For nine days, the City of New Haven has removed snow that fell during the blizzard of 2013 and the effort is now completed, according to a news release from the city.

The city recorded 34 inches of snow in a 24-hour span and crews worked around the clock in 12-hour shifts starting on Friday, Feb. 8, according to city officials.

The estimated clean-up cost is $1.6 million.

All parking bans in New Haven have ended, but city officials ask residents to use common sense when parking their vehicles on the street.

If you block the passage of an emergency vehicle, you will be towed.

“This is not an issue of convenience, this is an issue of public safety,” said Mayor John DeStefano Jr.

Garbage pick-up will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 19 and will be delayed by a day because of the holiday on Monday.

New Haven Public Schools will also re-open on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
 

The state is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency for extra cash to help cover the cost of last weekend’s record-setting blizzard.

President Barack Obama granted an emergency declaration shortly after the storm dropped more than three feet of snow in some towns, so FEMA will reimburse the state and towns 75 percent of the clean-up costs over the first 48 hours.

Because of the size of this storm, state officials are asking the federal government to cover an additional 24 hours of storm clean-up.

Middletown Mayor Dan Drew said 48 hours of strom coverage reimbursement is not enough.
“We had our crews on from Friday morning, at the start of the storm, and they just got off the street for the first time 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, yesterday,” he said more than a week after the storm hit.

Drew said his city’s snow removal costs were under the $250,000 budgeted heading into the blizzard of 2013, but the past week changed everything.

“The costs are gonna be staggering, not only in Middletown but in every municipality in the state,” Drew said.

With that in mind, state officials will be asking FEMA to reimburse 75 percent of the costs for the first 72 hours of the storm.

Kevin Nursick, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said their 1,200 employees drove 632 plows from Friday at 4, until Tuesday night and the estimated costs exceed $10 million, or about $100,000 an hour or more than a third of the total agency budget for the winter season.

He said the additional funds are needed, but the agency is well-prepared financially if another storm hits.

“We’ve got plenty of resources to maximize additional funding from within the Connecticut Department of transportation,  if needed,” he said.

Drew said residents in his town have measured more than three feet of snow. While he enjoys winter, he won’t complain when spring comes.

"I think we’ve all had our fill of the snow this year and we’re ready for the daffodils to pop out of the ground," he said.
 

Students in New Haven will miss their February vacation after spending a week out of school due to the Blizzard of 2013.

School administrators decided to take back the vacation because the district has used up its scheduled snow days.

"Not knowing what weather would bring for the rest of the year, you don’t want to put all your eggs in the back-of-the-year basket, so we thought it was important to try to take some days back immediately," said Will Clark, Chief Operating Officer for New Haven Public Schools.

By law, schools cannot be in session past June 30.

Not all parents and students are happy with the decision. An online petition was started to urge New Haven schools not to cancel February vacation, because students need a break, and some families already had plans.
 
"Folks who have pre-planned vacations and so forth, we will excuse those absences," said Clark.
 
But most parents do seem happy with the modified schedule, saying the students need to be back in class.
 
"I want them back in school. They already had eight days off, so it’s good for them. They have to learn," said Adriana Valencia, a parent with two children in the New Haven school system.

Students will be off Monday for Presidents Day, but will be back in class on Tuesday.

A week after the Blizzard of 2013, the West Hartford Reservoir remains closed because of snow, but the reservoir in Bloomfield and the boat launch have reopened.

If you were hoping to get out for a hike or walk, you’ll have to avoid the Metropolitan District’s Reservoir at 1420 Farmington Ave. in West Hartford until further notice. 

The area is unsafe because of ongoing snow removal and cleanup, according to the MDC.

However, the Goodwin Dam-West Branch Reservoir in Hartland has re-opened and Reservoir #6 in Bloomfield is once again open, but access at the Bloomfield reservoir is restricted to the parking lot and paved sections of the facility, as other sections have not been cleared of snow and debris from the storm.

For continued updates, visit the MDC website at www.themdc.com. 

 

Milford, like towns across the state, has been dealing with a massive amount of snow since last weekend.

To make more progress, local Milford volunteers are organizing a city-wide shovel brigade to help neighbors clear residential sidewalks.

They are asking all able-bodied men and women willing to volunteer to shovel to meet at 9 a.m. on Friday behind the Milford Public Library at the Fowler Field parking lot with their shovels.

Maps of areas needing clearing will be distributed to volunteer teams.

Volunteers from Milford’s police, fire and other city departments, as well as local Boy Scout, local sports teams, and community organizations will be on hand.

For more information, call Steve Johnson at (203) 804-3604 or e-mail skjohnson076@gmail.com.

Over the next two days, crews in the City of New Haven will focus on clearing streets from curb to curb and removing the massive piles of plowed snow from city streets.

Nighttime tow and plow operations will cover the area of the city east of the Boulevard and west of the Quinnipiac River, (shaded green in the map below) an older section of the city that tends to have more narrow streets and limited off-street parking options.

City officials are asking all residents to park on the even side of the street overnight for the next two nights.

Daytime operations will clear the areas west of the Boulevard and the areas east of the Quinnipiac River, (unshaded on the map) which has wider streets and many off-street parking options. If residents remove their cars from the street, city officials do not anticipate having to tow in these areas.

Tow and plow operation for cars that are parked on the odd side of the street.

Residents of all streets east of the Boulevard and west of the Quinnipiac River are to park on the even side of the street on Wednesday and Thursday nights on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to Thursday morning at 6 a.m. and on Thursday, from 6 p.m. to Friday at 6 a.m.

Cars that are parked on the odd side of the streets listed above will be subject to tagging and towing.

Areas of the city not listed above will be cleared during the day on Thursday and Friday.

