Another snow storm is predicted for Saturday!
This time, forecasters are calling for a heavy, wet snowfall that is expected to add weight to already heavy piles of snow on roofs.
The snow is slated to begin early Saturday, and fall as a wintery mix throughout the day. Click here for a forecast from WTNH.
A warning: The wet mix means more weight added to already-taxed roofs.
Valley fire departments have been responding to calls for concerned homeowners worried about the stability of their roofs for the past couple of days. In three cases, structures have collapsed due to the weight of the snow.
Homeowners should take efforts to clear off their roofs before the snowfall Saturday, according to Valley fire chiefs.
“We sent out a code red last week to tell people to be careful and take care of the snow on the roofs if possible,” Seymour Fire Chief Tom Tomasheski said. “I’m going to do mine today.”
Derby’s Chief Bill Nicoletti suggested hiring a contractor to do the work. He said Derby emergency responders have received several calls for injuries after people fell of their roofs.
“If it was a fresh snowfall, I would say it’s not that bad,” Nicoletti said. “But with the the amount of ice that is up there, it’s really not safe to do it yourself.”
Shelton assistant chief Nick Verdicchio advised residents to call their city or town building departments with concerns about structural safety.
“People are being cautious,” Verdicchio said about an influx of calls the Shelton Fire Department has received. “But we’re not structural engineers. If it’s not obvious, we’re not going to see it. We’re going to take care of the immediate threats. As a department, we’re going to call the building inspector.”
School Roofs
The snow has caused several concerns at area schools, where large flat roofs needed to be cleared before children could be admitted back to classes.
Derby, Shelton and Ansonia were closed on Thursday to clear roofs. On Friday, Shelton and Oxford closed schools because of continued concerns there.
Nicoletti said the Derby Fire Department is scheduling a volunteer work party for Sunday to clear the roof at Bradley Elementary School in Derby.
Nicoletti said the department spent Thursday on school roofs, using snow blowers to remove snow. But the snow on Bradley’s roof is covered in thick ice, which will need to be broken up and shoveled by hand, Nicoletti said.
Other Concerns
The snow has also caused several more calls for car accidents, carbon monoxide and furnace problems, Tomasheski said.
Nicoletti said calls for natural gas smells are up as well. They are often caused by septic vents on the roof of a home blocked by snow and ice.
He also advised homeowners to make sure clothes dryer vents were properly cleared of snow, to prevent carbon monoxide build-up.
