Keene, NH- As Hurricane Sandy approaches  and the possibility of its land fall affecting the area becomes more of a reality City of Keene Officials want to remind the public to take those extra steps in being prepared in the event Sandy does have a direct effect on the area.

In the interest of public safety and being prepared the city’s Public Works Department and Highway Division have completed a number of projects including the clearing of all storm drains and drain lines in the flood zone that were identified as points of concern from the May 2012 floods. However efforts remain ongoing in the cleaning of drain lines and storm drains along the quadrant of  Beaver St at Washington to North Lincoln St going south along Washington and Main Streets to Route 101 then heading east towards Eastern Avenue to include also include the hills off of Eastern Avenue.

As for the obstacles and obstructions at Beaver, Black and White Brooks have all been removed along with a significant amount of tree removal in the Ashuelot River from Route 101 to the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant. In the interest of flood prevention the city asks that if residents help maintain storm drains near their homes in keeping leaves and other debris away from them, as the city continues its efforts in doing the same in managing it’s 5,000 storm drains across the city.

In the event residents do receive flooding in their homes and use a sump pump for removal of the excess water the city asks citizens to pump that water onto a vegetative surface away from their homes so as to prevent re-flooding and not to add it to already overtaxed storm drains or sanitary sewer systems.