January 10, 2024 | Posted in News
YOU SHOULD BE CLEARING AND PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR IT NOW. SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE ON CLEANUP DUTY AFTER THE FIRST MAJOR WIDESPREAD STORM OF THE SEASON. NOW WITH A NEW STORM ON TRACK TO HIT TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY, BRINGING HEAVY RAIN AND WARMER WEATHER, COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOODING ON THE COAST. HAMPTON FIRE CHIEF MICHAEL MCMAHON SAYS. LUCKILY, COASTAL FLOODING IS NOT A CONCERN. THE RAIN IS MUCH MORE CONCERNING FOR US ALL. THAT NEW RAIN AFTER ALL THAT SNOW AND MELTING SNOW COULD LEAD TO TROUBLE IF ROOFS ARE NOT CLEARED BEFORE IT COMES. I SAY IT ALL DEPENDS, BUT WITH HAVING OVER A FOOT AND A HALF OF SNOW THAT WE GOT, I WOULD RECOMMEND SHOVELING YOUR ROOF BECAUSE YOU GOT TO THINK THAT’S A LOT OF WEIGHT THAT’S ON YOUR FRAMING. OLDER BUILDINGS, PARTICULARLY WITH A FLAT TOP, COULD TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE PROBLEMS IF NOT PROPERLY CLEANED. CHIEF MCMAHON SAYS A SNOW RAKE COULD DO THE TRICK, JUST CLEARING THE FIRST FEW FEET TO ALLEVIATE THE STRESS AND PREVENT ICE BUILDUP, WHICH COULD LATER LEAD TO WALLS, SIDING AND ROOFS ROTTING OVER TIME. AND IF YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THAT COULD LEAD INTO YOUR CEILINGS COLLAPSE, COLLAPSING, AND WHATNOT. OLDER BUILDINGS THAT AREN’T WELL MAINTAINED AND THAT HAVE POOR DRAINAGE ON THEIR ROOFS. YOU CAN’T HAVE THAT HAPPEN. IT’S TYPICAL IN FLAT ROOFS, NOT SO MUCH IN OUR PEAKED ROOFS, LIKE OUR HOMES. I DON’T WANT TO CAUSE PEOPLE UNDUE CONCERN ABOUT THEIR HOUSES. NOW, THE FIRE CHIEF SAYS, WHILE YOU ARE CLEARING THE ROOF OR YOUR DRIVEWAY, IF YOU COULD ALSO CLEAR ANY FIRE HYDRANTS NEAR YOUR HOUSE. HE KNOWS YOUR LOCA