A historic winter storm hits Buffalo, killing 39 people in Erie County, New York.
Erie County Executive Mark Polonkers said the deaths included those found in cars, outside, and heart attacks from shoveling snow or blowing snow.
monique alexander
Casey McCarone, 26, poses for a photo with her mother, Monique Alexander, 52.
Courtesy of Casey McCarron
Among those killed was Monique Alexander, 52, a Buffalo woman who doted on her three grandchildren, according to her daughter Casey McCarone.
McCarone told ABC News that Alexander went out on Christmas Eve and did not return.
“She never said where she was going, just said she would be right back,” she said.
“My mother was the rock in our family,” McCarone said in a statement.
“She was something I could count on. Whenever someone needed her, she took care of me,” she said. “During her holidays, she even cooked for her neighbors and strangers she knew weren’t around because she cared so much.”
William Clay
William Clay, 56, died during a snowstorm in Buffalo, New York, on December 24, 2022.
Courtesy of Sophia Clay
William Clay died on December 24, his 56th birthday, his sister Sophia Clay told ABC News.
According to his sister, he was an “avid reader” and “extremely religious” and read the Bible daily.
“There are people in the world who can quote the Bible, but they don’t have it in their hearts. Sophia Clay said.
William Clay leaves behind a family that includes a son and two grandchildren.
“He was a great brother, a great grandfather and a great friend,” said Sophia Clay.
redelise curry
Redelise Curry is pictured in an undated photo.
curry family
Ladyreese Curry, 46, was among those killed in the storm, her niece Zanya Gills told ABC News.
Curry has asthma and had a severe asthma attack during a snowstorm, her niece told ABC Buffalo affiliate WKBW.
According to her niece, she was a loving mother, daughter, aunt and sister.
Curry leaves behind a 13-year-old son.
Melissa Morrison
This undated photo shows Melissa Morrison.
Melissa Morrison/Facebook
Melissa Morrison, 46, was also among the dead, her mother Linda Adeo told ABC News.
She has two sons aged 20 and 24.
Adeo said in a text message that Morrison was “the most beloved daughter and mother.”
abdul sharif
Photo courtesy of Abdul Sharif’s cousin, who died on Saturday, December 24, just days before his 27th birthday (January 1).
Courtesy of Ali Sharif
Abdul Sharif, who died in a storm on Christmas Eve, would have turned 27 on January 1, his cousin said.
Buffalo News reports that his wife is pregnant and due in about a week.
Sharif, a refugee from Congo, was known to help his neighbors, the newspaper said.
Andel Taylor
Ander Taylor, 22, dies in Buffalo, New York blizzard
Courtesy of Tomesia Brown
Ander Taylor, 22, got stuck in the snow while leaving work on Dec. 23, according to his sister Tomesia Brown. Taylor sent the video to his family’s group chat around midnight that night. Brown said her phone calls to Ms. Taylor went unanswered the next morning and her family later learned of her death.
Brown said Taylor, who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, moved to Buffalo in the summer of 2021 to care for her father.
“She was the kindest and most loving person,” Brown said in a statement. “She went to take care of her son, but she could have also built a career here in Charlotte that allowed her to take care of her family more. That was her main focus. She came to see me at every opportunity.” She could do it. “
Christopher Loft, Lena Camilletti and Leila Ferris of ABC News contributed to this report.
