POTSDAM -- Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH) closed its non-essential services at 2 p.m., joining a host of organizations and public offices that shutdown early in response to Hurricane Sandy.

The emergency department will remain open to those in need of urgent treatment. To ensure everyone’s safety, the hospital asks that family members and visitors of inpatients seek shelter and refrain from visiting while travel advisories are in effect.

CPH expects no interruptions with inpatient car. In the event of a power outage, back-up generator power will engage. Should phone lines be out of service, callers to the Hospital should use either of two cell phone numbers 261-2100 or 261-2452.

Other hospitals more likely to experience significant storm impact have been made aware that CPH has ample inpatient capacity. CPH is also working in collaboration with area emergency management networks.

Patients with scheduled appointments today for ancillary services of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and cardiac rehabilitation are being contacted to cancel and reschedule appointments. Patients scheduled for lab, cardiology, respiratory, radiology, and oncology services are being evaluated and arrangements or cancellations are personally being made where appropriate.

Off-site clinics, including Norwood, Norfolk, Potsdam, and Brasher will be closing at 1p.m. today. Afterhours in Canton will remain open with added staff from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. If needed, hours will be extended by separate notification.

CPH is expecting to resume operations as usual tomorrow morning; however, in the event that services need to remain closed, patients with appointments will be personally contacted.

In Canton, St. Lawrence University cancelled all graduate classes scheduled for this afternoon and evening. SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam also cancelled all activities and classes after 4 p.m. activities for the evening.

St. Lawrence County employees were also dismissed at 2 p.m. except for essential staff and those who have been assigned tasks in the Emergency Operations Center to deal with Hurricane Sandy.

For more information on cancellations see our page.