Snow Central: A Community Guide for Dealing with Snow in Chicago Heights

Warming Center

can be used as a temporary warming center for residents.

Road Closures and Conditions

Patch has teamed with Mapquest to offer live, local traffic maps, updated every five minutes with crashes, closures and danger spots. Follow that link or click on "Traffic & Gas" at the top of this page.

Metra Updates

You can check out updates from Metra's Electric line on Twitter.

Even if you don't use Twitter yourself, you can still see the updates by clicking that link.

Weather Conditions

Here's the National Weather Service conditions and forecast for Chicago Heights.

Pizza (and other food) Delivery

The Patch Places directory lists all the restaurants in Chicago Heights that deliver. Call first.

Let me know at christopher.paicely@patch.com if there's a delivery place that we missed.

Elderly Relatives/Neighbors

, especially elderly ones and ones in poor health. If you have a concern, call the Chicago Heights Police non-emergency line at 708-756-6400.

Numbers to Call

• Any emergency: 911
• Police non-emergency: 708-756-6400
• Fire and ambulance non-emergency: 708-756-5370

Updates from Patch

For updates on all breaking, snowy news you can sign up for e-mail alerts by clicking "Patch Newsletter" at the top of this page and entering your e-mail address when prompted.

You can also "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Shoveling Tips

Read this Popular Mechanics article covering shoveling safety from posture to heart health to hydration.

Driving Tips

Read AAA's tactics for getting where you want to go as safely as possible.

Snow Removal Tips Other than Shoveling

Here's The Weather Channel's guide for other snow options like snowblowers and chemicals.

Home Heating Tips

The U.S. EPA has both general tips for heating your home and environmentally conscious tips for heating your home.

Not-Setting-Your-House-On-Fire Tips

Download this pdf of winter fire safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's United States Fire Administration. You'll be asked if you want to open the file. You do.

Snowman Tips

The nerd in me is very proud that we get to go to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for snowman tips. I'm not kidding.

Also,

The Perfect Snowball

Weighing in on everything from gloves vs. mittens to where in your yard to find the best snow (snow near the house is warmer), this article from howtodothings.com can give you the edge in your snow wars.

Cocoa A Go-Go

Enjoy the top 20 hot cocoa recipes submitted and rated by Allrecipes.com readers.

-Some information contributed by Mokena Patch Editor Paul Dailing