Like the rest of you, I awoke this morning to my sidewalks under a blanket of snow and my non-garaged vehicle under Mt. Fuji. I’ll have to ask Dane why it seems my side of the street always get 3 times the height of snow than the other side does, from the plow going by.
I’m sure it is an optical illusion and results from the reflection of light bouncing off snow drifts, but I’m still suspicious the other side of the street is paying off somebody to get the least amount of snow piled onto their cars.
West Easton declared a snow emergency yesterday that will end today, at 3:00 pm. By this time everyone should know how I feel about winter.
Last night’s deep snowfall had a bright side. It wasn’t a weighty type of snow that breaks your back with every lift of the shovel. It was the fluffy type that makes the approximately 8″ we received in West Easton less of a burden.
For those of us who don’t own a snow blower, but instead operate an Arctic Blast Ergonomic Snow Shovel using the “Manual” setting, it wasn’t too difficult digging ourselves out this morning.
While children squealed with delight knowing that schools would be closed today, parents weren’t as happy. As early as yesterday when a snow emergency was declared even before the first flakes fell, most parents and children knew a snow emergency meant no school.
Parents, who looked forward to their little darlings being out of earshot for two days at the conclusion of a long Christmas break, had their 2 day vacation cut short. They would have their precious packages with them for another 3 days before, hopefully, school will resume on Monday.
The real problem for residents isn’t the snow, or the interruption in their baby sitting service, known as school.
The problem may be the bitter cold that follows this latest storm.
With a predicted temperature of -4 degrees tonight (that’s 4 degrees below zero), we will challenge a cold temperature record for the area.
Tonight is not a night to test your cost saving stamina by reducing your thermostat. In fact, when temperatures go this low, it may be necessary to actually raise your thermostat a couple of degrees to ensure your pipes that may run along outside walls or unheated garages don’t freeze and burst.
It’s better to spend an extra $5 or $10 in combating the cold for the night, than to pay thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs and water damage.
Also, keep a helpful eye open for a neighbor or friend that you know may have difficulty coping with the cold. Check on them before you retire for the night to make sure they aren’t having problems due to the cold. There are some people who won’t recognize the reason their faucet isn’t giving water is because the pipe is frozen. A small space heater can save that pipe from bursting.
Don’t forget your pets. A dog house provides little protection or warmth in subfreezing temperatures for your pet. Few breeds have the ancestry or thick coat needed to keep from freezing in this type of weather. Bring them inside, even if to a basement for the night, with some type of old carpet or blanket to keep their bodies off the cold surface while they sleep. Always check your dogs water supply if they are outside during the day. Water freezes quickly and dogs can’t survive with a solid block of ice in their dog dish.
Stay warm, all.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
