TRR photo by Chris Conroy Even your local paper can fall prey to cold weather problems. Burst pipes in the basement of The River Reporter offices created this dramatic ice sculpture, measuring about five feet high. (Click for larger image)

Red Cross offers safety tips on preventing frozen pipes

MONGAUP VALLEY — With winter bringing sub-freezing weather to the area, the Sullivan County Chapter of the American Red Cross in Greater New York suggests that homeowners take precautions to keep water pipes from freezing.

The Red Cross offers the following tips:

—Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers.

—Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Let faucets drip a little, especially overnight, to avoid freezing.

—Know how to shut off water valves.

If the pipes do freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).