Connecticut is expected to experience a long duration of extremely cold temperatures that could last well into next week. Meteorologists are predicting single-digit temperatures along with wind chills going below zero.

(See related press release, issued yesterday by Governor Malloy.)

In response to this, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and the Town of Newtown Emergency Management Office are urging residents to be prepared for the severe cold weather. Officials are also asking that every resident make appropriate preparations to ensure personal safety and readiness.

Also take action to protect pets, the officials urge. In addition, residents are asked to check on any elderly or frail neighbors to make certain they are safe in the weather.

Residents can visit any number of warming centers in town to seek relief from the cold. Locations include:

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street (203-426-4533 or chboothlibrary.org). The library is open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 8 pm; Friday, 11 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 9:30 am to 5 pm; and Sunday, noon to 5 pm.

(Please note, however, that the library will be closed Sunday and Monday, December 31 and January 1, for the New Year's holiday.)

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street (203-426-2475 or edmondtownhall.org). The town hall has additional screenings of Thor: Ragnarok scheduled through Wednesday, January 3, including a 1 o'clock matinee on New Year's Eve. Visit the Calendar page of The Newtown Bee's website or click on Features and then Edmond Town Hall for full details concerning the additional movies timed to coincide with school break as well as special events also scheduled at the historic building.

Tickets are $3 for all movie screenings, with $2 tickets offered to senior citizens for Tuesday matinees.

(There are no screenings scheduled for Monday, January 1.)

Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street (203-270-4201 for the Office of the First Selectman or newtown-ct.gov), is generally accessible from 7 am until 5 pm weekdays, and later when there are town boards or commissions meeting.

(The municipal center will be closing at noon on Friday, December 29, and will remain closed until 8 am Tuesday, January 2, for the New Year's holiday.)

Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road (203-270-4310) is open weekdays between 8 am and 4:30 pm.

(The center will be closing at noon on Friday, December 29, and will be closed on Monday, January 1. It will reopen Tuesday, January 2.)

Emergency Contacts

In the event of an emergency, town officials also offer the following important contacts and phone numbers:

If there is a life safety emergency, contact the Newtown Emergency Communications Center at 911.

For power outages, call Eversource at 800-286-2000.

CodeRED is the system used by town officials to contact residents, via landlines and cellphones, in the event of emergencies. Registration can be done on the Emergency Management page of the town website, newtown-ct.gov/emergency-management.

Residents can also register with Smart911 so a specific and secure profile can be created for family members, pets, home details, etc, by clicking on the link on the Emergency Management page of the town website.

Check News and Announcements on the Town of Newtown website. Residents can also register to have those announcements e-mailed to them through town website.

To access Connecticut's free information and referral service, call 211 or visit 211ct.org.

To reach the Emergency Management/Fire Marshal's Office, call 203-270-4370; or the Health District office, call 203-270-4291.