Ready or Not, Here it Comes

With what could be a significant snowstorm headed our way on Saturday night, town officials in Ellington and Somers aren’t panicking.

“I know it is way too early for this,” Somers First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini said. “We are ready for it though. All equipment is set and ready to roll.”

She added that plow routes have been determined, all drivers are ready, and that everyone has their emergency contact lists ready. 

Some towns may not have received salt and sand deliveries yet because it is so early, but that’s not a problem in Somers.

“We addressed that months ago and have 850 tons of salt ready,” Pellegrini said. “Sand will also be available to the residents - by the pail - at the dog pound, located on Egypt Road.”

The leaves are still on the trees and some people have raking to do, but that’s going to have to wait.

“I however still need to rake my leaves and cut down my perennial gardens,” Pellegrini said. “But looks as if I will be getting the snow blowers ready.”

For Pellegrini, the fact that the leaves are still on the trees and that wind is predicted is more concerning than the actual snow itself.

“The possibility of heavy winds are a concern as that combined with snow laden leaves and branches may result in some downed limbs and trees causing power outages,” she said.

Ellington First Selectman Maurice Blanchette said that the Ellington Department of Public Works usually uses Nov. 1, or the closest weekday, to do the final preparations on the trucks to be used for plowing and on routes to be covered by each driver. 

However, for Thursday night’s mini snowstorm, four trucks had been prepared and were used. 

Blanchette said that by Friday night, all 10 trucks would be ready to go, as well as the smaller equipment that will be needed. 

“When Mother Nature arrives on its own schedule with that snowstorm, our trucks and drivers will be ready in full force,” he said. 

At 4 p.m. on Friday, Ellington participated in a conference call from the State Emergency Operations Center to get an update on the storm.

Blanchette said that this usually includes department heads and other members from DPW, Emergency Management, fire departments, ambulance corps, police, and First Selectman.

“State officials inform us of what their plans are for dealing with the storm, and then we can ask appropriate questions for immediate response,” he said.

Here we go again. 

“This will be a fast start to winter weather, and a good test of our response,” Blanchette said.