For Immediate Release
STONEHAM — Chief and Emergency Management Director Matthew Grafton and the Stoneham Fire Department would like to provide residents with several safety tips ahead of this weekend’s storm.
The National Weather Service is predicting that a significant winter storm will impact the New England region with snow, sleet, freezing rain, strong winds, minor to moderate coastal flooding along the east coast, and bitter cold starting Saturday night and continuing into Sunday evening.
Snow is forecast to begin falling statewide early Saturday evening. Snow will be heavy and wet and may fall at a rate of 2 inches per hour or more for several hours. Stoneham is expected to get between 8 and 12 inches of snow, with the possibility of wind gusts reaching 40 mph.
Sunday morning is predicted to bring precipitation, which will transition back to a period of snow before ending sometime Sunday afternoon or early evening.
“This is our first major storm of the season, and with that comes snow, sleet and freezing rain,” Chief Grafton said. “With this type of weather, where we have warm temperatures that then move to freezing, our concern is the amount of ice accumulation, which could cause downed wires and trees.”
If residents notice a downed tree or power line, they should immediately contact 911. Never attempt to move or travel around downed wires.
To stay safe during and after the storm, the Stoneham Fire Department recommends that residents follow several important safety tips.
- Never use your oven as a heat source.
- Do not use electric or space heaters while sleeping.
- Place electric or space heaters at least three feet away from bedding or combustible materials.
- Keep stocks of batteries on hand for radios and flashlights in case of a power outage.
- Never leave candles unattended.
- Make sure phones, laptops and other communication devices are charged.
- Beware of carbon monoxide and stay safe by never warming up your car in the garage,servicing your heating system at least once per year, and making sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
- Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and change batteries twice per year. Make sure smoke detectors are working on every floor of your home.
Reserve calling 911 for emergencies only. - When shoveling, or walking outside for more than a few minutes, dress appropriately, with exposed skin covered, and wear a hat and gloves. Frostbite can strike quickly when temperatures are this low. Do what you can to avoid getting wet and take frequent breaks.
- ALWAYS clear the tailpipe of a vehicle that is buried in snow BEFORE you start or warm up the vehicle to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide. Failure to do so can be fatal for those inside the vehicle.
After the snow falls, residents can help the Stoneham Fire Department by shoveling out their nearest fire hydrants. Community members should also make sure that their home or business sidewalks are properly shoveled and place salt or ice melt to prevent people from falling.
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