Blizzard 2013: Milford Information Center

Editor's note: Milford updates on news relating to the blizzard, and notices of reopenings and rescheduligs, will be posted here and updated regularly.

Reopenings/Rescheduled:

The Hockomock YMCA branches will reopen on Sunday.

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts Women's Art Forum, originally scheduled for February 8, will be February 15. 

The benefit Winter Pops concert at the Portuguese Club Sat., to benefit the Claflin Hill Symphony, has been rescheduled to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10. Tickets will be available at the door.

Thanks to Yanks Magic Show at Stacy Middle School Sunday has been postponed. A new date has not been set.

News information:

8:50 a.m., Feb. 10: MBTA service remains suspended Sunday, including commuter rail. Goal: restoring service on Monday, Feb 11. Latest: mbta.com/winter/

4:33 p.m., Feb. 9: National Grid is warning customers to clear vents for natural gas appliances or gas meters that may be blocked by snow or ice. "Ice and snow falling from a roof can damage gas meters or service connections to customers’ homes or businesses, resulting in a gas leak. Ice and snow blocking vents could cause carbon monoxide (CO) to back up into a building and result in carbon monoxide poisoning for those inside." The full announcement is attached to this post as a pdf.

1:14 p.m., Feb. 9: The state has announced the driving ban is now lifted in Nantucket, and west of I-91 in Western Mass. Will be lifted statewide, including Milford area, as of 4 p.m. Saturday.

12:22 p.m., Feb. 9: Latest snowfall amounts from National Weather Service: Framingham: 30.5; Natick: 24; Northboro: 29.5; Milford: 28; Shrewsbury: 27

12:18 p.m., Feb. 9: The state's fire marshal in a televised press conference advises people to make sure the vents to their heating systems are cleared of snow, and also, don't forget to clear the tailpipe when digging out the car.

11:50 a.m., Feb. 9: As you shovel out today, don't forget to uncover the fire hydrant.

11:20 a.m., Feb. 9: State emergency officials are reporting that 911 & public safety departmens are still getting calls RE: travel ban. Please DO NOT call about travel ban. Updates will be posted on MEMA's website about that.

9:30 a.m., Feb. 9: Milford Police say people need to comply with the state's travel ban, which allows only those people with essential roles, including public safety, healthcare, those involved in sale of gasoline, food, to travel. See the text of Executive Order. Overnight, the roads were mostly clear. Police were busy providing transports to people who work at the hospital, to nursing homes, etc... said Lt. James Falvey. 

9:30 a.m., Feb. 9: Milford Police report no gas stations are open in Milford.

7:10 a.m., Feb. 9: Tweet from state DOT: "Statewide Travel Ban remains in effect all Massachusetts Roads. Crews total 3600+ overnight plowing roads. Avoid travel today."

7:00 a.m., Feb. 9: The statewide travel ban, ordered by Gov. Deval Patrick, remains in effect until further notice. His Executive Order states that motorists must be off the road. Exceptions for public safety and public works workers, government officials conducting official business, utility workers, healthcare workers, news media.

5:19 a.m., Feb. 9: WCVB TV reports 22 inches of snow measured by a weather-spotter in Milford.

5:00 a.m., Feb. 9: No power losses reported in Milford, according to the National Grid power outage map.

12:30 a.m., Feb. 9: Milford firefighters responded to a car fire on Crockett Road.

9:44 p.m., Feb. 8: Milford is hanging on with the power so far. Flickers are widespread.

9:00 p.m., Feb. 8: Milford Police report visibility poor as storm picks up in intensity. 

9:00 p.m., Feb. 8: According to MEMA: Outages in MA (rounded): NGRID 49K, NSTAR 45K, Total 94K. 

8:27 p.m, Feb. 8: Massachusetts State Police report few people on the highways. "Barracks around state reporting very little to no traffic. Residents heeding traffic restriction, which is helping plows, enhancing safety." 