Since these areas have many off-street parking options, city officials are asking residents to park in their driveway.

Connecticut towns, especially in the state’s largest cities, continue to work to clear streets five after the first snowflakes of the blizzard began.

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said city crews and private contractors have opened 60-percent of city streets as of 12 noon Wednesday, almost doubling the number of streets made passable in 24 hours.

At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the travel ban will be lifted, but Finch is asking motorists to drive safely through the city.

“Our crews, with the assistance of private contractors, made incredible progress overnight and into the morning, doubling the number of streets open to traffic,” Finch said. “The plow drivers and heavy equipment operators are working very hard to get all of our streets open and passable so our residents can get to work and get back to normal. I want to thank the residents of Bridgeport for their patience and understanding during this time.”

On Tuesday, payloaders and other heavy equipment from as far away as Buffalo, N.Y., and neighboring Danbury, Wilton and Greenwich came into Bridgeport, so around 100 vehicles are working to clear snow from the streets.

The list of passable streets is posted online. http://bridgeportct.gov/content/87201/137292.aspx

The National Guard has been in Bridgeport since Saturday and two groups are assisting the police and fire departments.

All Bridgeport city schools will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 14 and Friday, February 15.

The public is urged to stay off the roads as much as possible while cleanup crews are clearing streets.

Garbage and recycling pickups are suspended until further notice and the Transfer Station is closed until further notice.

A list of passable streets can be found online.  

The City asks residents to help clear the inlets and catch basins near your house or business. Keeping catch basins clear of snow and ice will reduce the possibility of street flooding during heavy rains or snow melting periods.

Following snowstorms, residents and businesses with flat roofs are particularly vulnerable.   As the snow on most roofs has frozen, removing any new snow and its additional weight will be very important. If not cleared off, snow piled high on roofs can act as a sponge, absorbing any rain, adding additional stress to structures.

 

Middletown police have charged a 56-year-old local man accused of grabbing a loaded double-barrel shotgun and threatening snow removal workers when he saw a plow moving snow toward his property on Friday, during the blizzard.

An employee of Country Club Landscape contact police around 4 p.m. on Friday to report that a man, later identified as James Bankowski, threatened him and his co-workers as they were clearing the parking lot of a condominium complex across from his George Street residence.

The plow worker said they were pushing a small pile of snow from Knoll Crest Condos, on George Street, across the street, when the city plow came by.

That was when Bankowski started yelling from his front porch, according to police,

Thinking the man was calling to them, one of the snow removal workers walked over and saw Bankowski had was waving a gun, The Middletown man raised it over his head and said, “Tell that guy to put the snow on his property or I’m going to blow him up,” a witness told police.
The man said “OK” and left.

When police called Bankowski, he admitted to the confrontation, according to police.

He said he was watching the snow fall when he noticed a plow pushing snow onto his property, according to the arraignment report.

This upset him, so Bankowski grabbed his double-barrel shotgun, went outside, followed the men and swore at them, according to the police report.

“I never intended to shoot anyone, just wanted to scare them enough to get my point across,” he told police, according to the arraignment report.

Bankowski was brought to Middletown police headquarters and charged with reckless endangerment, threatening and breach of peace.

He is being held on $50,000 bond and is due in court on Feb. 22.
 

Significant progress has been made in clearing the state's highways of snow, Gov. Dannel Malloy said Tuedsday.

"The Department of Transportation reports that about 95-percent of its main roads are free of snow debris," Malloy said.  The DOT hoped to have 100-percent of the main roads cleared overnight.  That will allow snow removal crews to concentrate on secondary roads, according to Malloy.

Snow removal efforts on I-84 in Hartford caused major backups into the city during rush hour Tuesday evening.

In cities and towns, some side streets remain untouched and many two-lane streets are down to one lane.

The state has released snow removal equipment to assist some cities and towns, Malloy said.

New Haven Mayor John DeStefano met with Malloy to discuss the snow removal efforts and said the city is going back to the main roads and widening them.

New Haven will began towing on all the arterials as of 6 p.m. Tuesday. 

At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, DeStefano said, the city will go back to the neighborhoods. Parking will be banned on all the odd sides.

School has been out in New Haven and DeStefano told Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman that he thinks the school buses would be able to get through on Wednesday, but the mayor is concerned about where the children will stand. A decision will be made by 5 p.m.

Should schools be closed, the mayor said he thinks some daycare/rec services for parents who are going back to work.

“So we’ll figure out how to do that,” DeStefano said.    

The mayor told Malloy that some residents have set up their own brigades to clear out sidewalks in their neighborhoods.

Some towns have been using plowing equipment, as well as National Guard vehicles, to respond to emergency calls.

“Friday night, we got a little compromised on emergency response calls,” DeStefano said. “Until Monday, we were responding with payloaders and Humvees.”

Malloy said the state transported a lot of nurses from Hamden to New Haven’s hospitals because they had no other way to get there.  

Malloy said there are about eight Humvees, two loaders and 29 personnel in New Haven.

Waterbury is clearing out schools by paying local teens to shovel.

East Haven has issued a parking ban to remain in effect until further notice and the town is offering to pick up medical prescriptions for snowbound in certain critical situations through the courtesy of a McDermott Auto Group vehicle and the National Guard’s Humvee.

The drivers use the vehicles to pick up the prescription at the pharmacy and deliver it to the resident’s door. The vehicles are also available to the community to use for emergency response.

Residents who are snowbound and in dire need of their medication should call 91-1 for this service.

Malloy said he has spoken with about 25 mayors and first selectmen about snow removal efforts and said towns that have removed snow are lending services to other communities.  

In Bridgeport, the fire department used sleds for rescues and payloaders have come from Buffalo, New York to help clear the streets.

A parking ban remains in effect in Vernon until further notice. Police issued a news release warning that violators could be ticketed and towed.

