Friday Blizzard Updates: EOC Open, State of Emergency Declared

Updated: Feb. 8, 2013, 3 p.m.

The Town of North Branford opened its Emergency Operations Center at the police department at 1 p.m. with Interim Town Manager Bonnie Therrien meeting with staff for updates at 2 p.m.

"All is well for now," said Therrien. "I did declare a state of emergency."

Fire Chief William Seward requests that residents shovel out and around the fire hydrants and reminds people that vents for heating units be cleared of snow. 

Original story: Feb. 8, 2013, 12:30 p.m.

No matter what you call it – or as one of my friends answered: "I personally have been calling it something entirely different and not appropriate for Facebook!" – the blizzard is here. Here, the snow is falling, the plows are out, the kids are already going a bit stir-crazy.

In Hartford, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy intends to declare a state of emergency due to the blizzard that is expected to wallop Connecticut Friday through Saturday, and is asking residents to limit non-essential travel during the storm. 

The governor's office has also indicated that Malloy is considering closing roads during the storm as early as noon Friday.

"People need to take this storm seriously," Malloy said in a statement. "If current predictions are accurate, we will need people to stay off the roads so that emergency personnel and utility crews can get to the places they need to get to, and to make sure that our plows can keep critical roadways clear. Please stay home once the weather gets bad except in the case of real emergency."

But this is only the beginning with snow forecasted throughout the day and into Saturday. In preparation, the Town of North Branford's Emergency Operation Center is opening at the North Branford Police Department this afternoon. Non-emergent concerns can be directed there at the numbers listed below.

In the meantime, enjoy the snow, stay safe and warm and take a minute to share some photos of the view from your window by clicking 'Upload Photos and Video' above or below the photo gallery.

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Information from the Town of North Branford

• You can check out North Branford's Emergency Management Department on Facebook and follow it on Twitter @nbranfordemd. 
• Make sure you are self sufficient for at least a week in case of severe power, phone and cell outages.
• Make sure your neighbors and family members are safe and have enough food, water and supplies to last a week and check on them every day. 
• The Emergency Operations Center will be located at the Police Station.  Phone numbers there are: (203) 484-9549, 484-2196, 484-2583 and 484-9538. Please call these numbers instead of 911 for non-emergency situations. We will decide tomorrow whether and when the EOC will open.
• The Town will be sending out severe weather, road closures and updated safety information via the SAFER North Branford Emergency Notification System where we can contact thousands of residents in seconds with a push of a button. If you have not signed up for SAFER or need to update your information on the system, please go to the North Branford Town Website (www.townofnorthbranfordct.com) TODAY and fill out all of the information. You can also update your information via the CT Alert System (www.ctgov/ctalert). Having your latest contact information is the only way to ensure that we can contact you in an emergency.
• If a shelter needs to be opened, it will be located at the North Branford Intermediate School and you should enter the main entrance, the door to the right of the flagpole and bring with you medication (in their original labeled vials) to last 7 days, a list of all medications, clothes, blankets and pillows, things to keep children active, toiletry items (toothbrush/toothpaste/contact lends solutions, etc.), and towels. As of today, the Red Cross will not open a shelter until after the storm is over, if needed. 
• If and when power is restored, charging stations for cell phones and medical equipment will be available at the Town Hall, Community Center, two Libraries, and the Intermediate School Monday to Friday.
• Press Releases with emergency updates will be given out every day. These will be on the Town’s website, given out through our SAFER System and where there is power, through local businesses and the Emergency Operations Center.
• If you need to report a power outage or power lines down, please call 1-800-7CALLUI (1-800-722-5584) for UI customers or go to UI’s website – www.uinet.com/outagemap. For Wallingford Electric, please call 203-265-5055.
• Now is the time to check the outside of your home for trees and bushes that need to be cut back or bring indoors items that could fly around in a storm causing damage.

More on the Blizzard

• Travel Ban in Effect as of 4PM
• Winter Storm Safety for Pets
• Why Do We Name Winter Storms?
• Blizzard Updates: North Branford Schools Closed
• North Branford Schools Closed in Anticipation of Blizzard
• Patch's Poll: Are You Prepared for the Blizzard?
• Blizzard Watch Issued for North Branford