Newtown Emergency Management Director Bill Halstead called a meeting at the town's Emergency Operations Center Monday morning, March 13, to meet with officials from local police, fire, communications, IT, health, Park and Recreation departments, and Newtown schools to review readiness for the impending storm.Blizzard Warning from midnight tonight to midnight Tuesday night for much of the state, including all of Fairfield County. Coming out of that meeting, officials told The Newtown Bee that local Emergency Services as well as Public Works and Parks & Recreation are fully equipped with materials and supplies and are fully staffed for response.eversource.com.newtown-ct.gov and in the middle of the page is a button for "Sign Up for E-Alerts." This is where residents can sign up for News and Announcements as well as Code Red.www.211ct.org.Eversource.com. The Connecticut American Red Cross, one of Eversource's partners in emergency preparedness, also provides helpful information and resources at www.ctredcross.org.The Bee will monitor and issue website, Facebook, and Twitter updates as deemed appropriate following each briefing throughout the storm event.Facebook and Twitter to get immediate notifications and emergency updates.

The National Weather Service has issued a

They also remind residents and local business owners about important numbers and contact information:

*If there is a Life Safety Emergency - call 911.

*Power outage - call Eversource at 800-286-2000, or report online at

Residents can still sign up before the storm to receive town E-Alerts. If residents have not already done so, they can also register for Code Red and News and Announcements.

Visit

Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra and the Emergency Management Office urge residents to be prepared for the severe weather and ask that every resident make appropriate preparations to ensure personal safety and readiness.

*Make a Kit - Include water, nonperishable food for three days, battery-operated radio, flashlight, extra batteries, first aid kit, garbage bags, and other sanitation type materials.

*Generator Safety - Be sure that the generator is properly installed and vented away from the house. Never run a generator indoors.

Supplemental Heat - Only use fireplaces and wood burning appliances that are clean and safe to operate. Never use a charcoal or other type of grill or fire pit inside because they produce deadly carbon monoxide.

*Consider Medical Needs - Review continuity of care from existing professional assistance, supply of medications, home delivery of essential supplies such as oxygen, specific needs.

*Check on any elderly or frail neighbors to be certain they are doing okay in this weather.

*Be prepared to properly care for pets in severe weather.

*Make a Backup Plan - Make sure there is a communications plan in place with family members, especially those out of the area. Set up a time and method to get in touch with loved ones outside the region to let them know your status.

*Be Informed - Make sure cell phones and other mobile devices are fully charged in the event the power goes out. Be sure to listen to local authorities and weather stations for information on the storm's progression.

*Do Not Park on the Road - A parking ban is in effect. Vehicles will be towed if left on roadway during snow storms, so remove any vehicles on local roadways.

Connecticut's free information and referral service can be reached by dialing: 211 or visit

Eversource has also announced the utility company is ready to address any storm-related power outages. The company is preparing for the possibility of tree-related damage to its electric system and will have crews and support staff ready to respond. Customers are encouraged to also prepare for the possibility of outages.

To further improve customer communications during storms, Eversource recently rolled out a new enhancement that ensures customers can personalize how they receive important outage information and updates by selecting their preferred method of contact.

Additional preparedness tips can be found at the Storm Preparedness section at

Governor Dannel P. Malloy is scheduled to hold the first of what will likely be several storm-related press briefings Monday at 5 pm.

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