 

A New Haven apartment building was evacuated on Monday after concerns the roof might collapse under the weight of heavy snow.

City building officials responded to 335 Fountain Street and condemned the building. The snow on the roof is pushing bricks down and making the building unsafe, according to James Eggert, New Haven's Assistant Building Inspector.

In all, 18 people, including 10 children from a dozen apartments were affected. They have been moved to a local hotel with the help of the Red Cross.

"Everybody who's here has everything in those apartments," Sharmont Little said. "I basically have to buy my kids a brand new wardrobe because all they have is what's on their back."

Some residents are focusing on the fact that they are safe. 

"Let's breathe and we're just grateful we made it out," Judith Johnson said.

Several structures in Connecticut have collapsed under the weight of snow left behind by this weekend's blizzard.

A plow struck a utility pole in Manchester Monday, knocking out power to part of Buckland Hills Mall and the surrounding area.

Connecticut Light & Power had to shut off power while they investigated the damage and made repairs, according to a company spokesperson. The outage affected about 2,000 customers.

The mall remained open during the outage.

Frustration continued to build Monday as cities and towns tried to plow streets from under 3 feet of snow.

In Hamden, one of the towns hardest hit during the blizzard, people are still stuck in their homes 48 hours after the end of the storm. A condo complex on Mather Street has not seen a plow since the storm began.

"There is 4 feet of snow in the parking lot," said Lynn Townsend.

In Waterbury, Mayor Neil O'Leary posted an online progress report of streets that have been plowed and those that are still not accessible. Some areas of the city still had not been reached as of 2 p.m. on Monday. Waterbury was awaiting help from the City of Danbury. Mayor Mark Boughton, of Danbury, sent a convoy of public works trucks to Waterbury Monday to help clear streets there.

For some, the wait has been too long. In neighborhoods across Connecticut, people are using their personal snow blowers to try and clear streets that have yet to be plowed. A group of people in Bristol spent the day using snow blowers to clear Orleans Drive.

Wallingford police said about 70-percent of the town's roads have been plowed to make them accessible to emergency vehicles. Troops from the Army National Guard have been embedded with the Wallingford Fire Department to help get firefighters into less accessible areas, police said.

All Wallingford roads were expected to be accessible by Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Frustration continued to build Monday as cities and towns tried to plow streets from under 3 feet of snow.

In Hamden, one of the towns hardest hit during the blizzard, people are still stuck in their homes 48 hours after the end of the storm. A condo complex on Mather Street has not seen a plow since the storm began.

"There is 4 feet of snow in the parking lot," said Lynn Townsend.

In Waterbury, Mayor Neil O'Leary posted a progress report of streets that have been plowed and those that are still not accessible. Some areas of the city still had not been reached as of 2 p.m. on Monday. Waterbury was awaiting help from the City of Danbury. Mayor Mark Boughton, of Danbury, sent a convoy of public works trucks to Waterbury Monday to help clear streets there.

For some, the wait has been too long. In neighborhoods across Connecticut, people are using their personal snowblowers to try and clear streets that have yet to be plowed. A group of people in Bristol spent the day using snowblowers to clear Orleans Drive.

Wallingford police said about 70-percent of the town's roads have been plowed to make them accessible to emergency vehicles. Troops from the Army National Guard have been embedded with the Wallingford Fire Department to help get firefighters into less accessible areas, police said.

All Wallingford roads were expected to be accessible by Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Two people are in critical condition after being hit by a motor vehicle on Bridgeport Avenue near Cowles Street at 11:19 a.m. on Monday.

Police said they preliminary investigation indicates that a family of four was walking along the shoulder of the roadway before the crash. Police said they were hit be a passenger vehicle, not a plow.

One pedestrian suffered minor injuries and the other was not injured.

Bridgeport Avenue was closed during the police investigation.

Police said they do not believe that the sidewalks have yet been cleared. Police recommend that pedestrians avoid walking along roadways due to the inclement weather conditions.

If necessary, pedestrians should walk against the direction of traffic so they can see oncoming traffic and stay close to the edge of the roadway.

Milford police are asking anyone with information regarding the accident to contact (203) 783-4749 or email at dsharoh@ci.milford.ct.us.
 

New Haven city workers are trying to clear snow from city streets after a record 34 inches fell between Friday and Saturday and local police are setting up check points to discourage non-essential travel in the city.

There is a travel advisory in effect and police said they have set up four entry points to New Haven to prevent impediments to intensive snow removal efforts, police said.

"Staying home will let us do our job better," Police Chief Dean Esserman said during a news conference on Monday morning. "We need people to stay home. There is no public parking downtown and the roads are bad."

Mayor John DeStefano said over the weekend that it could be at least a couple of days until side streets are reached.

The biggest challenge has been getting around abandoned cars in the road, DeStefano said.

Esserman said he wanted to thank New Haveners for their response to the massive storm.

Residents have been staying home, helping each other and even helped push a few police cars that were stuck.

This has allowed police to do their jobs, drive doctors and nurses to work, bring dialysis patients to appointments and help other emergency departments do their job as well.

"We've been helping old ladies get home. We've been making gun arrests," Esserman said.

As of Sunday afternoon, the city’s department of public works had 40 trucks out plowing, as well as 15 payloaders.

A statement from the city said the main arterial roads are passable and crews were working on making secondary streets passable.

The National Guard joined New Haven's storm clean-up efforts around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday and even one of their Humvees got stuck, according to the mayor. We have to use payloaders to clear the streets enough that the plows can get by.

A statement from the mayor’s office on Sunday warned that cars that are parked and obstructing street passage will be tagged and towed.

He said he hopes to have at least 95 percent of streets passable on Tuesday morning.

