Blizzard Warning: Warwick, Area Expects 15-23 Inches

‘Please get prepared for the storm, keeping in mind that many of us may be without power. My wife is actually doing laundry right now in case we’re without power for an extended period,’ Picozzi wrote on his Facebook page.

McKee, Picozzi and the rest of the state’s municipal leaders are scheduled for a meeting with the RI Emergency Management Agency at 12:45 p.m.

 

RIDOT Road Clearing McKee announced that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has about 500 state and vendor plows and 60,000 tons of salt available. Roads have been thoroughly pretreated. He announce additional state-wide preparations:

Emergency Shelters All emergency pop-up sites for individuals seeking refuge from the storm will be activated. The following emergency pop-up sites operated by the R.I. Council of Churches will be open on Feb. 22, Feb. 23, and Feb. 24 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. To access a site listed below, individuals should first go to Matthewson Street Church.

• Matthewson Street Church – 134 Matthewson St., Providence
• Community Church of Providence – 372 Wayland Ave., Providence
• Open Table of Christ – 1520 Broad St., Providence

A fourth emergency pop-up site, operated by the Town of West Warwick, will be open on February 22 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. To access this site, individuals can go directly to the address below.

• West Warwick Civic Center – 100 Factory St., West Warwick

These emergency pop-up sites are opening in addition to seasonal emergency shelters, overnight warming centers, daytime resource and warming centers, and year-round shelters, all available to help Rhode Islanders remain safe and warm during the storm. For a full list of resources and locations, visit https://housing.ri.gov/resources/individuals-experiencing-homelessness.

RIEMA Monitoring Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency is monitoring storm activities throughout the weekend and will remain in close communication with local emergency management departments to ensure communities have the necessary support in place. Find a list of local warming centers here.

Power Outage Response Preparing With high winds expected to cause power outages, Rhode Island Energy has brought in additional crews to support power restoration. At this time, they have 200 line crews with 80 forestry crews ready to respond. They will continue to monitor conditions and evaluate these resources.

The Office of Energy Resources is in close contact with Rhode Island Energy, Clear River Electric & Water District, Block Island Utility District, and the state’s delivered fuel terminals to monitor the storm’s impact on power and fuel supplies across the state.

RI Troopers Mobilizing Rhode Island State Police has called in extra troopers who will be monitoring the highways and assisting motorists.

Additional Blizzard Safety Tips & Advice

HEALTH & SAFETY  ADVICE: The Rhode Island Department of Health recommends the following safety tips:

• Check in with older family, friends, and neighbors. Older adults are more at risk for negative health impacts from significant weather events.
• Limit time outdoors during extreme cold. If you have to be outside, dress in layers and do not drink a lot of alcohol or caffeine. (Alcohol and caffeine cause your body to lose heat faster.)
• Shovel safely. Do not overexert yourself while shoveling snow. If you have a history of heart trouble, talk to your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to shovel snow. Drink plenty of water, dress warmly, and warm up the muscles in your arms and legs before you start shoveling. Don’t pick up too much snow at once. Instead of throwing the snow, try to push it in the direction you want. This helps protect your back.
• Listen to your body—if you feel tired or feel tightness in your chest, stop shoveling.
• Prevent slips and falls. De-ice the sidewalk, driveway, and any well-traveled areas outside your home.

Snow clearing reminders

All that snow has to go somewhere, and it shouldn’t stay on your sidewalks or pile up around hydrants:

• Sidewalk ordinance City law Sec. 70-102, Removal of Snow Required states, “The owner, owner-designated occupant or any person having the care of any building or lot of land bordering on any street shall cause the snow to be removed from the sidewalk.”“Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $100 for the first offense and second offense.”
• Hydrant reminder While sidewalks are covered by city ordinance, local fire departments regularly ask the public’s help in keeping fire hydrants clear of ice and snow.

Warwick Post Blizzard Info, Tips

 

Emergency Alerts:

RIBA – Make sure you’re signed up for text alerts from the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association. You’ll get emergency notifications (including school closings and delays) direct to your phone or email.

TF Green Airport –  Click here to follow arrivals and departures at Green.

Emergency Calls:

• In an emergency, dial 911
• Police Department: 401-468-4200
• Fire Department: (401) 468-4000
• Highway Dept./Snow removal – 401-738-2000 ext. 6518
• Do NOT call 911 to report a power outage.  Call 855-743-1101 (available 24/7), text OUTAGE to 743674 (RIEMSG), or report the outage online.To check the status of outages in your area, visit  RI Energy Outage Central for Rhode Island.

Listen to NOAA radio: Check the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio frequency here.

Safety Tips:

• If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public.
• Natural gas customers should closely inspect areas around and over gas meters, service hook-ups and vents for debris that could damage equipment or prevent CO from properly venting.
• If  you suspect a natural gas leak:
  • Get Out – All occupants should leave the house immediately. Do not use the telephone or light switches for any reason.
  • Call Us – After leaving the house and reaching a safe environment, call the National Grid 24-hour gas emergency numbers at 1-800-640-1595
  • Stay Out – Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe.

Red Cross Extreme Cold Tips

The Red Cross has posted a number of personal and homeowner tips for dealing with extreme cold weather:

Avoid unnecessary exposure to the cold. Be aware of both the temperature and the wind chill when planning outdoor activities. When you prepare to go outside in severe cold weather, please remember the following:

• Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Dressing in layers helps you retain heat. You can remove layers as needed if you become too warm.
• Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
• Wear water proof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.