Cheshire schools have closed and officials throughout the community are now on standby as a severe winter storm threatens to batter the state to start the weekend.
The National Weather Service late Thursday night issued a blizzard warning for much of Connecticut, including New Haven and Hartford counties as the impending powerful winter storm threatens to drop between one and two feet on snow and could contain winds as high as 60 miles per hour.
For residents in the Cheshire area, this means concerns that many could be without power and town officials are preparing for the worst, even when hoping for the best.
Cheshire Town Manager Michael Milone met with department heads, emergency officials and volunteers Thursday afternoon to prepare a shelter in case there is a need, Milone said. There is no official shelter opening, but staff will continue to monitor the storm and determine if there is a need once snow begins falling.
The shelter would be established at the Youth Center, with a back-up location at Cheshire High School.
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"We are hoping it won't be bad, but in preparing for the storm we are assuming the worst," Milone said. "Town staff has been notified and will remain on call and we will have firefighters sleeping at the firehouse so we can avoid the extra step of having to call them in."
In addition, the town conducted tests with all generators today and have verified that all equipment is working and is "gassed up."
With heavy winds making the storm impossible to predict, Cheshire police said residents should be prepared to create a shelter in place and avoid driving or spending consider time in the elements unless completely necessary.
At Connecticut Light & Power, staff is also gearing up for the storm, CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross said Thursday. Gross said the company has issued an "all hands on deck" alert to its workers, is holding meetings throughout the today with workers and expect to have "hundreds and hundreds" of workers on duty to deal with outages that could occur this weekend.
Gross, however, cautioned that crews will not be able to restore power during the storm or when the winds are high because of the dangers that could create.
"Our line workers and tree workers will be out there as long as it's safe," he added.
Trying to prepare for the storm? The American Red Cross suggests stocking up on the following supplies:
- Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day;
- Food—at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food;
- Flashlight; Battery-powered or hand-crank radio; (NOAAWeather Radio, if possible);
- Extra batteries;
- First aid kit;
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane);
- Multi-purpose tool;
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items;
- Copies of personal documents; (medication list and pertinent medical; information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies);
- Cell phone with chargers;
- Family and emergency contact information;
- Extra cash;
- Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby; food, diapers);
- Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food,carrier, bowl);
- Tools/supplies for securing your home;
- Sand, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter to make walkways and steps less slippery;
- Warmcoats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots; and extra blankets and warm clothing for all household members.
The police department, in partnership with FEMA, also provided the following checklists for residents to use as they go about their business before, during and after the storm:
Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
- Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
- Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products.
- Sand to improve traction.
- Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
- Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
- Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.
- Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
- Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS). Be alert to changing weather conditions.
- Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
- Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.
During Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
- Stay indoors during the storm.
- Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways.
- Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
- Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
- Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
- Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible.
- Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive: travel in the day; don’t travel alone; keep others informed of your schedule; stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts.
- Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
- If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
- Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.
- Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms.
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.
After Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
- Go to a designated public shelter if your home loses power or heat during periods of extreme cold. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
- Continue to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.
How are you handling the impending storm? Are you concerned that the winter weather could affect you? Do you have a tip for fellow residents? Tell us in the comments section below.
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