"It's going to take a while to clean up still. What we consider passable at this point is going to be one lane down a street, and that's not acceptable by most of us under any circumstance, but (that's) what we're trying to get to by mid-day tomorrow," DeStefano said on Monday.

If your car is one of them, you can call the city’s tow clerk at 203-946-6316.

For the latest storm update, you can call 203-946-SNOW (7669.)

State police closed around 14 miles of Interstate 91, from exit 40 in Windsor to the Massachusetts state line, because of icing on Monday morning, according to state police, but parts of the road have reopened.

Freezing rain is falling as the state is digging out from the Blizzard of 2013, which dumped around 3 feet of snow in some areas of the state.

Freezing rain advisories were in effect until 11 a.m. in Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Fairfield counties.

Gov. Dannel Malloy issued a travel advisory during the blizzard. It was lifted as of 4 p.m. on Saturday, but the governor decided to close several state offices on Monday and asked employers to allow employees to work from home if they had a policy to do so.

No additional information was immediately available.
 

People are beginning to travel again after a historic blizzard blew through Connecticut.

The governor lifted a statewide ban on travel on Saturday afternoon, but is urging people to take necessary precaution when traveling. Safety measures include making carpool plans, cleaning snow off roofs and buildings and making sure drainage areas are clear.

Truck drivers should delay their travel until evening hours so crews can continue to clear the roads.

The governor’s office urges the public to not call 211 for plowing information. 211 does not have information on when streets will be plowed. To find a location of a local warming shelter, you can call 211.

Metro-North:

Metro-North will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Monday between Stamford and Grand Central Terminal. There will be limited peak service from stations between New Haven and Stamford. Regular Danbury Service will resume with the exception of the 6:18 a.m., which is canceled.

The Waterbury branch will remain suspended until further notice. There will be no substitute buses provided to travelers.

Amtrak:

Amtrak will resume normal operations on the Northeast Corridor between New York and Boston on Tuesday, Feb. 12, including the resumption of full Acela Express, Northeast Regional and Springfield Shuttle service following this weekend’s severe winter storm. Amtrak crews have been working around the clock to clear affected track of large amounts of snow, in excess of several feet in some cases.  In addition, crews have removed downed trees and made all necessary repairs to allow for full restoration of service.

Passengers who have paid but choose not to travel due to this service disruption can receive a refund or a voucher for future travel. Some reservations booked online can be modified or canceled on Amtrak.com or by using the free Amtrak mobile app.

Bradley Airport:

Flights are coming and going on schedule. Check with your airline for status of your flights Monday.

CTTransit:

Customers should anticipate delays and detours and plan accordingly. Due to several narrowed and closed roads, buses may not be able to operate on the full route.

Here is the latest update, as of 8:50 a.m. on Monday:

• 30 Bradley Flyer Normal Service
• 31/33 Park Street No service to Park Terrace.
• 32/34/36 Windsor Avenue Normal Service
• 35 Westfarms Flyer Normal Service
• 37/39 New Britain Avenue No service to Chandler, Dart, Brookfield or Flatbush. Buses operating to/from Walmart via New Britain & Newfield.
• 38 Weston Street Bypassing Hartford Police Dept facility.
• 40/42 North Main/Barbour Streets No service on Barbour north of Westland Street.
• 41 New Britain Limited Service
• 43 Campfield Avenue SERVICE SUSPENDED
• 44 Garden Street No service on Garden north of Westland Street.
• 45 Berlin Turnpike Flyer  Normal Service
• 46 Vine Street No service to Coventry Street. Buses operating via Tower Avenue, Blue Hills, Holcomb Street.
• 47 Franklin Avenue Normal Service
• 50/52/54 Blue Hills Avenue Met Life closed, buses terminating a CIGNA.
• 53/55 Wethersfield Avenue/Silas Deane Highway Bypassing Wethersfield Shopping Center, buses operating via Silas Deane. Middletown buses terminating at downtown Middletown, no service to CVH.
• 56/58 Albany/Bloomfield Avenues Normal Service
• 59 Locust Street Normal Service
• 60/62/64/66 Farmington Avenue Normal Service
• 61 Broad Street Normal Service
• 63 Hillside Avenue Normal Service
• 69 Capitol Avenue Bypassing CCSU.
• 72 Asylum Avenue Met Life closed, buses terminating a CIGNA.
• 74 Granby Street Normal Service
• 76 Ashley Street No service to Cornwall, Palm, Burham Streets. Buses operating via Blue Hills, Tower Avenue, Granby Street.
• 80 Buckland Flyer Normal Service
• 82/84 Tolland Street Normal Service
• 83 Silver Lane Bypassing MCC.
• 85 MCC Flyer SERVICE SUSPENDED
• 86/88 Burnside Avenue Normal Service
• 87 Brewer Street Normal Service
• 91 Forbes Street Crosstown Normal Service
• 92 Tower Avenue Crosstown Normal Service
• 94/96 Park Avenue/John Fitch Boulevard Normal Service
• 95 Glastonbury Bypassing Hubbard Street; Millbrook Park Snow Route in effect.
• Star Shuttle No service to Union, Allen or Ann. Buses operating via Spruce to Church.
•  

Local and express routes in Hartford, New Haven and Stamford that are able to operate safely will resume regular trips starting Monday.

For more closings, check our website nbcconnecticut.com

Malloy says the recovery effort will take some time, but the state and city public works personnel are working very hard to get the roads clear.

State police have released the name of a 79-year-old Prospect woman who died after being hit while snow blowing her driveway.

Mary McCormack, 79, of Prospect, was snow blowing her driveway on Straitsville Road around 8:30 p.m.  on Friday when a vehicle struck her and fled, police said.

McCormack was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries on the day after her 79th birthday.

