Overview
- County officials confirm three deaths in Nassau County and two in Suffolk County tied to shoveling after this week’s storm.
- Suffolk authorities are investigating an unidentified person found buried in the snow in Deer Park to determine the cause of death.
- The blizzard left parts of the New York metro area with roughly two feet of wet, icy snow that significantly increases the exertion required to clear it.
- Medical experts warn that shoveling in cold conditions can sharply raise heart-attack risk, with a 2025 Mayo Clinic review finding 10 minutes of heavy shoveling can push heart rate to about 97% of its maximum.
- Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says county and town hotlines are available to connect older residents with help, as cardiologists urge people to pace themselves and stop if they feel chest, arm, jaw, or back pain.