Storms that
lashed the Lake Tahoe Basin over the
past few weeks have left more than dirty
snow berms piled high in front of homes
and businesses from Zephyr Cove to
Meyers.
Waist-deep mounds of snow thatched
precariously to rooftops can be seen up
and down Highway 50 and the
neighborhoods throughout town, which not
only make for leaky roofs, but also are
safety hazards when the ice begins to
shed.
"There are dangers with roofs,
especially pitched ones, so you want to
know where you're walking," said Brad
Piazzo, a division chief for the South
Lake Tahoe Fire Department. "We get
calls every season where someone gets
hit by falling chunks, so it's always
good to be aware of your surroundings."
Piazzo advises the following:
-- Do not walk or park your vehicle
underneath rooftops. Ice chunks easily
break when the sun is shining.
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-- Remove snow
buildup. This means shoveling snow off
the pitches so the ice can slide off.
After storms, ice will build on roofs
and dam up areas where it normally
should drain. This allows water to drip
into a roof's interior, causing damage.
-- Remove the
snowload. The loads on rooftops are
especially heavy and should be removed
once snow has turned to ice. Even a foot
of snow can damage a roof or cause it to
collapse.
-- Clear the snow from areas where there
are gas valve or electric switches and
fire hydrants. Never pile snow in places
that you must get to immediately.
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