Her roommate notified family members, according to state police.

Kate Blinstrubas, a towns registrar of voters in town, who knew McCormack from her work with the Democratic Town Committee and from her work at St. Anthony’s Church and the senior center, said Mary was someone she could always count on and she’ll be greatly missed.

“She just was a wonderful woman. She just was always there. She never looked for any recognition for what she did. She just did things,” Blinstrubas said.

Blinstrubas said McCormack was a widow and it was common for her to take care of her house and driveway, trying to get ahead of the storm.

Police are investigating and ask anyone with information to call Troop I in Bethany at 23-393-4200. 
 

Two people were found dead inside a car in a back driveway on Webster Street in Meriden on Sunday morning, said police.

Investigators said a 20-year-old man and an 18- year-old woman, neighbors from Meriden, had last been seen around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday when they went into the car to listen to music.

Police have identified the people as Carlos Rodriguez, 20, of 11 Webster St., and Zhane Brown, 18, of 13 Webster St.

Police responded to the Webster Street address at 11 a.m. on Sunday and said paths were shoveled, leading to the car doors, but the rest of the car was covered with snow and the windows were up.

Police believe Rodriguez and Brown appear to have died of carbon monoxide poisoning, but the medical examiner has not yet released an official ruling.

In New Haven, the big dig-out continued Sunday after the massive storm dumped 34 inches of snow, paralyzing the city.

There were 40 trucks and 15 payloaders working to clear the streets, the City of New Haven said in a storm status update on Sunday afternoon. The National Guard was brought in to help city crews with snow removal, according to the city's statement.

All main arterial roads in New Haven are now passable and plows are now working on clearing secondary streets, according to the update.

“Passable means that they are clearing enough snow to allow for emergency vehicle passage, usually a one lane path. Once all roads are passable, all streets will be revisited for more extensive removal,” Anna Marioitti, Director of Communications for the city, said in a press release.

New Haven’s travel ban remained in effect throughout Sunday to prevent cars from getting stuck and to allow snow plowing crews to continue their work more effectively.

Residents were asked not to throw snow into the street so as not to prolong the cleanup process.

Instead, they were asked to pile snow on the tree strip—the area of grass or pavement between the sidewalk and the curb—and other areas in the front of their homes.

Officials warned that any cars parked in the street and obstructing street passage will be tagged and towed.

The city also announced Sunday that all senior centers and New Haven Public Schools will be closed Monday.

Due to an increase in carbon monoxide incidents the city urged residents to check their home’s exterior fuel vents and to clear any snow to prevent carbon monoxide build-up.

Bon Jovi’s “Because We Can” tour was scheduled to launch Saturday at Mohegan Sun, but a blizzard dropped more than 2 feet of snow on the state, and the "official" concert was postponed.

The band didn't disappoint some fans however.  Bon Jovi took the stage at Mohegan Sun for a free concert at 5 p.m. Saturday, according to a casino spokesperson.

"I wanted to confirm that they did in fact perform a special, free concert for hotel guests and fans that had made the trek in advance to see the show," Cathy Soper said.   The boys from Jersey performed their full concert for the 2,000 people who attended the show, she said.

The "offical" show has been rescheduled to Friday, Oct. 25.

Tickets will automatically be refunded at point of purchase for both performances.

Saturday’s 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances of Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam at the XL Center in Hartford have been cancelled because of inclement weather.

Tickets for the Feb. 9 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m performances at the XL Center can be returned to the original point of purchase for refunds. Any ticket purchased through Ticketmaster.com or over the phone at 1-800-745-3000 will be automatically refunded.

Saturday’s Pit Pass Party will also be refunded in full.  Pit Passes for Sunday’s Pit Party, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. are available for purchase for $10 at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, with a limited quantity available.

Sunday’s 2 p.m. performance is on as scheduled. Fans who were unable to attend Saturday’s events are encouraged to attend Sunday’s 2 p.m. performance.

XL Center officials said great seats are still available and can be purchased online or at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center.

The Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center will open beginning at 9:00am. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid lines.

For any questions, please contact Feld Customer Service at 703-448-3639, mscustomerrelations@feldin.com, or visit XLCenter.com.

The Bon Jovi concert at Mohegan Sun, however, is still on, as of 12:30 p.m.
 

Several roofs have collapsed from weight of the snow from the blizzard and Gov. Dannel Malloy is asking residents to try to clear the roof of their houses if possible.

So far, 16 structures in Connecticut have collapsed under the weight of the snow, Malloy said.

The East Haven Fire Department responded to VJ Industries, 80 Commerce St., in East Haven, on Monday, where there was a partial roof collapse at the back of the building.

A plow driver working in the area heard the building alarm and called police. 

There was a smell of natural gas in the building and the fire department shut off the utilities. No one was working in the building when the collapse happened. 

The front of the building, where the offices are located, does not appear to be impacted, officials said. 

East Haven responded to a roof collapse on Sunday at 37 Coe Ave., a commercial building, by the beach on Sunday. 

The dome of the Star Hill Athletic Center collapsed under 33 inches of snow and all activities are canceled through Feb. 15. 

"Despite around the clock efforts by dozens of people who worked to clear the snow safely from the dome, the volume and the weight of 33+" of snow caused enough damage for the dome to collapse," the company's Web site states.

Part of the roof of a warehouse at 1260 Newfield St. in Middletown, caved in at 11 a.m. on Saturday. No one was inside at the time.

Six cows were hurt when the roof of a barn on Jackson Hill Road in Middlefield collapsed on Saturday. Vets were attending to the injured cows. Some cows were unaccounted for as of Saturday evening.

A vacant warehouse at 30 Old Post Road in Clinton, a former Unilever building, collapsed on Saturday morning. 

The awning at Play It Again Sports on Queen Street in Southington, also collapsed under weight of snow.

