UPDATE Ballard: Parents Take Caution With Kids' Trick o' Treating (POLL)

It's Halloween and kids usually run rampant through the streets from house to house. However, this year, it's different with the recent snow storm.

The snow storm left debris, fallen trees and branches in the roads, by the curb, on sidewalks and on front lawns.

"At 4 p.m. today, the kids are going to start trick or treating. There's still debris in the streets," said Wayne Ballard, Clarkstown Highway Superintendent. "You're with your kids and they could run up ahead of you. They could go into the streets to get around piles of debris and may get hit by a car. There should be more parental supervision tonight."

There are still downed wires and power outages leaving roads dark with homes and street lights still without power. O&R Reported that about 84,000 are still without power. 90 percent should have power by midnight, Nov. 2 and the other 10 percent should have by midnight, Nov. 4

"Everyone’s worried with the trick or treaters tonight with all the wires down. If you see a wire, don't touch it," said Ballard. "You have dark streets because the streets don’t have power, street lights are still out and homes are without power.

There's only about 15 Orangetown roads and 20 Clarkstown roads that are partially closed at the moment, but Ballard added that "hundreds more have wires that are in the roads, they’re passable but there are wires and piles of trees."

The Firemen's Association of the State Of New York recommends these safety tips be followed:

• Obey caution lines and do not venture into areas cordoned off by local officials.
• Stay at least 50 feet away from downed power lines and assume that any cables or wires are energized.

O&R is urging caution for those going out due to the wires that may still be down. Downed lines should be avoided and reported to O&R at 1-877-434-4100. Parents are advised to watch their children closely if they are out tonight.

"Downed wires are very dangerous," Pollard said. "You have to assume every line on the ground is live."

Ballard made a few suggestions for parents:

• "If parents want to keep up the tradition of trick or treating, they can travel to (neighborhood) areas in their cars first and see if its safe." Then tell their kids that they can go, but only on certain streets.
• Skip the trick or treating and "have a block party." They can still go door to door, but in a limited area.

“As we are still under a state of emergency, as declared by the Governor, I urge residents who plan to go trick-or-treating not to be out after dark due to the danger of downed wires, as well as areas without power,” said C. Scott Vanderhoef, county executive.  “The safety of our residents is our utmost priority.”

Vanderhoef said residents should also take the following precautions:

• As a matter of safety, the public is urged to stay clear of downed trees and wires.
• With schools in the County being closed and today being Halloween, children should not be permitted to be outdoors unsupervised.

Here are a a few suggestions from Patch

• Palisades Mall-o-Ween: Trick or Treat at the mall from 5 - 7 p.m. with a costume contest at 6:30 p.m.; Register at Customer Service; For ages 2-10
• The trick or treating scheduled at businesses along Central Avenue, Main Street and some side streets in Pearl River is still on for 3 to 5 p.m. today.