FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2013
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash & Sid Nathan | (516) 869-7794
Town Declares Snow Emergency & Issues Winter Safety Reminders
North Hempstead Highway Crews Prepared to Work until Roads are Passable
North Hempstead, NY – With blizzard conditions and heavy snow accumulations forecasted for this evening into Saturday, North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman declared a Town-wide snow emergency.
Under such a proclamation, streets previously declared a snow emergency route must be cleared of parked vehicles until the emergency is lifted.
Meanwhile, the Town's Highway Department will continue to clear all roadways to make sure streets are passable for this evening’s rush hour commute.
“We ask residents to park in their driveways where possible to allow our Highway Department crews to effectively remove snow and ice off the roadways,” said Supervisor Kaiman. “If there are areas that are impassable, we urge residents to call 311 or (516) 869-6311, and report the area to a service representative.”
As many as 100 pieces of equipment are ready to be deployed throughout the Town’s 600-plus lane miles of highways; they will be plowing, salting and spreading sand where the surfaces have iced. The plan is to keep repeating the process with a crew of more than a 120 workers until the storm ceases.
North Hempstead’s Public Safety Department also issued the following winter safety reminders and information:
- Under the Town Code, every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person in charge of any property within the Town is required to clear the snow and ice from sidewalks in front their property at least four hours after snow has stopped, except that the period between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. shall not be included in computing such requirements
- North Hempstead’s Code Enforcement Department will inspect areas throughout the Town to ensure sidewalks are passable for pedestrians
- If sidewalks are not maintained to a satisfactory manner, appearance tickets will be issued
- The Town Code mandates that businesses keep handicap parking spots usable for parking purposes
- If you own, lease, rent, occupy or are in control of a property in the Town—except one- or two-family dwellings—adjacent to a fire hydrant, you are required under the Town Code to remove snow and ice from around the hydrant for a distance of two feet, and between the sidewalk and curb throughout the winter within four hours after the snowfall has ended, except that the period between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. shall not be included in computing such requirements
- Even if a business is closed after the snow storm, merchants are still responsible for clearing the sidewalks
For more information, please call 311.
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