Simsbury officials are also recommending that residents clear their roofs if possible because rain is expected on Monday.

The state Department of Consumer Protection issued some tips on hiring someone to clear snow from the roof of your home.

Don’t hire contractors who go door-to-door, who call, who post notices on bulletin boards, utility poles, or online before you check them out thoroughly. Get references and call them.  Get written estimates before you hire someone.

While a home improvement registration is not required to remove snow from a roof, it is a good idea to have a reputable registered home improvement contractor who specializes in roofing in order to evaluate the situation.

Although workers who remove snow are not required to have a home improvement registration, you should take additional precautions when workers are on your property.  The company or individual performing the work should carry their own liability insurance and must be able to produce an insurance certificate as proof.  The certificate should carry the name of the insurance company, and you are urged to call the insurance agency on the certificate to confirm that coverage. If a company is having employees doing the snow removal work, the company should provide evidence that they have worker’s compensation insurance, which the employer is required to carry.   

To verify if an insurance agent or agency is licensed in Connecticut, visit the Connecticut Insurance Department web page.

Prices for roof clearing may vary depending upon the nature of the roof. However, there should be a reasonable basis between the size of the roof, the time involved in removing the snow and a comparable, ascertainable hourly rate – such as that for home improvement work – that would normally be charged for similar labor under normal circumstances. Every situation will be different, but the test of whether price gouging occurs will be whether the contractor can justify the price using an objective standard.

Anyone removing snow from a roof, homeowner or contractor, should be extremely careful of any kind of above-ground wiring and keep all tools away from power lines.

When most of us went to sleep, there was an impressive amount of snow, but we woke up to massive amounts.

A Portland man caught 24-hours of the storm and condensed it a 43-second time lapse video. 

Jose Andrade posted this video on his YouTube channel.

You can see his other videos here.

The snow is moving out of the state, but the high piles of snow will be here for a while and there are some precautions to take for your own safety.

One of the most important things you can do is to clear out any heating and appliance vents that are located on the side of your home to prevent  carbon monoxide build up, according to emergency officials in Farmington.

The state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection warns residents never to use portable generators indoors, in basements, garages or close to a home. The exhaust from generators contains high levels of carbon monoxide greater than that of multiple cars running in a garage, which can quickly incapacitate and kill.

Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. Read both the label on your generator and the owner's manual and follow the instructions. Any electrical cables you use with the generator should be free of damage and suitable for outdoor use.

The U.S. Fire Administration says you should keep the generator dry. Operate on a dry surface under an open, canopy- like structure.

Dry your hands before touching the generator.

Plug appliances directly into generator or use a heavy-duty outdoor- rated extension cord. Make sure the entire extension cord is free of cuts or tears and the plug has all 3 prongs, especially a grounding pin.

Never plug the generator into a wall outlet. This practice, known as backfeeding, can cause an electrocution risk to utility workers and others served by the same utility transformer.

If necessary to connect generator to house wiring to power appliances, have a qualified electrician install appropriate equipment. Or, your utility company may be able to install an appropriate transfer switch.

Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.

Always store fuel outside of living areas in properly labeled, non-glass containers.

Store fuel away from any fuel-burning appliance.

Do not refill them with gasoline when they are hot, or you could start a fire.

Never use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. Deaths have occurred when residents burned charcoal or used camp stoves in enclosed spaces, which produced lethal levels of carbon monoxide.

Stay away from any downed wires, including cable TV feeds.

Natural gas or propane valves that have been under water should be replaced. Smell and listen for leaky gas connections. If you believe there is a gas leak, immediately leave the house, leave the door(s) open, and call 911. Never strike a match. Any size flame can spark an explosion. Before turning the gas back on, have the gas system checked by a professional.

Use caution with candles. If possible, use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when you leave the room.

Residents are also encouraged to remain home and off the roads so that crews can plow as quickly as possible.

As you clean up, do not clean snow from your property into the street.

While shoveling, don’t over exert yourself and take frequent breaks and rest.

If you snowblower gets clogged, turn it off and use a long stick to clear it. Never place your hand in any part of the snowblower.

The fire department asks that you clear the snow around fire hydrants so the fire department can access them in an emergency.

If your mail box is covered by snow,  clear any street address from it for the easier location of your property by emergency crews.

Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly.
 

Seven people have died what appear to be snow-related deaths after a blizzard dumped two feet of snow or more on much of the state and brought gusty winds between Friday and Saturday.

A 20-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were found dead inside a car in Meriden on Sunday morning. No official cause of death has been released, but police said it appears that they died of carbon monoxide poisoning when they went to listen to music in a car.

A 53-year-old man was found dead in the 3900 block of Old Town Road in Bridgeport at 12:20 p.m. on Saturday. Police said his family members last saw him alive around 10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. on Friday.

A relative who was clearing snow found the man on Saturday and called police to report a possible hypothermia cardiac arrest. The cause of  death has not officially been determined.

A 49-year-old man on Darrin Drive in Shelton died from unknown health causes, police said. Police identified him on Monday morning as Raymond McPadden, of 33 Darrin Drive. An autopsy has not yet been completed and the cause of death are pending,

Police said the preliminary investigation revealed the male was plowing his private driveway and his vehicle became stuck and it appears he suffered a medical event while shoveling out the vehicle.

A neighbor found the man after his wife became alarmed he had not returned home.

Police said roadways were nearly impassable and a snowmobile with a sled had to be used to help get the male to the ambulance. Emergency medical services transported the man to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, police said.

The chief medical examiner will conduct an autopsy. His name is being withheld pending notification of his family.

An 81-year old woman died after being hit while she was using a snowblower in Prospect, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy. The driver did not stop, he said. 

