Southington Braces for Severe Winter Storm

Trucks at the Highway Department garage on Saturday. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTOS

With a storm bearing down on the area that could bring anywhere from 12 to 18 inches of snow, town residents made their final preparations ahead of heavy snow expected to start falling Sunday morning.

At the Highway Department Garage on Della Bitta Drive just off Mulberry Street, the town’s 36 plow trucks were ready for deployment. Department employee Kevin Fields reported that the plan was for snowplow drivers to start preparing the trucks at 8:30am on Sunday. The Southington Police Department has announced that a Street Parking Ban will go into effect Sunday at 10am to make it easier and safer for crews to plow.

The Highway Department has more than enough sand to lay down on roads. However its supply of salt, which is mixed with sand to melt ice, is getting low. According to Fields, the supply was depleted by a series of sleet storms and freezes earlier this season. In addition, a nationwide shortage of road salt has affected municipalities across the country – and consumers as well.

At the January 7 meeting of the Public Works Commission, Highway Department Superintendent David Lapreay reported that the town had placed a order for more road salt. A pile of new salt was visible in the shed on Saturday afternoon. The hope is that this will be enough to get the Southington through the rest of the winter season.

Inside the Highway Department's salt shed: sand in the center, salt on the right.

Warming Shelters Open

Once temperatures drop low enough, Connecticut's Severe Cold Weather Protocol goes into effect, which leads to the opening of designated Warming Centers across the state. Each town has at least one center - a public building where people who need to stay warm can go to wait out the cold. Southington has three centers: the Police Station at 69 Lazy Lane, Calendar House at 388 Pleasant Street, and the Public Library, at 255 Main Street. The Police Station is open 24 hours a day, while Calendar House and the Library will reopen for use Monday morning at 8:30 and 9am, respectively.

Warming centers do not offer any extra services such as cots, snacks, or nurses on duty. However, people are welcome to linger in the spaces, no questions asked, as long as the space is open for business hours and the protocol is in place.

According to Librarian Shelley Holley, there are a number of individuals who regularly visit the Southington library whenever the cold becomes extreme. They take the opportunity to charge their phones and read a book. Generally, they just blend in with the other patrons.

Snow seen from the comfort of the Southington Public Library.

Food Service for Those in Need

For residents dealing with food insecurity, the prospect of being snowed in can be worrisome. Missy Cipriano, the director of Southington’s Bread for Life, says that her organization has done its best to ensure that every homebound client has received enough food for four days. Guests who normally take their meals at the building on Vermont Avenue are also given meals to last through the weekend.

Cipriano expects the kitchen at Bread for Life to keep its regular hours, noting that it has only closed once in the past nine years due to weather. If it does close, clients can reach out for assistance by calling (860) 276-8389.

Grocery Store Shelves Are Full

Although a few commenters on the Southington Talks Facebook group said that stores were “cleaned out,” there were plenty of eggs, bread, and milk for sale at Walmart and Stop and Shop on Saturday afternoon.

The dairy and egg sections at Stop and Shop.

Official Requests and Reminders

The police and other town departments have requested residents to take the following precautionary measures during the storm:

• Keep all trash and recycling bins out of the roadway.

• If possible, clear snow away from fire hydrants.

• Clear steps, walkways, and sidewalks.

• Check on neighbors and seniors.

Two reminders posted by the South Central Health District.