UPDATE: Tuesday, February 2 will be a Fully Remote day for Greenwich Schools students. Families and staff are being asked to check in the morning should the overnight circumstances cause power and internet disruptions, which could cause a change to the plan. All buildings are closed.
Original Story:
With the severe winter weather conditions forecasted to continue through Tuesday afternoon, Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo has declared a state of emergency for the Town.
This declaration enables Town departments to continue their operations as they work to minimize the impact of the storm. This is in addition to the snow emergency the Board of Selectmen imposed Sunday, January 31, which restricts on-street parking on designated snow emergency routes throughout Town. (The complete list of streets can be found below.)
After consultation with the Emergency Closing Group, Mr. Camillo also announced that Town Hall offices will be closed Tuesday, Feb. 2.
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 Tuesday.
A decision on Town Hall operations for Wednesday, Feb. 3, will be made at 3:00pm on Tuesday.
Operational updates will be posted on the Town website.
Since the storm began Sunday, 12 to 18 inches of snow have fallen which is now drifting because of wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. The snow is expected to continue into Tuesday afternoon.
Moderate coastal flooding with tides 2 to 3 feet above normal also is expected for the overnight high tide cycle tonight.
The snow emergency and parking ban will enable Department of Public Works crews and its contractors to 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.
Holly Hill will be closed on Tuesday, February 2. If we are able to reopen safely during the day, that information will be posted to the Town’s website. Thank you for your patience – and we recommend being safe and waiting until Wednesday.
COVID Vaccine Clinic/Testing update
Family Centers Health Care drive-thru testing at Palmers Hill will reopen at noon Tuesday, Feb 2 and will operate until 3 p.m. Regular hours are to resume on Wednesday.
Family Centers Health Care COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center will reopen at noon Tuesday, Feb. 2 for scheduled appointments. All other appointments made before that time will be called to reschedule either in the afternoon or later this week.
All Greenwich Hospital vaccination clinics and COVID-19 testing sites will re-open Wednesday, Feb. 3.
The Town Hall clinic scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2 is cancelled. There are openings available – via the VAMS website – for the clinics scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 3 and Thursday, Feb. 4.
Snow cleanup regulations
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.