Mayor Finch Declares Snow Emergency for 5 p.m.;
No Parking on Snow Emergency Streets;
Alternate Side of the Street Parking in Force on All Other Roadways
(BRIDGEPORT, CT February 8, 2013) – As winter storm Nemo descends on Connecticut, Mayor Bill Finch and City officials are urging residents to stay off of the roads and stay indoors until the storm is over on Saturday.
“If you have not yet made plans to get to your home, now is the time to do so,” said Mayor Finch during this morning’s press briefing. “Please stay off the roads. If you are parked on a snow emergency street, please remove your car now. We have ample free parking available.” (See link to available school and open lots.)
Below are further updates from the City of Bridgeport:
• Mayor Bill Finch has declared a snow emergency in the City beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, February 8.
• The Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated as of Friday at 12 p.m. If you have snow-related concerns, please call (203) 576-1311.
• City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace and the Margaret E. Morton Government Center closed Friday at 12 noon for all non-essential employees and the public.
• Greater Bridgeport Transit bus service in the Bridgeport region will be suspended at 3:50 p.m. Friday (the last bus run from the station will be at 3:50 p.m.) and will not resume until at least 12 noon Saturday. Check back with GBT regularly, www.gogbt.com.
• Crews will be paying special attention to the areas around St. Vincent’s Hospital and Bridgeport Hospital, working hard to keep the roads clear for emergencies and emergency personnel.
• All Bridgeport parks are closed.
• The City’s Transfer Station on Asylum Street will be closed on Saturday, Feb. 9.
• The Bridgeport Police Department’s Gun Buyback event scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 9 has been cancelled. The City will announce upcoming dates soon.
• From the Bridgeport Fire Department:
o In the case of a power outage, use flashlights, not candles.
o Generators should be operated in well ventilated locations outdoors away from all doors, windows and vent openings. Never use a generator in an attached garage, even with the door open.
• Note from Department of Public Works:
o During the snow emergency all City residents should heed alternate side of the street parking rules until the snow emergency has been lifted. For example, on even-numbered days, (Feb. 8), residents should move their cars to the even-numbered (house numbers ending in 0, 2,4,6, and 8) side of the street before 5 p.m. on Friday.
o The Department of Public Works reminds all residents and business owners to shovel the sidewalk and walkways, including curb cuts, for pedestrian safety. If sidewalks are not cleared, the City may clean the sidewalk and charge the owner a fee for doing so, as well as impose a $100 per day fine for violating a City ordinance.
o Please do not shovel, or use a snow blower or plow to throw snow back into the street from your driveway or sidewalk. Anyone found throwing snow back into the street will be subject to a fine.
o Residents and business owners are also asked to clear fire hydrants and the immediate area around it of snow to improve neighborhood safety.
• BConnected and Stay Informed:
o Residents may call 203.576.1311 with snow plowing concerns.
o Residents can also use the City’s BConnected request system online at www.bridgeportct.gov/bconnected or on the BConnected mobile application available on iPhone or Android smartphones to report any snow-related concerns.
o For the latest updates, resources and information about the snowstorm, residents are asked to check www.bridgeportct.gov/bptsnow, local television and radio news outlets and follow the City of Bridgeport on Twitter and Facebook and Mayor Bill Finch on Twitter and Facebook.