Storm causing delays, cancellations, messy commute

THE BLIZZARD OF 2015 socked Rhode Island with nearly 20 inches of snow. Monday's storm is expected to bring another 14 inches by the time it ends, according to the National Weather Service. / PBN FILE PHOTO/FRANK MULLIN
THE BLIZZARD OF 2015 socked Rhode Island with nearly 20 inches of snow. Monday's storm is expected to bring another 14 inches by the time it ends, according to the National Weather Service. / PBN FILE PHOTO/FRANK MULLIN

(Updated 1 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – A week after a blizzard shut down Rhode Island, a second storm is causing a messy commute, numerous transportation delays or cancellations, and business and school closings.

Gov. Gina M. Raimondo is cautioning Rhode Islanders to be careful and to have patience during Monday’s commute home, as it is expected to be messy and potentially dangerous.

“Please watch your speed and take extra time to get home – the roads will be slick and increasingly icy. It’s also important to give plows the space they need to operate safely on the roadways, and to follow the parking bans in your community so road clearing can continue,” Raimondo said.

She said that in addition to snow and freezing rain continuing throughout the day, temperatures will drop rapidly and are expected to be well-below freezing in early evening. She said bridges may need to close tonight due to freezing.

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Raimondo is reminding everyone to check on neighbors and loves ones to make sure they have everything they need to stay warm and safe. She said anyone who needs help or assistance can call 211 for non-emergencies.

Those interested in helping shovel driveways can sign up through Serve Rhode Island at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SRI_SAFE-D, she said.

The storm is expected to bring a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain and accumulations up to 14 inches.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for all of Rhode Island through 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. Raimondo said this storm, known as Linus, is expected to bring heavier, wetter storm than Juno, last week’s storm.

She said state offices are operating today, but under the “adverse weather policy,” between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. That means non-essential employees scheduled to work and who are unable to report for work (or who wish to report late or leave early) may use annual leave, personal leave or leave without pay and notify their supervisor.

State courts will be open, but all calendars are suspended, meaning that no hearings will be held. Judiciary employees are to report to work. Jurors should not report Monday, but should report Tuesday, according to information supplied by the R.I. Judiciary.

She encourages all businesses to be flexible with employees, as safety is paramount.
“Our plows and salt supplies are in good shape and RIDOT is ready. … My team is also in close touch with National Grid, urging them to prepare for any outages,” Raimondo said in a statement.

This storm may cause isolated power outages. Anyone who experiences an outage should call National Grid at (800) 465-1212. She said residents should have flashlights and extra batteries, extra blankets, a portable radio and sufficient food and water.

Rhode Island’s Emergency Operations Center began operating at 4 a.m.

The snow is affecting travel, with numerous cancellations at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick and Logan International Airport in Boston.

R.I. Airport Corporation President and CEO Kelly J. Fredericks told WPRO-AM Monday morning that travelers should check with their airlines on flight status, noting many cancellations. He said the storm in affecting travel at Logan as well. T.F. Green Airport’s website shows numerous cancellations, with the exception of a 12:15 p.m. departure to Orlando, Fla., on Southwest Airlines. A Southwest flight from Baltimore is expected to arrive on time at 11:45 a.m.

Rhode Island Public Transit Authority said that nine routes are being detoured due to winter weather conditions, and that accumulating snow in some areas and unplowed snow on secondary roads make it difficult for RIPTA vehicles to travel safely. As a result, all RIPTA riders may expect some delays due to weather conditions, the authority said.

Routes being detoured are Routes 18, 27, 34, 49, 55, 56, 58, 87 and 92. RIPTA will continue to restore service on those routes as conditions allow and will advise riders of any other detours due to the storm. Passengers are encouraged to check www.RIPTA.com for updates throughout the day.

Peter Pan Bus Service canceled all service out of Providence; Amtrak is running regular service, with few cancellations being reported.

Most schools are closed. A list can be found HERE.
Webster Bank’s banking centers will open at 10 a.m. due to inclement weather, the company said.

Southcoast Health, based on New Bedford, said that the following facilities/programs are canceled: Westport Family Medicine Center at 827 American Legion Highway in Westport; Cardiac And Pulmonary Rehabilitation at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Tobey Hospital in Wareham and 283 Pleasant St. in Fall River; and Southcoast Rehabilitation Services at 1 Posa Place in North Dartmouth.

At 10 a.m., Southcoast said the following services will open: Cardiac And Pulmonary Rehabilitation at 263 Stanley St. in Fall River and Radiology at 263 Stanley St. in Fall River. The health system said patients and their families can find information about closings and delays at www.southcoast.org/news/cancellations/.

South County Hospital issued a press release telling patients to call their doctors’ office first before venturing out to see if it is open. The hospital said those scheduled for surgery on Monday will receive a phone call if it has been canceled. Delays and closings for South County Hospital services can be found HERE.

The Providence Athenaeum, 251 Benefit St., closed Monday due to the storm and citywide parking ban. It is expected to reopen Tuesday at 9 a.m.

According to information from the Providence mayor’s office, the citywide parking ban went into effect at 2 a.m. and will remain in effect until further notice. Residents with overnight parking passes cannot park on the street during the ban; any vehicle parked on the street in violation of the ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed. Garbage and recycling collection is on a holiday schedule.

City recreation centers will be closed Monday as well.

Garbage and recycling pickup in Providence will proceed on a holiday schedule. Monday’s garbage and recycling pick-up will take place on Tuesday and all pick-up for the rest of the week will take place a day later with Friday’s pick-up taking place on Saturday. Residents who did not receive trash pick-up last week due to the storm and have urgent and additional concerns can call the Office of Neighborhood Services at (401) 421-2489.

“We expect heavy snowfall, high winds and other conditions that will significantly impact both the morning and evening commutes on Monday,” Elorza said in a statement. “I urge residents to comply with the citywide parking ban, exercise caution and prepare for rapidly changing travel conditions throughout the day. If you see a person or a family in need, please do what you can to either lend a helping hand or notify the city. When we all pull together, we are capable of overcoming any challenge.”

He said roadways were pretreated ahead of expected snowfall. The Providence Emergency Management Agency began a partial activation the city’s Emergency Operations Center at midnight.

The city’s snow hotline will be open Monday through the duration of the storm at (401) 680-8080.

Emergency contacts are as follows for some communities:

  • R.I. Emergency Management, (401) 946-9996
  • Town of Burrillville, (401) 641-0898
  • City of Central Falls, (401) 727-7444
  • Town of Cumberland, (401) 333-2500
  • City of Cranston, (401) 942-2211
  • City of East Providence, (401) 435-7600
  • Town of Lincoln, (401)333-1111
  • City of Newport, (401) 847-2695
  • Town of North Kingstown,(401) 294-3316, ext. 41
  • Town of North Smithfield, (401) 767-2206
  • City of Pawtucket, (401) 729-5846
  • City of Providence, (401) 243-6398
  • Town of Smithfield, (401) 233-1033
  • City of Warwick, (401) 738-2000 ext. 6500
  • Town of Westerly, (401) 596-2027
  • City of Woonsocket, (401) 766-1212

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