Politics & Government

Southampton Town Ready to Handle Winter Blast

The town's highway crews have been sanding and salting the roads.

The Town of Southampton is prepared to handle any amount of snow that is dropped on the area by Mother Nature Thursday night, according to Jennifer Garvey, a spokeswoman for the town.

According to Garvey, the town's highway crews have been sanding and salting the roads all day and staff has been placed on-call to open the Hampton Bays center, located at 25 Ponquogue Ave. as a warming center, if needed.

"A decision to open the center has not yet been made at this time," said Garvey.

However, anticipating a large snowfall and a possible closure of the senior citizen center on Friday, the town has decided to send all senior citizens, who use the Hampton Bays Senior's food services, home on Thursday with an extra meal.

The town is also notifying senior clients that if there is heavy snow overnight, there will be no regular transportation for them on Friday, but the senior center staff will be calling clients throughout the day to be sure they are safe and comfortable.

As of 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, town had not yet declared a state of emergency.

The town will also, said Garvey, periodically post storm information on its website here.

Storm tips provided by Southampton Town:

Before:

  • Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
  • Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways.
  • Sand to improve traction.
  • Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
  • Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
  • Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.
During:
  • Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack - a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
  • Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
  • Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
  • Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms.


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