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Posted on: January 31, 2021

Greenwich Board of Selectmen Enact Snow Emergency

GREENWICH, CT. – In anticipation of the Nor’easter snowstorm that is expected to begin this evening, Sunday, January 31, and continuing through Tuesday, February 2, the Greenwich Board of Selectmen has imposed a snow emergency that will restrict on-street parking throughout Town.

The snow emergency, which prohibits on-street parking on designated snow emergency routes, will go into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday, January 31, and continue until further notice. (The complete list of streets can be found below.)

First Selectman Fred Camillo, in consultation with the Emergency Closing Group, has decided that in the interest of the health and safety of Town employees and residents, Town Hall offices will be closed Monday, February 1, 2021.

Town employees, who are able, will be working remotely and will be available via email and voicemail. There will be access to Town Hall for employees who must be present on Monday.

A decision on Town Hall operations for Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021 will be made at 5 p.m. Monday.

Operational updates will be posted on the Town website .

The snow emergency is being imposed because the National Weather Service major winter storm forecast includes blizzard-like conditions with at least 12 to 18 inches of snow and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Moderate coastal flooding with tides 2 to 3 feet above normal also is expected. The snow is expected to fall later this evening into Tuesday afternoon.

The parking ban will enable Department of Public Works crews and its contractors to effectively clear Town roadways. Residents are advised to park their vehicles in their driveways or in their yards. Residents also may use municipal parking lots to park their vehicles.

Given the anticipated weather conditions, the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility will be closed to residents on Monday, February 1.

By Town ordinance, Greenwich property owners are required to be responsible for keeping all sidewalks along their property clear of snow and ice.

The Town of Greenwich prohibits plow contractors from pushing snow from driveways or parking lots onto Town streets. This practice is dangerous and impedes the Town’s snow removal efforts. If there is no other alternative to pushing snow into the street, the private plow driver must plow off the windrow left across the street by re-plowing until the road is safe.

The Department of Public Works reminds local restaurant operators who have permitted outdoor dining nodes, that the restaurants are responsible for all snow cleanup of the areas behind the node barriers. Restaurant operators also are responsible for cleaning the sidewalk along the front of their respective property. Tents and canopies should be removed until after the storm.

We are requesting residents that when they are out shoveling snow from their driveways and sidewalks, to also clear nearby fire hydrants. By clearing a three-foot radius around the hydrant will help save precious time in battling a fire.

The snow emergency will remain in effect until the Board of Selectmen, which is the Town’s traffic authority, removes the emergency declaration.

Residents should avoid all downed utility wires and assume they are live.

In the event of flooding, residents are urged to stay out of flooded basements. Energized wiring or outlets below the water line may pose a hazard. Natural gas service in a flooded basement may also pose a danger.

Safety tips when arranging to have natural gas service restored once flood waters have receded:

If the natural gas meter and/or regulator were under water, customers must first contact their natural gas company.
If any natural gas equipment (furnace, boiler, water heater, etc.) has been under water, they need to contact a plumbing and heating contractor to have the equipment checked.

Those affected can then contact their natural gas company to have service restored. Homeowners should never attempt to turn on or shut off natural gas service.

TO REPORT ONLY EMERGENCIES – For all Police, Fire and EMS emergencies, dial 911.

Emergency Helplines – Utilities:

Aquarion Water Company 1-800-732-9678

Eversource 1-800-286-2000

CT Natural Gas Company 1-203-869-6900

Optimum/Altice 1-866-950-3278

Frontier Communications 1-800-239-4430

WARMING CENTER

Should residents lose power, the following location is available as a warming and electronic device charging center:

 Greenwich Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place. Open 24/7.

SURVIVING THE STORM

The Greenwich Department of Health advises residents to make an Emergency Supply Kit and to keep it handy. Also residents are encouraged to visit websites including the Town’s website (www.greenwichct.org ), The American Red Cross (www.redcross.org ), and the federal government (www.ready.gov ) for pointers on personal readiness.

During an emergency the Town may opt to use the emergency notification system to send a recorded message to each resident that has a published number. All residents are encouraged to register a contact number (non-published number, cell phone, etc.) by logging on to the Town’s website (www.greenwichct.gov ) located under the ‘Notify Me’ category at the bottom of the homepage.

Watch for signs of Frostbite: loss of feeling and abnormal coloring in extremities (fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose). If symptoms are detected, call 911 immediately.

Watch for signs of Hypothermia: bluishness or puffiness of the skin, dilated pupils, decreased respiratory rate, irregular pulse, uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms occur, get the person to a warm location, remove any wet clothing and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the person is conscious. Call 911 for medical help immediately.

When using portable generators, never use indoors (even if garage doors are open) or in enclosed spaces. Exhausts from these units contain carbon monoxide (CO). Also, do not supply generator power to your home’s main line.

Do not use gas stoves or charcoal grills for heat. They can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

When any tree falls on a power line and causes it to come down or block a Town road or right-of way, the situation should be reported immediately. For non-emergency situations involving downed trees or branches, please call 203-622-8001.

SNOW EMERGENCY STREETS