Willow Westphal, 11, looks for mail on West Lake Road, Mayville. Photo by Jenna Westphal

The weather outside is still frightful, but the people of Chautauqua County are doing their best to keep up.

Mayville Mayor Martin Bova said the snow was still falling in Mayville on Wednesday night. Bova said it had snowed all day.

“We’ve had our guys out plowing all day,” he said.

However, the village did get a sidewalk plow and had hopes of getting the sidewalks plowed later Wednesday night. Bova said a blower hook up would have to be used to clear away that amount of snow.

The travel advisories put in place on Tuesday ended at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Bova said before issuing another, he would “wait and see what morning brought.”

“I’m fairly optimistic that if we keep the crews out until 9 or 10 o’clock tonight, we’ll make some headway if it stops snowing at 6 p.m.,” he said.

Bova said the garbage had not been picked up on Tuesday and was postponed, but the intent is to get it done as soon as possible.

City of Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas said the city has dealt with the intense snowfall well.

“I am proud of our guys,” Rosas said. “Our Department of Public Works did an excellent job considering the circumstances.”

He said there was an intense amount of snow, but the DPW workers were prepared.

“There’s still snow on the ground, but the roads are passable,” Rosas said. “It’s manageable now.”

The area is supposed to see more snow in the next few days, so Rosas said the public should be prepared to drive slowly and plan accordingly.

Some tips from the American Red Cross to stay safe during a winter storm include staying indoors, eating and drinking regularly, conserving fuel and wearing layers of clothing instead of bulky sweaters or other similar items. The Red Cross suggests that animal owners bring their companion animals inside, and move other animals to sheltered areas with non-froze water. It is also good to check in on relatives, neighbors and friends, especially those who are elderly or live alone.

Driving in winter weather brings its own list of suggestions from the Red Cross, which include checking vehicle emergency supply kits and making sure they’re fully stocked with items such as blankets or sleeping bags, dry clothing and mittens, hats and socks, newspapers for insulation and plastic bags for sanitation. kits should also include canned fruits, nuts and high-energy snacks and bottles of water. If possible, travel during the daylight and take at least one other person along. Keep a cell phone or two-way radio and have battery or charger on hand. Likewise, the Red Cross suggests informing someone of destination plans, the route and arrival time.