Rockville Centre prepares for blizzard

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Rockville Centre is bracing itself for the first big snowstorm of the winter.

The first blizzard of 2015 is set to hit the area tonight into tomorrow, dropping as much as two feet of snow on the village.

Monday afternoon school activities are canceled, and school is already closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27. All high school exams scheduled for Tuesday will be rescheduled for next Monday, Feb. 2, except Regents exams, which will be cancelled.

The Village of Rockville Centre is also preparing for the storm. Village Hall will be closed as of 2 p.m. Monday and all day Tuesday, except for essential personnel. To report a hazardous condition during a snowstorm, residents can call the Department of Public Works at 678-9288 or 678-9267. At all other times, call the village's 24-hour emergency number at 766-5800.

The village also reminds residents that it is prohibited to park on the street during a snowstorm, nor should residents park in municipal lots. The streets and lots need to be clear so plows can effectively remove snow. Street parking will be prohibited as of 6 p.m. Monday and stay in effect until notified otherwise.

If you have a fire hydrant on your property, whether it’s a business or a home, make sure you clear it as soon as possible in case of an emergency.

Heavy snow and high winds can lead to power outages caused by trees and tree limbs falling onto power lines. The village’s Electric Department responds to power outages and electric emergencies 24/7. If the expected blizzard conditions occur, it will be very difficult for village crews to get around and safely respond to outages. They will respond as quickly and safely as possible, but ask for your patience should they be delayed.

In the event you lose power, residents can report a power outage, anytime, by calling 516-766-5800. Do not go near any downed wires and always assume that any downed wire is a live electric wire. Do not approach or drive over a downed wire. If a wire falls on a vehicle, occupants should stay inside the vehicle until help arrives.

Individuals who rely on electricity to operate life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or dialysis machine, should alert the electric department, police department and fire departments of their needs, in case of emergency. Customers with life-sustaining equipment should also have emergency back-up equipment on hand, since immediate power restoration cannot be guaranteed.

The village’s Department of Public Works has nearly 50 full-time workers to help clear snow from the 53 miles of roads and 30 parking fields in the village. Because of the expected whiteout conditions of the blizzard, the village will be having two people in each plow to have an extra set of eyes on the road.

Salting will begin on Monday and continue through the day. Once there are three or so inches of snow on the ground, the village switches to plowing, which will continue throughout the night and into tomorrow. The first priority of plows is to clear main roads, followed by side streets.