NOAA river gauges for Buffalo (click here)
This is trouble with a capital letter T. The melting that exists now will be followed by freezing or near freezing temperatures within 12 to 18 hours in Buffalo.
GET ANY TRACE OF SNOW OFF THE ROADS NOW!!!!!!!!
Start to apply whatever melting agent being used these days at the first hint of colder weather. Salt is only good to about -10 to -15 below. So, removing as much snow as possible will result in far less to worry about after the freezing enters the weather picture.
I don't envy those in government in these states. This is ridiculous. But, this is our reality. There is no wishing and hoping it will be different. This is the beginning of a very volatile Calender Winter. December 21st isn't a month away and that is only the beginning of winter.
Please make very long term plans and decide how best to approach this. If people are at risk, then the idea they need to relocate might be a better plan than staying and hoping for the best. If homes are destroyed there is insurance. They can begin again, but, if they want to begin again in the same place may prove foolish unless the home is equipped with a design that insults against cold and proves to have strong roof supports. The best example of what works in construction is the very northern reaches of the USA.
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These events are no longer isolated to an unfortunate tragedy. These are going to repeat themselves over and over in the years ahead.
This home is for sale in upstate New York. (click here)THIS HOME IS ALSO ON A HILLTOP.
Look at the pitch of the roof. It is very steep. The steepness isn't guaranteed to be the advantage the house needs IF there are going to be four or more feet dropping in an hour. It will help BUT the snow as it falls from the roof will add to the snow on the ground. That means the snow on the ground has to be removed before the accumulation starts.
Follow this now, please.
If I were owning this home and the accumulations of snow were getting greater and greater I would be planning for the snow that will slide off the roof. I would be using a snow blower DURING THE STORM to blow the snow away from the bottom of the house.
It is going to be frigid cold, so anyone willing to go outside during the storm as to be equipped for frigid temperatures and high winds. GO TO OUTFITTERS that know what they are doing.
I USE REI (click here). Their staff is usually well informed to the latest gear available for those severe frigid conditions. I trust REI. They have good equipment. This is not cheap, HOWEVER, get their customer program to accumulate points and get free gear. It's great.
Now, please pay attention. THIS IS NOT SAFE. THIS WEATHER IS NOT SAFE. Anyone venturing out in such a storm to use their snow blower to remove snow from the bottom of the house have worries. The area where the snow is being blown to is accumulating at a higher rate than any place else on the property. It could collapse on top of anyone as they are out in the severe wind. This is a BUDDY SYSTEM idea at the very least. Get the entire family involved to monitor the area outside the house where one is working.
Monitor the weather as well from either a personal NOAA radio and/or the local television station. When the snowing is about to slow, stop the rescue mission for the house. You will than have accomplished the impossible. The house is safe.
Would I do this. You betcha. But, I also know what I am looking for and protecting from. Please use common sense and the idea no one is going to get hurt or worse.
I don't know if they exist, but, if there are panels that can heat the roof while the snow is falling to make the snow turn into water runoff, then by all means that would be safer as long as the technology is safe. Such panels won't work of electricity to the home is lost, but, if that is the case then it isn't safe to stay in the house anyway because of EXPOSURE.
Plan for EXPOSURE. It will get you through.
The best idea for storms with significant snow fall is to plan for a shelter recommended by the local government and go there at the first opportunity. Leave with confidence in the house will take care of itself as it can. Take your pets with you. Leaving for a shelter with such storms is the best option, but, when it happens twice a week people will have their lives interrupted and will look for other solutions. I'd like people to have solutions that help them stay in their homes. In time, it will prove the best idea.
These realities will not go away. I know we all would like them to do that, but, it's a climate crisis. This is now reality.
