The Beacon Falls Emergency Operations Center held a meeting at noon Monday, March 13, at Beacon Hose to discuss preparations for the blizzard expected to strike Tuesday. Those present included First Selectman Chris Bielik; Beacon Hose Chief Jim Trzaski, Asst. Chief Brian DeGeorge, Capt. Howie Leeper, 1st Lt. Cal Brennan and EMS Director Joe Chew; Officer Caroline O’Bar; Town Nurse Sue Mis; and members of the Public Works Department. Beacon Falls Police Lt. Eddie Rodriguez joined via telephone.
Here’s some important news for Beacon Falls residents to know as this snowstorm — which is expected to start in the early-morning hours Tuesday, bring anywhere from 1-2 feet and rates of 1-4 inches per hour, carry 50 mph wind gusts and end by Tuesday evening — approaches:
— PARKING BAN: A parking ban will go into effect at 10 p.m. Monday and last until further notice. Please make the Public Works Department’s job easier by moving your car off the street by this evening. Parking is available at the train station on Railroad Avenue and the commuter lot on North Main Street. Beacon Falls Police will be knocking on doors this evening to ensure cooperation, and those not cooperating will be towed.
— EOC: The Emergency Operations Center will open at 5 a.m. Tuesday and remain open for at least 24 hours. It will be headquartered at Beacon Hose, where crews of firefighters and EMTs will be standing by to respond in case of emergency. We will be in touch with town officials, the Public Works Department, Beacon Falls Police and Eversource throughout the storm.
— WHO TO CALL: If you experience a fire or medical emergency during the storm, make sure you’re in a safe location and call 911. If wires are blown down in your area and are causing a fire or dangerous situation, call 911. For non-life-threatening situations, such as minor wires down or other important storm-related questions, call the EOC at 203-729-5420. In addition, if you or your loved ones have any medical condition that requires electricity in case of a power outage, please call the EOC to make us aware of the situation.
— PLOWING: Our Public Works Department plow truck drivers will be working long hours to keep roads as passable as possible. However, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to maintain driving conditions throughout much of town. They will focus on major roads and hills, and side roads may go untouched for hours at a time. If conditions are too unsafe for plows to be on the roads, they may have to take a hiatus during the storm. Please do not call the EOC asking for your road to be plowed; they’ll get there eventually. If there is an emergency in your area, Public Works will respond ahead of Beacon Hose to clear the way to the scene.
— FIRST RESPONDERS: While our volunteer firefighters and medical responders will be stationed at Beacon Hose throughout the duration of the storm, their safety (and the safety of our police) is paramount. They must exercise caution and will do everything reasonably possible to respond, but some emergencies may have to be prioritized.
— TRASH PICKUP: Winter Bros. has already postponed the usual Friday morning trash and recycling pickup until Saturday morning.
— MISCELLANEOUS: We encourage all residents to stay off the roads to minimize all risks and make our plow truck drivers’ jobs easier. Venturing out in these conditions not only jeopardizes yourself, but it also jeopardizes the lives of our first responders. We will also be in touch with Beacon Falls Pharmacy in case emergency medication is needed. All town offices will be closed Tuesday. Please check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and women late in their pregnancy. When clearing snow, take breaks, lift safely, pace yourself and stay hydrated.
We will post updates during the storm as necessary. Please visit this page for more information about preparedness and safety tips. Thank you for your cooperation, be safe and enjoy the snow day!