Babylon DPW Plow Operator Spots Two Dogs Running on Sunrise Highway

Kenny McGowan, a plow operator with the Babylon Department of Public Works, reported seeing two dogs running westbound on Sunrise Highway adjacent to Babylon Town Hall while operating a snowplow during the Feb. 23–24, 2026 blizzard. The sighting occurred as crews worked to keep Sunrise Highway moving amid historic snowfall totals that buried Long Island.

McGowan was working on Sunrise Highway near the municipal complex when he encountered the animals running along the roadway, an area that saw heavy accumulation during the storm. Babylon Town Hall sits directly north of Sunrise Highway, placing municipal vehicles and winter-response crews in close proximity to the stretch where the dogs were observed.

The presence of two loose dogs on the westbound lanes created a hazard for motorists and for plow operations during the blizzard, when visibility and traction were severely reduced by the Feb. 23–24 snowfall. Babylon Department of Public Works crews, including operators like McGowan, were focused on maintaining passable lanes on Sunrise Highway during the historic storm, increasing the risk that animals on the road could be struck or cause collisions.

Babylon Department of Public Works assigns plow routes that include Sunrise Highway through the downtown corridor near Babylon Town Hall, and operators work extended shifts during events such as the Feb. 23–24 blizzard. The sighting by McGowan highlights seasonal and storm-related challenges faced by the town’s winter response, including debris, stranded vehicles, and in this case, unsecured animals running along a primary thoroughfare.

The incident underscores the stakes for local safety on Sunrise Highway during major storms and the overlap between municipal operations and unexpected hazards. The Feb. 24 sighting near Babylon Town Hall serves as a reminder of the conditions crews encountered during the Feb. 23–24 blizzard and the potential for nonvehicle obstacles to complicate snow-removal efforts and traffic flow on Sunrise Highway.