Blizzard Blog: Heavy Snow, Power Outages

Friday, Feb. 8

9 p.m 

• Power has been going off, then on again (miracle!) since about 6 p.m. There are outages throughout the state. If you've lost power, let us know in the comments section. A large section of Cowesett into East Greenwich is out, according to the National Grid Power Outage Map – 2,658 customers are affected (most in Warwick). There are also several smaller outages in the area between Division Street and Middle Road east of South County Trail (Route 2). The area west of South County Trail looks good at this point. There are also some smaller outages in the Quidnesset area of North Kingstown. These outages most likely will not be restored until after the storm is over and roads are cleared.
• A DPW plow driver (forgot to ask your name!), a large tree fell on Hamilton Drive around 7 p.m., hitting a power line and causing a fire. Fire and ice! 
• If you have photos, we want to see them. I'm trapped downtown, so if you're farther out, I really need your help! Post them here. Also, I'm looking for estimates of the number of inches of snow we'll get. Winners (there can be more than one) will get Patch swag! Post your guesses here or on any of the the blizzard stories.

4:45 p.m.

• Gov. Chafee has closed Rts. 95 and 195 to all but essential vehicles. The same has been done in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
• Chafee has also declared a State of Emergency. A State of Emergency declaration may make RI eligible for federal funds related to the winter storm response.

4 p.m.

• You can buy clams in any weather, it turns out! My stroll along Water Street took me past R.I. Clam and when I saw one of the guys out there shoveling, I realized they were still open! Got me a bag of littlenecks ... then just had to bum a can of tomatoes off my kind neighbors and now we're set!
• The wind is picking up. By the water, snow was falling sideways. In the downtown area, anyway, there are lots of plows out. What about in other parts of town?
• Sledders are already taking to the hill at Academy Field and some wise shovelers making a little headway. As one man said, with this heavy snow, it's best to shovel "a little a time."

2:15 p.m. 

• Tomorrow night's Greg Abate–Phil Woods show at the Greenwich Odeum has been postponed to Saturday, Feb. 23. 
• A tip from AT&T: Text messages are the best way to communicate in a storm – they use less power and get through faster than calling.
• A tip from National Grid: If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. 

12:25 p.m. 

• If you lose power, call National Grid at 800-465-1212. To follow power outages online, click here for NG's power outage map.
• The snow is definitely picking up. The first plow of the day just passed my house on Somerset Street. 
• Dave's Market is closing as of 1 p.m. As of now, CVS (three locations in EG) and Walgreens (at 1000 Division) have no plans to close early, but be sure to call ahead before venturing out. Benny's is open "at least until 5" according to one employee. Wild Harvest, in the same plaza as Benny's, is open "at least until 3 p.m. Salk's Hardware and Marine is open until 4 p.m.

10:05 a.m.

• During an EG department heads meeting at DPW, there was another reminder of the parking ban that will go into effect at noon today. "If your car is on the road after noon, it will be towed," said Highway Dept. head Jim Fogel.
• Also at the meeting, Town Manager Bill Sequino – dressed in his Gov. Garrahy special plaid shirt – said he expects some mailboxes will come down during the storm as plows attempt to clear roads. If your mailbox is hit by a plow during the storm or your lawn is torn up, contact the Department of Public Works. Mailboxes will be restored as quickly as possible. Lawn repair will take place in the spring.
• Jim Fogel of the Highway Dept. said snow is beginning to accumulate west of Route 2. 
• From RIEMA: "You want to be where you are going by this evening" – visibility will be near zero tonight.

9:25 a.m. 

• Steve at Mainstreet Coffee says he'll be open throughout the storm – as long as the electricity stays on – the bar too. Norman's will also be open, so you can get your hot weiners! Jiggers, doing a brisk business at 9 a.m., will close at noon and will NOT be open on Saturday. 
• The EG Free Library is closed Friday and Saturday.

8:20 a.m. 

• Snow has started! 
• Conditions will go downhill through the day with accumulations likely beginning by early afternoon. The height of the storm will be from 7pm this evening through 7am on Saturday. 

7:53 a.m.

• Parking ban in East Greenwich (and it looks like all around R.I.) begins at noon today through 6 p.m. Saturday.
• Gov. Lincoln Chafee has put the state's Adverse Weather Policy into effect — time missed from work during the storm has to be recorded as time off without pay, annual leave, or personal leave.
• All RIPTA service, including non-medical RIde trips, will suspend at noon.