Camillo Urges Caution As Cold Weather Impacts Region

GREENWICH, CT — The State of Connecticut has activated its severe cold weather protocol effective Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. and it will remain in effect until Tuesday, Dec. 9, at noon.

During this time, First Selectman Fred Camillo is urging residents to be careful with their well-being, avoid prolonged exposure to the cold and take advantage of the town’s warming centers if needed.

The Greenwich Police Department lobby will be open to members of the public 24 hours for residents looking to warm up and charge personal electronic devices.

Greenwich Library and its branches in Cos Cob and Byram will also be open during their regular business hours for use as warming centers.

On Friday, Monday and Tuesday, the main branch of Greenwich Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturday, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Hours for the Byram Shubert Library, Cos Cob Library and the independent Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich can be found here..

The Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center and Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Centers can also be used as warming centers during their normal hours of operation.

Those in need of emergency shelter should call 211 under the state’s protocol.

Residents looking for more information locally can find it by going to the town’s Emergency Management web page.

In the case of a police, fire or EMS emergency, people should dial 911 for immediate assistance

For other issues that could arise due to the cold, there are emergency helplines people can call:

• Aquarion Water Company: 1-800-732-9678
• Eversource: 1-800-286-2000
• CT Natural Gas Company: 1-203-869-6900
• Optimum/Altice: 1-866-950-3278
• Frontier Communications: 1-800-239-4430

The Greenwich Department of Health is warning residents to take caution during the frigid temperatures and protect themselves against the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

When outdoors, people should wear loose layers of clothing along with a hat, gloves, scarf and insulated shoes. People should limit their time outdoors and avoid the use of alcohol.

People are also being urged to be careful when using alternative heating sources in their home such as space heaters and fireplaces. The use of such sources can increase the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the health department.

Additionally, if they need to be used, portable generators or gasoline-powered equipment should be kept outside.

Residents should also have a carbon monoxide detector for their home.