AMHERST — As residents across the region begin preparing for the next round of winter weather, many of whom are still digging out and cleaning up from Monday’s messy mix of rain, sleet and snow, the Amherst Town Library is hosting a well-timed presentation tonight on generator safety.

The in-person presentation will take place from 7 – 8:15 p.m. in the library’s Johnson Meeting Room, which is on the lower level of the building at 14 Main St.

Registration is required; to register, go to www.amherstlibrary.org and click on the image of a portable generator.

Amherst Fire and Rescue Chief Matt Conley and Souhegan CERT Coordinator Don Holden are the presenters.

The program will especially benefit residents who have a portable generator, or are considering buying one or upgrading their current generator, according to organizers.

Attendees will hear about the different types of generators currently on the market, including the new inverter generators and ones with solar backup capabilities.

Generator safety, including proper placement and operation of portable units, and options for hard-wiring generators to a home will also be discussed.

Meanwhile, forecasters are predicting a messy Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning commute across the region, beginning mid-afternoon with moderate snowfall that is expected to gradually change to icy conditions then all rain by Thursday morning.

While utility crews are working nonstop to restore power, an estimated 64,000 outages remained as of this morning, mainly in the more rural, forested locations where large branches, and sometimes entire trees, are more likely to come down under the weight of the snow, taking out power lines on the way down and ending up blocking roads.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) urges residents and visitors to use caution while cleaning up from the storms.

“During storm cleanup, wear protective clothing and be cautious to avoid injury,” HSEM director Robert Buxton said. “Downed power lines and debris can pose a danger.”

Buxton also reminds residents to keep their electronic devices fully charged, and keep abreast of any developments and alerts that local and state safety officials send out.

More information and updates can be found at www.nh.gov/hsem.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.