8:24 p.m., Feb. 8: So far, no power outages reported in Milford, according to the National Grid power outage map. Five or fewer customers are out in Hopedale. But power outages are being reported in Acton, other areas of Southeastern Mass.

6:00 p.m., Feb. 8: The State of Emergency declared by Gov. Patrick at 4 p.m. affects how Milford police and highway react to cars left out overnight. From the Highway Dept.: "Any car parked on the road will be ticketed & towed. The police will not be contacting the owner." Police try to contact the owner in cases that don't involve a snow emergency. Five cars have been towed so far Friday.

4:39 p.m., Feb. 8: Milford Police report a driver slid off Whitewood Road into a tree. The driver was not hurt. Road conditions are poor. Only essential workers should be on the roads now, per the governor's order.

3:25 p.m., Feb. 8: Little traffic on Route 140, a state road, between Milford and Upton, as people get home and stay there. Many stores in Milford have already closed, including Hannaford Supermarket, which was closed before 3 p.m. Many businesses are sending workers home because of the executive order to have state roads clear of all but essential public safety employees at 4 p.m.

1:50 p.m., Feb. 8: Milford Highway Surveyor Scott Crisafulli reminds people that they can't dump plowed or shoveled snow back in the roads, or on sidewalks. The snow piles have to be on non-public rights of way. The town now has a bylaw that enforces this, punishable by a $100 fine.

1:50 p.m., Feb. 8: The overnight parking ban is in effect, as always for the winter, but will be particularly important tonight. Scott Crisafulli, the town's Highway Surveyor, said plow drivers who encounter parked cars will get the license plate, and contact Milford Police. Police will then make an effort to contact the driver, and give them a chance to move the car. If the car owner can't be located, "they will be towed," Crisafulli said.

1:00 p.m., Feb. 8: Gov. Deval Patrick in a news conference Friday, said: "I have signed an executive order banning vehicle traffic effective at 4 pm today." As many people as possible need to be off the roads, he said. This is the first time he has signed an executive order banning driving as of 4 p.m. The Blizzard of 78 was the last time a similar order was issued. Violators could be fined up to $500 and be sentenced to a year in jail, although the governor said the main purpose is to get non-essential people off the roads.

4:39 a.m., Feb. 8: The National Weather Service has increased the projected snowfall amounts, to up to 3 feet for Worcester County and surrounding areas. The entire region is under a blizzard warning until 1 p.m. Saturday.

6:00 p.m., Feb. 7: The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for areas including Worcester County. "A potential historic winter storm and blizzard is expected to drop around 2 feet of snow Friday into Saturday. Blizzard warning remains in efffect from 6 a.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday."

5:00 p.m., Feb. 7: Milford Fire Chief John Touhey said due to the severity of the expected storm, people should not travel after Friday morning. Touhey is the Milford emergency management director. Department heads had two meetings Thursday to prepare. The snow is expected to be heavy by early afternoon Friday, and blizzard conditions are expected by early evening, that's winds in excess of 35 mph for three hours or more.

11:58 a.m., Feb. 7: The Milford Board of Health passes along the MEMA website that Health Agent Paul Mazzuchelli said "offers great information" on topics such as generator safety.

9:19 a.m., Feb. 7: National Grid announces in a release that it is preparing for widespread, prolonged power outages that could result from blizzard conditions. [See attached PDF for full statement] "Although the path of the storm still is being monitored, crew assignments are being developed and equipment readied in anticipation of harsh weather. We continue to monitor the weather and are taking action now to be able to respond quickly and safely to potential outages that could occur. Our pre-planning activities are in anticipation of a very damaging storm,” said Kathy Lyford, vice president, New England Operations.

Feb. 6: The Milford Board of Health announces that garbage and recycling on Friday will be collected an hour earlier than normal, to allow workers to finish before the storm arrives.

Cancellations/Closures

8:58 a.m., Feb. 9: The MBTA will remain closed Saturday. From the website: 

"Due to the impacts of a severe winter storm, MBTA service will remain suspended on all  modes Saturday, February 9, 2013.

