4602.