Snow Causing Many Local Residents Concern

 

Klamath County fire officials are encouraging residents to watch for signs of excess snow load on their homes. Bowing ceilings, flickering lights, doors that are difficult to open and cracked windows are all warnings that should be taken seriously, according to Scott Rice, Deputy Fire Marshal with Klamath County Fire District No. 1. "All those are good signs that there's something going on," Rice said. "You need to pay attention to that."

The recent onset of snow has many citizens of Klamath County worried. Several local business have collapsed with others fearing the same. Many local schools have also closed for snow removal. Please read the following safety tips when deciding whether snow removal is needed.

 

If you decide to remove snow and/or ice from your roof, use these tips:

• The safest and most effective method of snow removal is through your attic. Open the attic access (usually found in a closet) and allow the heat from your home to heat the attic, causing the snow to melt. This will result in a higher utility bill but spares you the risk of injury from climbing on the roof.
• Another method is to rake the snow off of the roof from ground level, but caution should still be taken. It’s a good idea to have someone nearby and never stand directly below the area you are cleaning, as even a small section of a roof can drop several hundred pounds of snow.
• If necessary to get on the roof, be sure to have a spotter and never shovel alone. A fall three times your body height can be fatal. Use a rope and harness system, boot chains or traction soles and wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work. Take a bottle of water with you to prevent dehydration.
• Be careful to avoid piling snow into piles before removing from the roof. Snow piles on the roof can result in a heavy point load and have been know to cause structural failure. Snow removal must be done in an orderly fashion.
• Note that steep sloped roofs will frequently slide and may dislodge roof shingles. Leave steep pitched roofs and tall buildings to the experts.
• Ensure snow does not cover natural gas or electrical meters. Snow can block the vents on natural gas meters causing a potentially explosive buildup of natural gas that can leak back into the building. Shutoff valves on gas meters and electric meters must be readily accessible and protected from damage resulting from falling snow and ice.
• Commercial buildings, in particular, have a lot of equipment sitting on their roofs and should make sure that all equipment is accessible for maintenance and emergency situations.