Hero Jay Withey Saves 24 People During Deadly Winter Storm in Upstate New York

CNN — Jay Withey, 27, of Kenmore, New York, is being hailed as a hero after leading 24 people to safety during a deadly winter storm in upstate New York. Withey found himself stranded on the side of the road and was unable to get help from police due to the severity of the storm. He went door-to-door asking for shelter, but was turned away by several people. Desperate to save himself and others, Withey broke into a nearby school, EDGE Academy, and used a snowblower to help the group dig out their cars. Inside the school, Withey pried open the kitchen door to gather essentials to help feed the group. He left a note apologizing for the break-in, which police found when they eventually responded to the alarm Withey set off. Cheektowaga Police Department said they are grateful for Withey’s actions and want the community to use his story to help them grieve after the storm. “We want to identify ‘Jay’ and have him recognized for his going above and beyond actions that saved lives,” said Chief Brian Gould. Family and friends who saw the police post knew whom officials were looking for, and Withey was eventually found with the public’s help. Withey said he was just doing what he had to do to save everyone. “I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom,” he said.