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While 8- to 12-inch snow storms are not all that uncommon, it is the potential for high winds that makes this storm a particular concern to me. As always, our emergency personnel and public works forces are fully ready to respond as needed. Please help them do their job by staying off the roads by noon today, but especially after 3 p.m. when the heaviest accumulations are expected.
We are closing all Village offices and the Library at noon today. Additionally, the Recreation Department has canceled all activities for tonight and tomorrow (including the teen trip to the Great Wolf Lodge), and the musical “Legally Blonde” is canceled for tonight (tickets for tonight’s show can be used on Sunday at 2 p.m.).
Assuming that the forecast holds, I plan to issue a snow emergency this afternoon. This declaration will authorize the Police Department to tow vehicles that are impeding the Village’s response to the storm. Towing vehicles is, of course, the last thing we want to do during a storm response, so, to the extent possible, please keep your vehicles parked off the street and in a safe location.
A snow emergency also temporarily suspends the requirement to clear your sidewalk. If conditions warrant a snow emergency declaration, then we really don’t want our residents out clearing snow until the emergency subsides. When there is no snow emergency, and after the emergency is lifted, snow removal from sidewalk areas must be done by adjacent property owners. If you live adjacent to a sidewalk, you must remove snow according to the following schedule:
If you live along Main Street, snow must be removed by 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
If you live anywhere else, snow must be removed within 12 hours after the snow stops falling.
As we learned during Super Storm Sandy, the Village has little influence over Con Edison, so please do not call the Police Department for power outages. If there is a live wire in the street, that is an emergency and please alert us. However, to report power outages, please contact Con Edison directly:
Customers can report downed power lines, outages and check service restoration status by computer or mobile device at www.coned.com/ReportOutage. They can also call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.
Depending on the severity of storm damage, crews will give priority to restoring service lines that will provide power to the most customers as quickly as possible, then move on to restore smaller groups and individual customers who are without power. Con Edison offers the following safety tips:
If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move them or touch them with your hands or any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree limbs, leaves or water.
Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.
If your power goes out, disconnect or turn off appliances that would otherwise turn on automatically when service is restored. If several appliances start up at once, the electric circuits may overload.
Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are in working order. Make sure you have extra batteries. Weather updates and news on restorations of electrical service can be heard on most local radio and television stations.
That’s it for now. Please be well and stay safe.
Brian C. Smith Mayor bsmith@irvingtonny.gov
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