The damage ice can do

We can all hopefully remember the ice storm of 2014. Millions out of power in the middle of winter (in the interest of full disclosure the author spend four days without power), certainly an inconvenience for most but deadly for others. Days spent cleaning up the damage of a winter ice storm are just the beginning. Ice can be cause a lot of damage.

The first thing many people think of with ice is what happens to the roads. How many times have your heard that someone is fine with driving in snow but not ice? There is a reason for that. Ice is unpredictable, you could go any which way and on a road the only way you want to go is forward. Never mind any downed trees or power lines that will block a road. A half inch of ice accumulation can add 500 pounds to a power line or tree limb and can bring them down easily. Ice on tree branches can increase its weight by 30 times! It is no wonder that they come crashing down. Ice can also accumulate on your windshields quickly. For many it is an inconvenience to scrape it off in the morning but for some standing out in the cold and doing that is too much.

So what can you do to stay safer during an ice storm? The most obvious is to avoid driving on icy roads. Wait for your municipality to treat them. Bring in any pets from the outside. If you don’t want to live outside covered in ice do you think they want to? Prepare before the storm gets there. Charge your batteries and consider an alternate power source like a generator but keep them outside. Purchase ice in advance to keep your food cold and have coolers on hand to store it if the power goes out.

While you’re at home though getting things straightened out, what should you do with your business? For your commercial properties consider Michael B. Stoner. We do more than just snow removal! We also know how to treat ice and remove it as well as treating surfaces so that ice will not reform. We have been in business for 30 years and serve Chambersburg, Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Hershey, Middletown, Harrisburg and just about everywhere in between. We have experience with all kinds of weather cleanup, including ice so don’t wait for the ice to hit, give us a call at 717-245-2225 before winter arrives or fill out our contact form. We are certified by the American Snow Contractors Association and members of the Snow and Ice Management Association and we are fully insured.