Simsbury Extends Cold Snap Protocols: UPDATE

Town of Simsbury

SIMSBURY, CT — It's January. It's New England and, as expected, it is cold.

Still, it doesn't mean that folks couldn't benefit from a reminder regarding staying safe when Jack Frost is devouring your head instead of nipping at your nose.

The state Monday has activated its severe cold weather protocol through noon on Thursday, Jan. 9, in anticipation of high winds and frigid temperatures during this time frame.

But with the forecast calling for dangerous cold and winds through Friday, Jan. 10, those protocols have now been extended.

As a result, the Town of Simsbury and the Simsbury Department of Community and Social Services would like to remind residents of the best practices to stay warm.

"It is essential to stay warm and dry, and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure," wrote town officials on Monday.

"If you have ceiling fans run them in the clockwise direction to push warm air back down to the floor; block drafts with pool noodles, towels, or blankets; and keep your thermostat set at a steady temperature.

If outside, people must dress warmly, and cover their heads and hands.

Ultimately, people, town officials said, should try to stay inside where it is warm and check on elderly family members and neighbors.

People should never leave children or pets in an unattended vehicle.

The home

There are also precautions homeowners can take when the mercury plummets.

"It is recommended that you keep your home heated at no lower than 55 degrees, leave cold water dripping from your faucets, and open cupboards to allow heat to circulate around the pipes," wrote the town.

Homeowners are also recommended to locate their shut-off valves in case of emergency.

Heating a home also requires some care and caution during cold snaps.

"If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater, be extremely careful," wrote the town.

" Turning on the stove for heat is not safe. Never use generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows."

The fumes associated with these devices can be deadly.

"Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak gas from the flue or exhaust into the indoor air space," wrote town officials.

Visit the following link for additional details on preparedness: https://www.ready.gov/.

Warming centers

If people have no other options to stay safely warm, the town has opened warming centers to provide a reprieve from the cold.

The Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., is open during normal business hours should people need a warming center during this time.

Library hours are Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information, or if you or someone you know is at risk due to the cold, call Simsbury Community and Social Services at 860-658-3283 between the hours of Monday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday 8:30-4:30 p.m.; and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. If anyone needs shelter, they can also call call 211 at any time. For emergencies call 911.