Police said on Saturday morning that the woman was hit at Straitsville and Salem roads. The Prospect Volunteer Fire Department responded at 9 p.m.

Mayor Mark Boughton said that there is a storm-related fatality in Danbury. A man slipped on his deck and was found this morning, the mayor said.

On Saturday night, Gov. Dannel Malloy confirmed a fifth storm-related death, but did not release the name of the victim or how the person died.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has lifted the travel ban as of 4 p.m. today on all roads, including limited-access highways.

"While we are lifting the ban on travel this afternoon at 4 p.m., I still want to urge residents to stay off the roads if at all possible," said Governor Malloy. "Crews are out clearing roadways as we speak, but the fact is we are going to feel the impact of this storm for some time. The longer we can keep traffic out of town centers and off of our highways, the more effective our recovery effort will be. "

Many drivers were stranded on Friday night and on Saturday morning in whiteout conditions, low visibility and large amounts of snow.

Malloy said it was critical for residents to stay off the roads so plows could clear streets and highways.

"This is a record-setting storm. It's going to take time to dig out of the snow. Stalled or abandoned vehicles will only slow that process," Malloy said earlier.

State police on Saturday morning called conditions "treacherous" and said even troopers have had trouble getting to drivers.

Malloy said state police have responded to more than 1,600 calls, including one fatal crash in Prospect.

Several town officials joined Malloy in telling people to stay off the streets.

Orange issued a warning that several secondary roads are impassable. 

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said the plows had to stop working overnight on Friday and road clearing would resume around 7 a.m.

"The combination of elements made conditions extremely dangerous, if not impossible for traveling," Segarra said.

East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo also asked residents to stay off the roads and he is asking the Connecticut National Guard for help to get the roads opened and cleared.

Some snowmobilers took to the highways overnight and Vance is advising they stay off the roads, but contact emergency personnel to let them use the vehicles for emergency response instead.

Even areas where plows have gotten through are slippery and Bradley Airport completely shut down last night and there is no word on whether it will reopen later today.

When you do start up your car, be sure to clear out the exhaust pipe.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has declared a state of emergency in preparation for the coming blizzard and ordered a travel ban to go into effect at 4 p.m. until further notice.

Malloy said the worst thing that could happen is cars get stuck on highways and it could take hours, if not days, to get them off. He coordinated the ban with Massachusetts and New York.

The travel ban does not apply to emergency response vehicles, including public safety and utility vehicles, including those carrying essential personnel.

“As the weather gets worse over the next few hours, we need to keep the roads clear, so that emergency-related personnel and utility crews can reach those that may need our help,” Malloy said in a statement. “By traveling in these conditions, you are not only putting yourself in danger, but you are potentially risking the lives of first responders, utility workers and other residents. Please be safe.”

Lt. Paul Vance, of Connecticut State Police, said around 3:30 p.m. that troopers have responded to around 100 crashes, none of which are reported as serious.

Malloy said the National Guard is forming teams in strategic locations around the state to assist stranded motorists or in emergency situations.

A declaration of emergency provides the governor with a number of emergency powers, including:

The ability to modify or suspend any state statute, regulation, or requirement (for example: altering work hours, waiving licensing requirements, etc.)

The ability to order civil preparedness forces into action

The ability to designate vehicle and person routes and movements.

Several towns have issued parking bans.

In Hartford, police will begin tagging and towing all vehicles parked on city streets at 11 a.m.

A level 2 parking ban is in effect, which means that no parking is allowed on any city streets.

Free public parking for city residents will be available at every public school and the Morgan Street parking garage.

All community service officers have been ordered into work to assist with notifying residents to get their vehicles off the streets.

Should your vehicle get towed, please call 860-757-4000.
 

A Ledyard couple in their 60s from Ledyard was injured when their car rolled over on Center Groton Road, Route 117, near the Groton Town line just before 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

The driver, David Doucette, 67, was transported to the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital to be treated for injuries and the passenger, Betty Doucette, 63, was taken to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries, according to police.

Police said a Connecticut Light & Power support pole and fire hydrant were damaged.

The Ledyard Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating.

This crash closed Route 117 for approximately one hour.
 

If you plan to travel on Friday, check the transportation company’s schedule because several have changed service plans because of the storm.

Several flights at Bradley Airport are canceled and all commercial activity was canceled as of 1:30 p.m.

CT Transit bus service began shutting down service at 4 p.m. today, and all buses will stop running by 6 p.m. and the shut down will be in effect until further notice, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy's.

CT Transit is operating as usual on Friday morning, but will be running early dismissal services on express routes for people who get out of work early. General Manager of David Lee said the transit company will probably suspend service early tonight. What happens tomorrow has not yet been determined. The best-case scenario is a delay. An alert on the CTTransit Web site says all local bus service will cease around 6 p.m.

Metro-North suspended service on the New Haven, Harlem and Hudson Lines at 10 p.m. Friday and the New Haven line service will be suspended until further notice.

Train combinations and cancellations are possible at any time, but increase in likelihood as the evening progresses to prevent trains from becoming stranded during the storm. For more details, visit the MTA Website.

Due to high winds and heavy snowfall, Amtrak is reducing service between New York and Boston.
 
There will be no Acela Express service between New York and Boston on Saturday, Feb. 9.  Acela Express service between New York and Washington will operate as scheduled.
 
Southbound Northeast Regional service out of Boston South Station will operate a limited schedule starting with the 11:40 a.m. departure of train # 163.
 
Northbound Northeast Regional service out of New York Penn Station will operate a limited schedule starting with the 10 a.m. departure of train # 162.
 
