The Village of Rockville Centre has issued a series of public safety and snow-removal guidelines as a major winter storm is expected to impact the area from late Saturday night through Monday.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for the region in advance of the storm, which is forecast to bring heavy snow and high winds. Village officials said the measures are intended to protect residents and allow municipal crews to operate efficiently throughout the event.
The Rockville Centre Department of Public Works will begin pre-treating roadways and will work around the clock during the storm to maintain safe driving conditions, according to village officials.
Residents are being asked to fully comply with several requirements during the storm period. There will be no street parking from Sunday through Monday, as vehicles left on roadways can interfere with plowing and snow removal operations. All basketball hoops must be removed from the curb strip or laid completely flat and may not remain in the street at any time.
Village officials also reminded residents not to shovel or blow snow into the street, citing hazardous conditions and potential citations. Residents are strongly encouraged to stay home and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
The approaching storm has already led to closures and schedule changes within the village. The Rockville Centre Public Library announced it will be closed on Sunday due to the anticipated weather conditions. In addition, “The Piano Men: A Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John,” which had been scheduled to take place at the library on Sunday, has been postponed and rescheduled for Feb. 22 at 2 p.m., according to the library's website.
Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in front of and adjacent to their properties, and for maintaining clear access to fire hydrants to ensure firefighters can respond in an emergency.
Officials also warned that heavy snow and high winds could result in power outages caused by falling trees or limbs. The village’s electric department responds to outages and electric emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents can now report outages by emailing ElectricOutage@rvcny.us, which is monitored regularly by electric department operators and linemen.
Village officials cautioned that if severe conditions develop, crews may experience delays in safely responding to outages. Residents are urged to remain patient and to never approach downed wires, which should always be assumed to be live. If a wire falls on a vehicle, occupants should remain inside until help arrives.
For time-sensitive notifications and storm updates, residents are encouraged to download the free MYRVC mobile app.
Village officials thanked residents for their cooperation and urged everyone to stay safe as the storm approaches.
