All Bethel Roads and Streets Are Clear, First Selectman Says [UPDATED]

Add your snow pictures to our Pics & Clips gallery!

Update, 6:15 p.m., Feb. 9

From Bethel schools' website:

"Tomorrow, Monday, February 11, 2013, the Bethel Public Schools will be on a 2-hour delay schedule.  If conditions worsen due to freezing rain, please check our website, TV, radio for updates."

Update, 8:45 p.m., Feb. 9

Gov. Dannel Malloy has submitted a request to the White House asking for a presidential declaration of emergency for Connecticut.

"As we continue with the recovery from this historic winter storm, I am asking the federal government to provide us assistance with this process," Malloy said. "If granted, this declaration would provide much needed help to our state."

Many counties in Connecticut may have received record or near-record snowfall, according to a release from the state. A request to the federal government for aid allows for an addition in commodities like snow removal equipment and generators.

Update, 5:45 p.m., Feb. 9

An annuncement from First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker:

• Bethel highway department finished snow removal operations at noon today.  All Bethel roads and streets are clear, but drifting snow will continue to cause slippery conditions.  Please drive with care.
• The governor's statewide travel ban has been lifted as of 4:00pm today.

Update, 3:15 p.m., Feb. 9

Gov. Dannel Malloy will lift Connecticut's travel ban at 4 p.m. for all roads in the state, including limited access highways.

Are your roads still blocked off? Send us a snapshot in our Pics & Clips gallery.

Update, 12:25 p.m., Feb. 9:

The storm has been blamed for at least two deaths, one in Prospect in which an elderly woman was reportedly hit by a car while snow blowing her driveway, and a 49-year-old Shelton man who died while shoveling his driveway.

A death in Danbury may also be connected to the storm.

11 a.m. Feb. 9

Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker provided the following update after a conference call with Governor Dannel P. Malloy's office. Here are the highlights:

• The Bethel highway department expects to have all town roads cleared by early afternoon, The statewide travel ban remains in effect until further notice.

• Highest snowfall total in Fairfield County was a record 30". Unofficial Bethel totals are between 18" to 20" but could be higher when accounting for snowdrifts.

• Rain is expected on Monday. Thick snow on roof tops will trap water and become heavy. The high winds overnight may have kept roof top snow accumulation to a minimum, but please be aware and clear if necessary.

• Please be aware of snowdrifts that may have formed along sides of your home that could block intake vents that feed your heating system. Blocked vents can starve your furnace and cause a buildup of carbon monoxide inside your home.

10:36 a.m. Feb. 9

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has ordered all roads in Connecticut closed until further notice. This traffic ban extends to all vehicles except for those emergency response and recovery vehicles with the capacity to maneuver in heavy snow.

"It's critical right now that residents stay off the roads, so that our plows can continue their efforts to clear our streets and highways," said Governor Malloy. "This is a record setting storm. It's going to take time to dig out of the snow. Stalled or abandoned vehicles will only slow that process. Unless you face an emergency, please stay put."

6:30 p.m. Feb. 8

Gov. Dannel Malloy will hold a media briefing on the snowstorm tomorrow, Saturday, February 9, at 12:02 p.m.

The state's emergency management service reports for this evening and overnight: "Blizzard conditions with snowfall rates up to 5” per hour and zero visibilities at times in blowing and drifting snow.  Lows dropping into the low 20s statewide with Northeast Winds gusting to 50 MPH inland."

4:10 p.m. Feb. 8

Big Y will close at 5 p.m. today, according to a tweet. They will reopen Saturday at 11 a.m.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has issued a travel ban on limited access highways for the state of Connecticut, effective as of 4 p.m.

“As the weather gets worse over the next few hours, we need to keep the roads clear, so that emergency-related personnel and utility crews can reach those that may need our help,” Malloy said. “By traveling in these conditions, you are not only putting yourself in danger, but you are potentially risking the lives of first responders, utility workers and other residents. Please be safe.”

3:00 p.m. Feb. 8

Coffee shop Molten Java will be closing early today, according to their Facebook page.

From Facebook:

"Hi again Molten maniacs, we'll be closed at 3 pm and will post an update for opening tomorrow! Have fun and be safe please :D"

2:45 p.m. Feb. 8

While the first outages stemming from the blizzard have been reported in other towns in Fairfield County -- most notably, New Canaan, with 279 outages -- no outages have yet been reported for Bethel.

To report an outage to CL&P, use their web-based outage report form or call 800-286-2000.

12:00 p.m. Feb. 8

The Bethel Municipal Center closed today at noon in response to the blizzard, as the Governor is asking residents to stay off the roads.

11:07 a.m. Feb. 8

Governor Dannel P. Malloy will declare a state of emergency in preparation for the coming blizzard which is anticipated to heavily impact the state Friday and Saturday.

Lmited access highways may be subject to closure as early as noon. Malloy is asking all residents to limit nonessential travel.

"People need to take this storm seriously," he said in a press release. "If current predictions are accurate, we will need people to stay off the roads so that emergency personnel and utility crews can get to the places they need to get to, and to make sure that our plows can keep critical roadways clear. Please stay home once the weather gets bad except in the case of real emergency."

10:55 a.m. Feb. 8

The CT DMV and AAA offices are closed Saturday, Feb. 9, according to the DMV website. AAA offices statewide are closing at noon Friday for DMV transactions. The company will be taking calls for roadside assistance.
 

10 a.m. Feb. 8

Peachwave of Bethel is closed today, according to its Facebook page. If you're a local business that is closing early or is already closed, feel free to post in the comments section and let readers know.

9:45 a.m. Feb. 8

From Bethel's emergency web site:

"Blizzard warning in effect. Town officials monitoring conditions. Advising residents to stay home today and tonight. AVOID travel. Have supplies such as food, water, flashlights, battery powered radio. Check on neighbors, shovel snow safely. Parking Ban in effect per Town Ordinance. If there are any MAJOR issues the Town will utilize our phone system to notify residents."

10:45 p.m. Feb. 7

No state of emergency has as of now been declared for Bethel. Any emergency information will be sent out via CodeRed and will be available on the town of Bethel's web site. Additionally, the Facebook page for the Bethel Office of Emergency Management is being actively updated, as of Thursday evening.

Patch will provide updates in this space if and when emergency information is released.

As of late Thursday, the National Weather Service has upgraded Nemo to a blizzard. A Blizzard Warning is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Saturday. Snow is expected to continue up to Saturday at noon, coming to an end sometime in the afternoon.

The weekend forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service:

• Friday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 33. East wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
• Friday Night: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 20. Blustery, with a northeast wind around 23 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.
• Saturday: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 25. Blustery, with a north wind 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
• Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 5. Northwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

4:45 p.m.

Bethel School Superintendent Kevin Smith has tweeted out the latest info: Bethel public schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, February 8. The same information and all updates are available on Bethel schools' web site.

12:00 p.m.

A powerful winter storm is expected to hit Bethel and the rest of Western Connecticut with force Friday morning, creating "near-blizzard conditions" from Friday into Saturday, after a mixture of rain and snow late Thursday night.

Gov. Dannel Malloy will host a briefing this evening at 6:02 p.m. on the storm. Patch will bring you updates afterwards, including updates on possible school closures for Friday.