This will serve as a storm update effective 8:15PM Sunday. Snow began falling around 3:00pm with approximately 4 to 5 inches of accumulation in Town of Clarkstown as of this post. According to the Clarkstown Police Department call volume has been low but we have had at least four storm related accidents thus far, none with injuries. The roads are snow covered the Highway Department is out clearing roads and keeping up with the snowfall. However, if you do not need to be out please stay off the roads so highway can do its job. The forecast calls for snow into the early morning hours with additional accumulations likely. Monday promises to be very cold and thus we will be out salting and clearing as icing conditions will be possible. We will post further updates as the storm progresses.

Did you know heating is the 2nd leading cause of home fires?

Space Heaters

• Keep anything that can burn, such as bedding, clothing and curtains, at least 3 feet away from the heater.
• Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.
• Only use portable heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.

Fireplace

• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks jumping out.
• Do not burn paper in your fireplace.
• Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.
• Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 10 feet from your home.

Wood Stove

• Make sure your wood stove is 3 feet from anything that can burn.
• Do not burn paper in your wood stove.
• Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.
• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional.

Furnace

• Have your furnace inspected each year.
• Keep anything that can burn away from the furnace.

Kerosene Heater

• Only use kerosene heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.
• Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.
• Refuel your cooled heater outside.

For more information and free resources you can contact usfa.fema.gov.