Lamont: Sunday’s Storm “the Real McCoy”

Olha Rohulya/Adobe Stock

Weston, Westport, Wilton and other nearby towns could see as much as 19 inches of snow on Sunday through early Monday morning, according to forecasts at press time. State and local officials urge preparation.

“In the old days, we would have said this is just the normal nor’easter that we expect in New England,” said Brenda Bergeron, the State’s deputy commissioner of emergency management, at a press conference this morning. “But this is the first time we’ve had a storm of this size in probably a decade. So there are many people out there who have not dealt with driving in snow.”

DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said travel conditions “are going to be treacherous and incredibly difficult on Sunday.” He urged travelers to stay home that day and to give crews a chance to clear the roads on Monday.

“The Weather Channel often hypes up these storms,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “But this is the real McCoy.”

“Everybody’s talking about Greenland,” said the governor. “Within about 48 hours, Connecticut’s going to look like Greenland: bitter cold and 12, 18 inches of snow. But we know what we’re doing. We’ve been through this before.”

The good news, according to Ms. Bergeron, is that the storm is not likely to be “a large power outage event.” Nevertheless, said the governor, 250 utility crews are on standby.

Commissioner Eucalitto said the transportation department has over 650 pieces of equipment on hand, along with more than 900 drivers, plenty of salt, and over 200 contractors on standby to help clear roadways.

Mr. Eucalitto said no decisions have yet been made on travel restrictions, but discussions with neighboring states are underway. “We want to make sure that all potential travel restrictions are coordinated across state boundaries,” he said.

Precautions

With seriously cold conditions expected through Wednesday and the prospect of being housebound for a day or more, State and local officials recommend several immediate precautions, including:

• Check carbon monoxide detectors on home heating systems.
• Check motor vehicle tires, prone to losing pressure in cold weather.
• Make sure you have fuel, food, water, and medications on hand, including for pets.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Check in on vulnerable neighbors.

Commissioner Ronnell Higgins of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services echoed calls to stay off the roads on Sunday but added that, if you must drive, be sure to keep headlights on, stay off your phone, and give snowplows plenty of clearance.

Mr. Eucalitto added that a storm of this magnitude is not like a two to three-inch snowfall. He said plows can’t keep up with snow coming down at two inches per hour, and that people often overestimate the capability of their vehicles.

“The fewer vehicles out on the roads on Sunday will make all of our jobs safer and let us do our job more effectively,” he said.