In addition, the following service adjustments have been made for Saturday:

• Most Springfield Shuttle service (New Haven, Conn. - Springfield, Mass.) is canceled
• Vermonter service will not operate between Springfield, Mass. & St. Albans, Vt.
• Lake Shore Limited train # 449 will not operate between Boston & Albany, N.Y.
• Empire Service will operate on a reduced schedule between Albany, N.Y. & New York Penn Station

A determination about service on the Downeaster (Brunswick, Maine - Boston) will be updated later and passengers notified.
 
Amtrak crews continue to monitor the progress of this major winter storm and are working to restore full service as quickly as possible.
 
More information is posted on Amtrak’s Web site.

Peter Pan has canceled service north of New York City on Friday, including all Foxwoods casino service, until further notice.  The list of what routes that affects is posted on the Peter Pan Web site.

Greyhound service has also been affected. The schedule is posted on their Web site.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles' offices statewide will be closed on Friday and Saturday. and AAA offices statewide are closing at noon today for DMV transactions and also will be closed Saturday, although the company will be taking calls for roadside assistance.

Customers seeking an emissions test should check today and tomorrow on which test stations are open and continuing testing. A list of test stations can be found at ctemissions.com,

Customers with cancelled road test appointments or Cheshire office learner's permit tests can reschedule by calling the DMV Phone Center when offices reopen. DMV will provide further information as conditions arise regarding additional customer service issues.

Passenger car drivers need to remember to scrape off the heavy amounts of snow and ice before traveling or face a possible $75 fine for having a car on the road loaded down with these icy elements.

For information regarding DMV operations, visit ct.gov/dmv. The DMV Phone Center can be reached at 860-263-5700 (within Hartford area or outside of Connecticut) and 800-842-8222 (elsewhere in Connecticut).
 

State Police are recommending that all motorists stay off the roads and highways during the storm to prevent major traffic issues.

Wreckers will be utilized to respond as necessary to clear any road blockages, according to state police.

Gov. Dannel Malloy tweeted on Friday morning that more than 800 plows, both state and contractor, are ready to be deployed through the storm.

Salt mixtures are stockpiled geographically around the state and the state Department of Transportation has been pretreating highways, bridges and other problematic sections of road, according to Malloy.

State Police troopers with emergency equipment and all four-wheel drive vehicles will be deployed to strategic locations across the state to respond to emergencies.

Additional patrols will assist normal patrols and all off-duty troopers have been placed on stand-by and ordered to be prepared to be called for immediate duty if necessary.

As the storm is expected to intensify, Troopers recommend that all motorists stay off the roads and

If travel is necessary during the storm, State Police recommend that you ensure that your vehicle is has proper tires, adequate gas and proper wipers.

If you must travel during the storm, provide your route of travel details to a family member or friend.
Check our forecast prior to traveling to gather the latest updates on road conditions and possible closures.

Make sure you cell phone battery is fully-charged and you have a cell phone, bottles of water, nourishment bars or other non-perishable food, extra clothes, a shovel, flares and blankets in case of emergency. 

During any snow storm, reduce speed and expand distances between cars. 

If you become involved in a crash on the highway, move your vehicle to a safe location and call police.  

If your vehicle becomes stranded or stuck, stay in your vehicle and do not try to walk to safety. 

Call 911 for help from your cell phone. Run the engine for about 10 minutes each hour for heat.
Open a window slightly for fresh air and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.  

During or after snowstorms, the state Department of Motor Vehicles urges drivers to scrape off heavy amounts of snow and ice before traveling or you could be fined $75 fine.

This state law pertains to passenger cars and other non-commercial vehicles. Fines can increase up to $1,000 for drivers who operate these vehicles when flying snow or ice off them causes personal injury or property damage.

“All drivers should take an extra few minutes to remove most of the snow and ice so it does not endanger themselves or others,” DMV Commissioner Melody Currey said in a statement. “That will be time well spent to avoid needless hazards on the roadways.”

A similar law pertaining to commercial vehicles is scheduled to go into effect later this year.

If you plan to travel by rail, Metro-North has posted a guide to winter weather travel on its Web site.

 

A live look at New London as the Blizzard of 2013 moves through Connecticut.

Strong winds associated with a major winter storm began gusting in Connecticut Friday night, including a wind gust that reached 60 miles per hour in Groton.

More than 17,000 Connecticut Light & Power customers were without power as of 8 p.m.  Almost all of the outages were in Southeastern Connecticut. As of Saturday afternoon, that number was up to more than 37,000.

Gov. Dannel Malloy said on Friday that utility companies  projected 30 percent of customers might lose power during this storm. CL&P is reporting that about 2 percent of customers are affected by the outage.

In advance of the blizzard, CL&P, the state’s largest power company, said it is prepared to respond to the blizzard.

The company activated its emergency response plan in advance of the storm, according to a statement from CL&P “and is prepared for any possible power outages as the predicted heavy, wet snow and high winds have the potential to bring trees down onto power lines.” 

CL&P said that around 400 line workers and hundreds of outside line workers are arriving and more are expected tomorrow.

A spokesperson from CL&P said the company was pre-staging employees across the state so they will be where they are needed to respond.

United Illuminating Company also said it developed plans ahead of the storm for how it would respond if power outages occur. 

A statement from the company said officials began watching the weather patterns as early as Wednesday. They have held internal meetings to begin preparations, secured several contractor crews and notified employees to be on alert in case they are needed for restoration efforts.

“It was just 7 days ago that we were discussing a wind storm and very quickly we’re watching out for a possible Nor’easter,” James P. Torgerson, UI’s president and chief executive officer said in a statement. “Our team knows what is needed and we are taking all necessary precautions to be prepared for any effects on our distribution system.”

Michael Tetreau, first selectman of Fairfield, issued a code red for town and said UI is projecting power losses of 10 percent to 50 percent and power restoration could take two to three days. However, no power outages are reported in Fairfield.