First responders advise safety precautions for upcoming storm

ELLSWORTH, Maine (WABI) - Ahead of the first major storm of the season, preparations in affected counties are underway. First responders in Ellsworth aim to prevent accidents as much as possible.

“They are making sure their plows are on, ready to go. Our sand stockpile is topped off, so we are ready when we need to drop them on the roadways,” says Patrol Sergeant Kelvin Mote.

Responders advise drivers to stay on primary roads, avoiding secondary roads for longer commutes, and to be mindful of public parking bans in order for sidewalks get plowed.

“If those vehicles are parked next to the sidewalks, we don’t want to damage them. That means we have to stop plowing that part of the sidewalk, and that part of the road,” says Mote.

They also stress the important fundamental rules when driving in snowy conditions: slow down and maintain distance between cars, always keep your headlights on, and to maintain half a tank of gas in the event you get stuck.

“We’ve seen winters come and winters go, and every time it seems like when we have a first major storm, people are either used to not driving on snowy roads because they are used to the summer and fall, and they don’t slow down enough, and it causes accidents and people get hurt,” says Mote.

Homeowners who have a fire hydrant near or on their property are also urged clear it out if it’s safe to do so, in order for firefighters to have easy access in case of an emergency.