Digging Out Safely After the Storm

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fierce wind, deep snow, ice, frigid temperatures and a little lightning—thank you Mother Nature. The massive winter storm that stretched from Oklahoma to New York impacted nearly 100 million people this week, many of whom are just beginning to dig out of their homes.

If you have a claim, contact a State Farm Agent or call 1-800-SFCLAIM.

For those of us unaccustomed to living in igloos, the task of removing a foot or more of snow and ice might seem daunting. State Farm offers suggestions on how to get the job done safely.

Protecting your home during frigid temperatures:

• To protect pipes from freezing during extreme cold open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to pipes under sinks and vanities near exterior walls. Run a small trickle of water from hot and cold faucets. If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main water shut-off valve in the house. To see video about what to do when a pipe freezes visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls97J_tQ0io
• Removing excess snow from your roof can help prevent ice dams from forming. (Ice dams form when melted snow refreezes at roof edges. Water can build up behind the ice, causing leaking inside your home.) Never attempt to climb your roof and remove the snow. A snow rake allows users to stand on the ground, and pull the snow off the roof. Snow rakes are generally available at home centers and hardware stores. Or, you can call a professional roofer to remove the snow. Remember to stand clear of the falling snow and ice.
• Remove snow and ice from walkways and stairs to prevent slips and falls.
• High winds and ice can down trees and power lines. Stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Notify the utility company.
• If you've experienced a power outage, turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment or electronics that were on when the power went out. When power returns it may come back with momentary "surges" or "spikes" that can damage equipment such as computers and motors in appliances like the refrigerator, washer or furnace.

For more safety tips visit http://www.statefarm.com/learning/loss_prevent/loss_prevent.asp?WT.svl=56 or contact Holly Anderson at (309) 735-7745.

SOURCE State Farm