Community Corner

All Roads Accessible to Emergency Vehicles [UPDATED]

Everything you need to know, from the latest local weather forecast and safety tips to possible road closures, all in one place.

Add your snow pics to our neighborhood gallery! We started it with a few from around town.

Update, 7 p.m. Feb. 10:

The Orange Police Department issued the following statement:

Find out what's happening in Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Orange Elementary Schools and Amity Regional schools are closed for Monday [see story here].

All streets have been made passable for emergency vehicles. The Highway Department will continue to work to widen roads and remove snow. Please use caution at intersections as high snow piles cause blind spots. Use caution when clearing driveways near the road as oncoming vehicles may not see you. 

Find out what's happening in Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Attempt to clear storm drains near your home if possible.

Please ensure that furnace vents and dryer vents are clear. Residents should clear a second means of egress from their homes.

When warming vehicles make sure the exhaust is clear of snow. Clear vehicles of all snow before driving.

Please clear fire hydrants in your neighborhood, if possible.

Call 911 for emergencies only.

Update, 11 a.m. Feb. 10:

Fred Palmer, Emergency Management Director for the Town of Orange, issued the following message this morning:

There are still Town Roads which have not been plowed. Please stay off the roads as much as possible. Many roads are one lane and difficult for vehicles to pass in opposite directions. Please be patient as the amount of snow is very difficult to move.

We are fortunate that Orange has no electic power outages at this time and only a couple over the past two days.

When clearing driveways, DO NOT leave snow piles in the roadway, this can limit access for emergency vehicles.

Please clear hydrants in your neighborhood, if possible.

Check on your elderly neighbors.

The shelter remains closed at this time.

To report power outages, call UI at 800-722-5584

Call 911 for emergencies only.

 

Tune to local news outlets for weather updates, we will send further notifications as conditions improve.

Update, 1:28 a.m. Feb. 10:

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has submitted a request to the White House asking for a presidential declaration of emergency for Connecticut.

Update, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9:

Orange Police say the town's Highway Department has no estimate when all roads will be cleared. Many roads are still impassable. [Click here for the complete message from police.]

Update, 3:45 p.m. Feb. 9:

The travel ban in Connecticut will be lifted at 4 p.m. This will apply to all roads, including limited access highways, according to an announcement from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

"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," Malloy said. "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."

Update, 12 p.m. Feb. 9:

Governor Malloy says cleanup from the historic blizzard could take "a number of days." [Full story here.]

The storm has been blamed on at least two deaths, one in Prospect in which an elderly woman was reportedly hit by a car while snow blowing her driveway, and a 49-year-old Shelton man died while shoveling his driveway.

A death in Danbury [noted in the updatebelow] may also be connected to the storm.

Update, 10:50 a.m. Feb. 9:

Danbury detectives are on their way to a Forest Avenue home where a man is believed to have died after falling off his porch sometime Friday night or Saturday morning, said Shift Commander Michael Sturdevant. The death has not been deemed suspicious, just untimely, police said.

Update, 9:30 a.m. Feb. 9:

Orange Police are asking all residents to stay home as crews work to clear roads. The department also offered some safety tips and other advice [read the full report by clicking here].

Update, 5:55 a.m. Feb. 9:

Gov. Malloy has ordered all roads in Connecticut closed until further notice. This traffic ban extends to all vehicles except for those emergency response and recovery vehicles with the capacity to maneuver in heavy snow.

"It's critical right now that residents stay off the roads, so that our plows can continue their efforts to clear our streets and highways," said Governor Malloy. "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. Unless you face an emergency, please stay put."

Update, 5:15 a.m. Feb. 9:

Fred Palmer, Emergency Management Director for the Town of Orange, is asking residents to do a neighbor check.

"Please check with your relatives, friends and whole neighborhood to make sure everyone can get out of their house," he said. "The snow is above the storm doors and it is difficult and sometimes impossible to open the door. Especially the elderly. If your house is accessible to the garage this is a good way to get outside. Please clear fire hydrants nearby."

Update, 12:50 a.m. Feb. 9:

During the overnight hours of Friday into Saturday, the National Weather Service reports that snowfall rates of two to four inches per hour are expected. Low visibility and gusty winds make for unsafe travel conditions.

Saturday's Daytime Forecast: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 25. Blustery, with a northwest wind 21 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Update, 5 p.m. Feb 8:

Orange Emergency Management just released a message to the community. Read it in its entirety here.

Update, 4:20 p.m. Feb. 8:

First Selectman Jim Zeoli says there are no plans to open a shelter at the moment. If trees start coming down and power outages occur, that would likely lead to the activation of a shelter, he said.

Zeoli praised the town's police, fire and public works departments for their professionalism, local knowledge and skill during events like this snow storm. [Read more about what the first selectman said here.]

Update, 4 p.m. Feb. 8:

Forget the shovel, one resient is breaking out a snow blower. We caught him on video.

Update, 3:40 p.m. Feb. 8:

A ban on motor vehicle travel on limited access highways in the State of Connecticut will take effect beginning at 4 p.m., Gov. Dannel P. Malloy just announced. 

These prohibitions do not extend to emergency response and recovery vehicles, including public safety vehicles, utility vehicles, and vehicles carrying essential personnel or supplies.

“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. “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.”

The travel ban, coordinated with Massachusetts and New York, will remain in effect until further notice.

Update, 11:14 a.m. Feb. 8:

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will declare a state of emergency in preparation for the coming blizzard which is anticipated to heavily impact the state Friday and Saturday.

Lmited access highways may be subject to closure as early as noon. Malloy is asking all residents to limit nonessential travel.

"People need to take this storm seriously," he said in a press release. "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."

Update, 10:55 a.m. Feb. 8

The CT DMV and AAA offices are closed Saturday, Feb. 9, according to the DMV website. AAA offices statewide are closing at noon Friday for DMV transactions. The company will be taking calls for roadside assistance. 

Update, 9:58 a.m. Feb. 8:

No decision has been made yet on closing Town Hall. The secretary says it's best to call ahead to make sure they are open. The phone number is 203-891-4700.

Update, 9:15 a.m. Feb. 8:

Bradley International Airport has cancelled all flights after 1:30 p.m. today pending further notice.

Update, 2:27 a.m. Feb. 8

A coastal flood advisory was issued by the National Weather Service. The NWS cautions residents of the possibility of flooded basements and road closures due to flooding.

Update, 9 p.m. on Feb. 7:

There will be no school in Orange or for the Amity school district tomorrow, Feb. 8.

Update, 11:20 a.m. on Feb. 7:

The Town of Orange Emergency Management Team is encouraging residents to take steps to be prepared.

The original report follows:

Orange will likely get hit with a major snowstorm Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

We'll be posting everything you need to know — from the latest local weather forecast to safety tips, and possible school and road closures — in this article so you have it all in one place.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Friday night, forecasting "significant snowfall and strong winds with near blizzard conditions likely."

Here's the NWS forecast for Friday:

  • Snow before 3 p.m., then rain, snow, and sleet. The rain and snow could be heavy at times. High near 35. East wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
  • Friday Night Snow with areas of blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 20. Blustery, with a north wind 17 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.

Stay with Patch for weather updates, road conditions and closings and cancellations.


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