Lesson learned?

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo made it clear Tuesday he's not about to get buried by a political snowstorm like the one that engulfed Mayor Michael Bloomberg: The governor announced he has directed the New York State Office of Emergency Management to activate the state's comprehensive emergency management plan in preparation for a snowstorm poised to hit the state - and Long Island in particular.

Seeking to reduce the number of stranded motorists on the LIE, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Tuesday directed more snowplows to the highway's entrance and exit ramps.

The plows, some coming from as far away as Rochester and Utica, are to clear the ramps once the LIE is cleared, a Cuomo aide told Newsday. He said the additional plows were meant to remove snow deposited on the ramps when the main highway is cleared. Vehicles often become stuck on the ramps.

The aide said five plows and 10 workers from the Transportation Department were en route Tuesday night to Long Island from Rochester and Utica. In addition, 13 rented plows will concentrate on the ramps.

Five tow trucks will be in place at certain ramps to quickly remove stranded vehicles, the aide added Tuesday night.

The moves are meant to address the perennial problem of motorists being stranded in the snow as they enter or exit the LIE because ramps haven't been cleared sufficiently.

The equipment earmarked for the LIE is in addition to 196 trucks already deployed by the DOT to remove snow on the Island.

Cuomo said, "With weather forecasts calling for a significant snow event across large portions of the state, we have taken steps to mobilize and coordinate our response with the appropriate state agencies in order to ensure a safe and timely cleanup. I urge all drivers to use caution on our roadways and to be courteous and careful when in proximity to snow plows and salt trucks."

Bloomberg has been under fire for the delayed response by sanitation plow crews in clearing city streets after the blizzard last month.

Earlier Tuesday, Cuomo also announced:

Deicing solutions have been spread on major state roads to prevent snow and ice;

LIPA has placed 300 linemen, 16 first-responders and 100 additional contractors on standby for storm response;

All 3,000 LIPA critical-care customers have been contacted to warn of potential weather-related outages, and state police have diverted additional four-wheel drive vehicles to impact areas.

His office also said information about roads and winter travel could be accessed by dialing 511 or on the Web at www.511ny.org or https://www.nysdot.gov/wta.

Utility customers can contact LIPA or the Public Service Commission at 800-490-0075.

Suffolk County Transit plans to decide about 5 a.m. Wednesday whether to shut down its entire system because of the snowstorm, county officials said Tuesday night.

Gilbert Anderson, commissioner of public works for the county, said buses could be up and running by Wednesday afternoon if road conditions allow.

He advised customers to call 631-852-5200 or visit sct-bus.org for the latest information on bus service.

"This is going to be a very heavy storm. At this point I would anticipate that we're going to wind up shutting it down," Anderson said Tuesday night. "We wanted to do it early enough that no one would be stranded."

State Transportation Department spokeswoman Eileen Peters said DOT trucks started preparations Monday, spreading a brine solution - that is, a saltwater deicing mix - on the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway, Southern State Parkway and Sunken Meadow-Sagtikos State Parkway as a pre-treatment.

"It can go down early because it goes down wet and it sticks," Peters said. "It's basically a saltwater solution and it not only prevents snow from sticking to the pavement, but it keeps ice from forming and makes snow removal easier."

She said in addition to the equipment, the DOT has activated 350 workers on Long Island to deal with emergency clearing and snow removal.

Some towns have gotten an early jump on the situation, as well. The Town of Huntington has declared a snow emergency, spokesman A.J. Carter said - and is asking residents not to drive during the storm and to avoid street parking, if possible. That, he said, would help make it easier for crews.

The town also has suspended recyclables pickup Wednesday, though it will reinstate pickups Thursday - collecting recyclables on the regular trash collection day for residents.

Snow removal doesn't come cheap, either.

Suffolk estimated it spent about $1.7 million on snow removal in the December 2009 blizzard, while Nassau spent about $900,000. Estimates on the cost of last month's storm were not immediately available, though Huntington estimated it spent $750,000.

That figure includes $171,00 for sand and salt, Carter said, as well as $322,000 for outside contractors, $165,000 for highway department overtime and $48,000 for staff overtime.

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