Before Sandy Strikes: Critical Reminders from Wyckoff Emergency Team

Wyckoff's Office of Emergency Management issued some important guidelines for residents Sunday, as Hurricane Sandy barrels toward the Northeast.

There are several potentially life-saving tips on the list including advice to stay away from downed wires. The Office of Emergency Management advises residents to assume that any downed wires are live and carrying electrical current. 

Also, if using a generator it's important operate it in a well-ventilated area, they said. Gas-powered generators give off carbon monoxide — a dangerous, colorless, odorless gas — which is fatal in large doses.

The emergency management team also asked residents to help prevent flooding "by raking or shoveling any leaves that have been placed near or on top of catch basins in the road in front of your home."

Recyclable collection has been cancelled Monday, the OEM said, "because the expected high winds could blow recyclable materials into streets and on top of storm drains."

Household garbage will be collected on Monday as scheduled, however, "please take measures to ensure garbage is placed in a secure manner so that it will not be blown by the wind and all garbage cans have lids placed securely on them. Please delay placing out to the curb any nonperishable garbage." 

The township has not yet decided whether garbage and recyclables will be picked up on Tuesday or the remainder of the week. OEM officials said a decision will be made as soon as possible. 

Many of the warnings are common sense, but worth repeating. The full list from the OEM is as follows: 

1. PLEASE only dial 911 IN THE EVENT OF AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY. Questions, calls for assistance or non-emergency inquiries dial 201-891-2121.
2. Locate and have ready your PSEG or Orange and Rockland account number. You will need your account number if you need to call PSEG 1-800-436-7734 or Orange and Rockland 1-877-434-4100 to report a power outage at your home and to request power restoration. You may also need to have your account numbers to access PSEG and Orange and Rockland websites.
3. The Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be transporting patients to the closest available hospital only.
4. Recyclable collection on Monday has been cancelled because the expected high winds could blow recyclable materials into streets and on top of storm drains.
5. Household garbage will be collected on Monday as scheduled. However, please take measures to ensure garbage is placed in a secure manner so that it will not be blown by the wind and all garbage cans have lids placed securely on them. Please delay placing out to the curb any nonperishable garbage. A decision on whether garbage and recyclables will be collected on Tuesday or the remainder of the week will be timely issued.
6. Please help prevent flooding by raking or shoveling any leaves that have been placed near or on top of catch basins in the road in front of your home.
7. STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED WIRES.  Always assume any down wires are live and energized.
8. If you experience a power outage resulting in the loss of well water, each firehouse and the Ambulance Corps building will have a hose available for residents on well water in the event you need water for sanitary and or household usage.
9. If you have a generator, please remember to use it in a well-ventilated area to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide which is a dangerous, colorless, odorless gas.

Other stories about Hurricane Sandy from Patch:

• Six Ways To Use Patch During Sandy
• Sandy Central On Patch

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Joseph M. Gerace at Joseph.Gerace@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox every morning, sign up for our daily newsletter.