blizzard – DoingItLocal

Governor Imposes Travel Ban

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he has signed an order proclaiming a civil preparedness emergency in the State of Connecticut ahead of the major winter storm that is expected to impact the state on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. With dangerous weather conditions anticipated that will last throughout the day, the Governor has also signed an order activating a statewide travel ban that will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday and remain in effect until further notice.

In addition, the Governor is fully activating the state’s Emergency Operations Center starting at 5:00 a.m. He is also directing all nonessential first and second-shift state employees to not report to work on Tuesday.

“Snowfall is expected to begin shortly before sunrise and will increase quickly, with peak blizzard conditions reached only several hours later. Everyone in Connecticut is urged to plan ahead – wherever you are at sunrise Tuesday morning, expect to remain there throughout the remainder of the storm and into the night,” Governor Malloy said. “With snow coming down at rates in excess of three to four inches per hour at points and winds reaching as much at 60 miles per hour, white out conditions will severely limit visibility. Residents are urged to make safety a priority and to not make any attempt to travel.”

The Governor is encouraging everyone in Connecticut to continually monitor local media outlets throughout the day today and tomorrow as further announcements from the state regarding the storm will be made.

The latest forecast has snowfall beginning between 3:00 to 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday with blizzard conditions expected by 9:00 a.m. With winds reaching as much as 50 miles per hour inland and 60 miles per hour on the coast, there will be white out conditions for as much as six hours during the day. Snow is expected to taper off between 10:00 p.m. and midnight with final counts of 10 to 15 inches along the southeast coast, 16 to 20 inches at the southwest coast, 20 to 28 inches across central and western Connecticut, and 24 to 30 inches in the northwest hills and higher elevations.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has spent the day on Monday pre-treating roadways. The agency has 634 plow trucks and 250 private contract plow operators on standby to be called in if necessary. CTDOT is responsible for more than 10,000 lane miles of roads in Connecticut. More than 35,000 lane miles of roads are maintained by Connecticut cities and towns.

On Friday, Governor Malloy activated the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol, which directs certain state agencies to coordinate services that help the most vulnerable receive protection from the cold. It was scheduled to end on Monday morning, however he ordered the protocol to be extended through 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 16. A listing of all available shelters and warming centers that have been opened throughout the state can be found by calling 2-1-1.
(Press Release)
This report is made possible by:http://ctbattery.com

Mural Unveiled In Fairfield While Police Still Wait For a Contract

Editorial- On Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 5 pm, First Selectman Tetreau and the newly formed Fairfield Arts Advisory Committee (FAAC) held a press conference to unveil a mural in the second floor conference room in the John J. Sullivan Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Road. Yet it’s been over two years since the Fairfield Police Department has had a contract or even a cost of living increase. Priorities….why is Fairfield so anti-union? They made the fire department and nurses union wait years for a contract proving their anti-union stand. The town’s sticking point? Health insurance. If there is any town employee that should have stellar health insurance that should be our firefighters and police. Cut it back? Let’s start with the town leaders who should lead by example.

This editorial has NOT been approved nor endorsed by Fairfield Police Union. The Fairfield Police Union have served the public during two hurricanes a blizzard and various other storms in the last two years without a contract. A couple of weeks ago during a stand off five brave officers were ordered into a wooded area after a shot was fired. They did not hesitate to proceed. They are always there for the town of Fairfield and the surrounding towns. They were the first on scene in Newtown with trained grief counselor officers that fateful day. Isn’t it time we are there for the police?

5 Ambulances Abandoned By City During Storm

Branch Manager John Wrobel of Nelson Ambulance on Nobel Avenue tells us that the City of Bridgeport abandoned five ambulances during the storm. John tells us that he made about fifteen to twenty phone calls to have Nobel Avenue cleared so they could resume their services. The ambulance service had to resort to hiring a private contractor . There were five ambulances and five chair cars out of a fleet of nineteen that do one hundred to one hundred and thirty calls a day. They were unable to provide services out of their Bridgeport branch. Nobel Avenue wasn’t plowed until Tuesday according to Wrobel, he came out t speak at the city council meeting but time ran out before he could speak. A city worker seen at the end of the video shouted to us this wasn’t true but you can see he was vigorously debating this. Other city officials talked to Wrobel after our interview but he did not get to speak at the meeting. “We totally neglected” Wrobel said.