3 Ways to Protect Your New York Mailbox Before the Snow Falls

The first snowfall in the Hudson Valley will be here before we know it. That means the return of our mailboxes' greatest nemesis: the local snow plow.

City and town governments work tirelessly throughout the winter to make sure our local roads are safe to travel. Luckily, there are several steps you can take in advance to make sure your mailbox doesn't get swept away along with the snow drifts.

Snowplows vs. Mailboxes in the Hudson Valley

In my neighborhood in Newburgh, NY, at least one mailbox gets accidentally smashed nearly every time the massive town plows come down our road. Not only are there several steps to take to protect your mailbox, but some Hudson Valley towns will actually help pay to replace one if it's damaged.

Make Sure Your Mailbox Isn't a "Deadly Object"

The one thing not to do to protect your mailbox is to upgrade its post. In the town of New Paltz, for example, posts larger than 4” by 4” are considered "deadly fixed objects” and are not permitted under town regulations.

Read More: New York's First Snow Plow Looks Like a Flintstones Car

The best form of protection is to clear the snow from the mailbox before local plows arrive, as most plow damage occurs when the mailbox isn't visible. Reflective markers placed alongside the mailbox (below) can also help to alert plow drivers. But what happens if your mailbox still gets damaged?

Hudson Valley Towns That Do Not Replace Damaged Mailboxes

In the Hudson Valley, it can be challenging to find help with mailbox damage. While towns like New Paltz in Ulster County and East Fishkill in Dutchess County consider  these incidents an "unfortunate consequence of snow removal", one Orange County town offers assistance.

The Town of Newburgh, NY Helps with Plow-Damaged Mailboxes

The Town of Newburgh, NY seems to stand alone in their commitment to mailbox integrity in the Hudson Valley. As long as the mailbox had been properly installed and suffered no prior damage, the town offers "a basic standard size steel mailbox" along with a 4"x4" post as a replacement.

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While the Hudson Valley is still waiting for its first winter weather event, snow has already fallen in other parts of the state, and New York is currently looking for more snow plow drivers. If you're good at avoiding local mailboxes, check out more info here.