With severe winds and heavy snow, the safety of customers and employees is the MBTA's top priority.

The continued suspension of service will also allow MBTA and MBCR personnel to concentrate all of their efforts on getting the transit system, from subway to bus to commuter rail, up and running as soon as possible."

6:00 a.m., Feb. 9: All Community School Use programs are cancelled Saturday and Sunday. Make up dates will be announced by the program soon.  

4:28 p.m., Feb. 8: The Office of Sen. Richard T. Moore announced the “Planning for High Education” information session, originally scheduled for Monday, February 11, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Granite Room at the Milford Town Library, has been postponed due to inclement weather. The event will be rescheduled to a later date.

3:00 p.m.: Hannaford Supermarket has closed.

2:05 p.m.: Honey Dew Donuts will be closing at 3 p.m. Friday.

1:00 p.m.: Milford Federal Savings & Loan is closing at 1pm Friday and will be closed Saturday, too.

10:16 a.m., Feb. 8: Due to the impending snow storm, all branches of Milford National Bank & Trust will close at 2pm Friday, Feb 8 and will be closed Saturday, Feb 9.

9:30 a.m., Feb. 8: Milford Town Hall will close at noon Friday.

9:46 p.m., Feb. 7: The Milford Town Library will be closed from Friday through Sunday, reopening on Monday at 9 a.m.

6:30 p.m., Feb. 7: Blackstone Valley Tech will be closed Friday.

6:25 p.m., Feb. 7: Milford TV will be closed Friday and Saturday due to the storm.

6:00 p.m., Feb. 7: MBTA lines, including commuter rail, will be suspended at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

3:05 p.m., Feb. 7: PiNZ will be closed Friday, re-opening at 1 p.m. Saturday.

2:34 p.m.: Feb. 7: Hockomock YMCA branches to close at 2 p.m Friday.

2:12 p.m.: Feb. 7:  and all state courts, will close at noon Friday. All emergency matters, including restraining orders, will be handled using the after-hours procedures. All first day jurors are cancelled.

12:54 p.m., Feb. 7: Cancellation of schools, in an email from superintendent: "Schools in Milford will be closed for students and staff on Friday Feb. 8. Also all school buildings will be closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There will be no activities held in our schools this weekend."

11:54 a.m., Feb. 7: The Milford Youth Center has rescheduled the "Dressed Up Not Messed Up Fashion Show" to Feb. 16. The center also will be closed on Friday, if schools are cancelled.

11:38 a.m., Feb. 7: The Milford Board of Health announces the Transfer Station will be closed this weekend.

10:39 a.m., Feb. 7:  and all state courts, will close at 3 p.m. Friday. All emergency matters, including restraining orders, will be handled after under the after-hours procedures. All first day jurors are cancelled.

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As we ready ourselves for and make our way through the blizzard, please use this story on Milford Patch to help out your neighbors. Know of a cancellation because of the weather? Let us know and we'll add it in the text, or you can add it yourself in the comments. Once the blizzard is underway, report poor road conditions or downed trees/impassable streets, here. We'll do the same.

We want to make sure that Milford stays connected. For live updates during the storm, be sure to 'like' Milford Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

As you send us messages through social media and email (mary.macdonald@patch.com), we’ll make sure the information is added to this story. If you notice hazardous conditions, please alert authorities and then let us know so we can spread the word quickly.

Milford Patch is all about connecting neighbors and helping neighbors, so we hope you’ll find this information hub helpful during the storm. Stay safe!

IMPORTANT NUMBERS & WEBSITES: 

• In an emergency, dial 911
• Police Department: (508) 473-1113
• Fire Department: (508) 473-2256
• Highway Department: (508) 473-1274
• National Grid power outages: 800-465-1212 
• National Grid Outage Map
• Charter: 888-438-2427
• Verizon: 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)