With the forecasted snow storm ahead, this will likely be the greatest snowfall this area has seen in a decade. With all emergencies, preplanning is key. Here are a few tips to help you weather the storm:

1. Clear snow and ice away from your house’s Gas Meter, Furnace, and Dryer Vents as well as any other exhaust pipes on the side of your home.

2. If you have a fire hydrant in front of your home, please clear the snow away from it, making it accessible and easy for us to spot in an emergency.

3. Make sure all portable electronics (cellphones, flashlights, emergency radios, and battery packs, etc) are charged up in case of a power outage.

4. Only plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use a surge protector.

5. When clearing snow, clear enough to allow safe passages. Consider helping elderly or physically impaired neighbors with their snow removal.

6. Do not travel in the snowstorm unless necessary.