Briarcliff Manor and Pleasantville are urging locals to exercise extreme caution when trick-or-treating this evening.
"I would really prefer people defer coming out," said Briarcliff Manor Village Manager Philip Zegarelli. "There is a serious concern for safety."
Zegarelli said the village has been swamped in its efforts to continue cleanup throughout the village, restore power to the more than 1,800 Con Edison customers without power and neutralize live power lines that have been brought down or affected by tree debris.
"We really suggest that people stay totally local...they do not drive around and that the kids have got to be chaperoned or with adults," he said. "We are very concerned that there are what are called 'hangers...' detached branches in the wires or in the trees that are yet to come down."
Pleasantville Village Administrator Patti Dwyer sent out a memo to residents today warning, "Trick-or-treaters and their families need to take extra caution and be alert for downed power lines. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by snow, tree limbs, leaves or water."
Dwyer said locals should "treat all downed wires as if they are live" and never go near them.
If you see downed wires, report them immediately to the villages and Con Edison.
Zegarelli said he realizes it's unfortunate that this weekend's snowstorm has created a hazardous environment, which also today, but encourages families to be "prudent."
"Sorry, but this storm is record-making," he pointed out. "It requires thinking totally outside of the box on what is prudent, safe and the appropriate thing to do."
