Digging out from record snow on Long Island
NEW YORK (WABC) -- After the big dump comes the big dig.
"It finally melted and then we get this," said Islip resident Joseph Laura, taking in the mountains of snow piled around his home.
The Blizzard of 2026 dropped the most snow in the Tri-State area on Long Island, with Central Islip in Suffolk County recording a record-breaking 31 inches.
"I did about five inches Sunday night to stay ahead of it. The other day I did about a foot and a half. I've just been breaking it up... you know, I pace myself," Laura said.
Town of Islip Deputy Supervisor Thomas Owens said crews are still working around the clock.
"We're actually still fighting this storm. We're not done. We're still continuing to do stuff because of the enormity of the height of the storm and the weight of the storm, especially now that it tries to melt," Owens said.
But Laura says the hardest part isn't the shoveling. What's been the most challenging part of this storm?
"Staying home with the kids... just playing board games, trying to keep them occupied, but it's tough," he said.
That's where Kyle comes in.
Kyle Ehlich, a school custodian, was out clearing access points at the Ruth C. Kinney School, getting the campus ready for students and crossing guards after the second full snow day in a row.
"We've been out here for the past two days. A few guys slept overnight... and we're still - it's a lot, a lot," Ehlich said.
After this historic storm, officials say cleanup will take time.
"On Long Island, in 15 minutes it could be sunny, and then it could be snowing 15 minutes later," Owens said. "So it's not a matter of if it happens, but of when it happens. And we're always prepared for that."
More than 300 pieces of equipment were deployed across area roads, covering roughly 1,200 miles. And for many parents, the most important stretch to clear is the one leading back to school.
"Get them out of the house at least because they're going crazy," Laura said. "Because once they have the iPads... they get lost in it."
Another option, of course, would be to help dad dig.
The novelty of snow days is already wearing off after day two in Suffolk County - and parents everywhere are cheering on the crews trying to get things back to normal.
For those returning to work as well, the Long Island Rail Road says regular service will be restored at midnight, which should make for a mostly normal morning commute.
Crews have been working to clean up and get things back on track.
Workers have been de-icing trains and clearing fallen trees from the tracks after Monday's blizzard.
There was no LIRR service on Monday.
ALSO READ: LIVE UPDATES | Blizzard of 2026
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