Image Credit: John Normile/Getty Images 
A winter storm barreled through Buffalo, New York, over the weekend and ended Christmas morning, but the emergency was far from over, as claims across social media indicate widespread looting.
“Looting in Buffalo being significantly downplayed by local media,” said one Twitter user. Local media outlet WGRZ reported, “New York State Police confirm reports of 2 looting incidents.” But judging by the footage posted on Twitter, looting appears to be widespread.
BREAKING: Looting in Buffalo being significantly downplayed by local media. A simple Facebook search of “Buffalo looting” shows multiple incidents. @WGRZ @ViralNewsNYC #BuffaloBlizzard2022 #BuffaloLooting pic.twitter.com/Rd0EbUpHO9
— Rowan (@canmericanized) December 26, 2022
Here’s some of the chaos posted on social media Sunday:
Looting of stores in Buffalo and New York at the same time as the extreme cold and frost pic.twitter.com/jczYBJgjNq
— The last word (@Thelast05015969) December 26, 2022
There are reports of looting at multiple locations in Buffalo, New York following a deadly winter storm. pic.twitter.com/49T5WvolD2
— I’m No Angel (@HappyCamper2626) December 26, 2022
There are reports of looting at multiple locations in Buffalo, New York following a deadly winter storm. pic.twitter.com/49T5WvolD2
— I’m No Angel (@HappyCamper2626) December 26, 2022
Looting out of family dollar in Buffalo
pic.twitter.com/C28biqbrgO
—
KoolKid JJ (@KoolKidJJ) December 25, 2022
DEVELOPING: Heavy gunfire heard as looters flee a business in Buffalo, New York#Buffalo l #NY
Looting is occurring in the city following blizzard conditions. Footage shows someone firing several rounds as looters run from a building.
Injuries unknown.
pic.twitter.com/WyrQlr05N1— Intel Point Alert (@IntelPointAlert) December 26, 2022
#NewYork#Buffalo#looting pic.twitter.com/EkYeFmaIcb
— The Daily Sneed
(@Tr00peRR) December 26, 2022
#BuffaloLooting The Winter Storm #WinterStorm #Elliott #Buffalo #NewYork #BuffaloNY #NYC #WinterStorm pic.twitter.com/dMduutUAEc
— Harish Deshmukh (@DeshmukhHarish9) December 26, 2022
Last night Nickel City Liquor in Buffalo was broken into & robbed. $500 worth of alcohol stolen.
Owner had to sleep there, unable to board it up. He said “they have cheap & bad taste.” pic.twitter.com/z46c1Rjok3
— Michael Schwartz (@MSchwartzTV) December 25, 2022
Looting across Buffalo, New York, here is a local Dollar General. Impacts from the blizzard has crippled the area with reinforcement being low.
Permission: David O. Anderson from Luminary Figures Group #blizzard #buffaloblizzard #Buffalo #BuffaloNY #NYwx #Buffalosnowstorm pic.twitter.com/bS8SW8c9sD
— Live Storm Chasers (@LiveStormChaser) December 26, 2022
Another looting at family dollar in Buffalo smh
pic.twitter.com/6MJkcOdiu9
—
Buffalo police are arresting looters… pic.twitter.com/CAVcHAgUOF
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) December 26, 2022
Good question.
Yo, idiots @misslynchnyc and @GovKathyHochul the city is spiraling out of control .. looting, seniors dying, and you keep taking fucking pictures and pretending that everything is ok? You are truly helpless idiots..no sense of control or urgency..#BuffaloBlizzard2022 #Buffalo
— BIF (@brianrfreeman) December 26, 2022
Besides looting, the blizzard-related death toll hit 25 in the metro area this morning, according to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, surpassing deaths of the 1977 blizzard. Conditions were so severe that even emergency responders needed rescuing.
And at that point, parts of the city transformed into lawless places where some residents went on looting sprees.