The Inside Press

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Storm Preparedness: Frequently Asked Questions

by

From Rob Greenstein, New Castle Town Supervisor

New Castle snow plowNational Weather Service has announced a severe winter storm approaching. Blizzard Warnings are in effect from 1 pm on Monday, January 26, 2015 through midnight on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

I have declared a Snow Emergency for the Town of New Castle, effective Tuesday, January 26, 2015, 6:00 pm. During the emergency period, it shall be unlawful to park or leave unattended a motor vehicle on any street or highway. This emergency shall be in effect for a 36 hour period until Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 6:00 am.

Town Hall will open at its regular time of 8:45 am but will close at noon on Monday, January 26, 2015. All Evening Meetings for Monday, January 26 have been cancelled. Recycling Center is open today Monday, January 26 but will be closed on Tuesday, January 27.

Town Board Meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 27 has been rescheduled for Wednesday January 28.

There will be no recycling and garbage pick-up on Tuesday. All Tuesday recycling and garbage pickups will instead be picked up on Wednesday. Regular Wednesday pickups remain unchanged.

To keep residents informed, and to ensure that our community is prepared, we have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Stay Safe!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I receive storm updates?

Sign up for codeRED and New Castle Police Department Nixle alerts, and please check the town’s web site.

For Nixle text alerts, just text your zip code to 888777. For email (& text) alerts, go to https://local.nixle.com/register/.

For codeRED notifications: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/A84FF0D0EFC6

Is Department of Public Works ready?

DPW crews will be pre-salting the roads and will spend tonight and tomorrow at work.

When are the snow plows sent out?

The plow operators are dispatched immediately at the beginning of a storm and stay out continually during the storm. They are responsible for clearing over 24 square miles – 101 miles of Town owned roads!

Which streets are plowed first?

Snow plows first clear primary and major artery streets, school streets, and streets serving emergency response facilities and heavy traffic. After those roads are clear, secondary streets are cleared and streets with moderate traffic. Lastly, all other streets, including cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets, are plowed. After a major storm, it may take two to three days for plow crews to clear all the streets.

What can I do if snow is blocking access to my mail box or driveway?

During snow plowing operations, the snow from the street will end up in front of driveways and mailboxes. The property owner is responsible for access to his/her individual driveway or mailbox.

The only way to avoid extra shoveling is to wait until the Public Works crews have done their final clean-up on the street.

What if there is a fire hydrant on my property?

Clear HydrantsOur local fire departments ask residents to clear hydrants near their homes throughout the storm (when safe to do so). It may save a life.

Is New Castle Police Department ready?

New Castle Police Department staffing will be increased for the duration of the storm. All equipment, vehicles and staff are ready. In the event of life or property threatening emergencies, dial 911. To report blocked roads, call 911.

Is Con Edison ready?

Con Edison is closely monitoring the winter storm expected to hit our area today, and have augmented our staffing levels in preparation. We have been in contact with our Con Ed liaison. The Municipal Dashboard has been activated. The Municipal dashboard allows municipalities to see the customer outage details, input priority customer orders to be addressed, and view restoration progress via an outage map.

What contact numbers do I need?

To report loss of electric or if you smell gas, contact ConEd at 1-800-75CONED (1-800-752-6633) or go to www.ConEd.com To report downed trees: New Castle Police: 914-238-4422. To report downed power lines: New Castle Police: 914-238-4422. To Report Water emergency: Millwood Water Treatment Plant: 914-944-0036 / 914-944-0037.

Will the Emergency Operations Center be activated?

Our emergency responders are working together to prepare and respond to the storm. They have been in contact with each other and will be meeting later this afternoon to discuss our preparation, concerns and how we can help each other to protect life and property during the storm. We will continue to have open communication and work as a team with a common goals. We are ready to activate our Emergency Operations Center, if necessary. As the storm evolves we could make that decision. Some of the factors to consider are:

  • The number of road closures on major and secondary roads.
  • Types of closures – wires down vs just trees
  • An extraordinary incident that involves multiple agencies or the need for resources beyond local capabilities
  • A threat to life and property that involves a large geographic area of town.

How can I prepare before the storm?

Be familiar with winter storm watches and warnings.

Have disaster supplies on hand, in case the power goes out. Include a flashlight and extra batteries; portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries; a first aid kit; a one-week supply of food (include items that do not require refrigeration or cooking in case the power is shut off); a manual can opener; one-week supply of essential prescription medications; extra blankets and sleeping bags.

Develop an emergency communication plan in case family members are separated from one another during a winter storm (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school) and have a plan for getting back together.

Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the family contact because after a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone knows the name, address and phone number of the contact person.

If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees F.

What should I do during the storm?

Stay indoors and dress warmly.

Monitor your emails and check out the town’s web site www.MyNewCastle.org for the latest information.

Bring pets inside during winter weather.

Is it safe to go outside?

Dress warmly and wear loose-fitting, layered, light-weight clothing. Layers can be removed to prevent perspiration and chill. Outer garments should be water repellant. Mittens are warmer than gloves because fingers generate warmth when they touch each other.

If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. Also take frequent breaks.

Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors. Try not to speak unless absolutely necessary.

Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.

Be aware of symptoms of dehydration.

Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Keep dry and change wet clothing frequently to prevent loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.

Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance – infants, elderly people and people with disabilities.

Email Your Town Council and Town Administrator

You may contact your town board members and town administrator by using the links below, or as a group. For a full list of town contacts, click here.

Rob Greenstein – RGreenstein@MyNewCastle.org, 914-238-7281

Lisa Katz – LKatz@MyNewCastle.org, 914-238-7299

Elise K. Mottel – EKMottel@MyNewCastle.org, 914-238-4785

Jason Chapin – JChapin@MyNewCastle.org, 914-238-4778

Adam Brodsky – ABrodsky@MyNewCastle.org, 914-238-7262

Jill Shapiro – JShapiro@MyNewCastle.org, 914-238-4742

All – TownBoard@MyNewCastle.org