Update from Mayor Bill Finch:
The City has received more assistance today with payloaders and other heavy equipment coming to the City from as far away as Buffalo, N.Y., and neighboring Danbury, Wilton and Greenwich. By midafternoon today more than 260 streets have been made passable, and Mayor Bill Finch said he expects more than 300 streets will be opened up by the end of today.
Nearly 100 pieces of equipment, including payloaders and high-wheel vehicles are currently working to clear City streets.
“I want to thank the residents of Bridgeport for their patience and understanding. This has been an historic snowstorm–the most snow the City has received in a 24-hour period. We are working diligently to clean the streets, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation,” said Mayor Finch.
“I want to thank President Obama and Governor Malloy for their assistance during this difficult event. The emergency declaration issued by the President has allowed us to tap into federal, state and regional resources to help us get the City back to normal as quickly as possible.
“Many thanks go to our City Council members and our state Legislative delegation all of whom helped us to get information out to our constituents in a timely manner.
“We’re also grateful for the work of all the city employees–police, fire and public works personnel, volunteers, as well as administration staff–who have been working around the clock since Friday to keep the public safe and clean up after the storm,” the Mayor added.
The Board of Education has closed City schools on Wednesday. City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace, the Margaret E. Morton Government Center, 999 Broad St., and the Bridgeport Health Department, 752 E. Main St., will be closed to the public tomorrow (Feb. 13). Key personnel will be contacted by a Supervisor if they are to report for duty tomorrow.
Storm cleanup information:
The public is urged to stay off the roads as much as possible while cleanup crews are clearing City streets.
All city schools will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace, the Margaret E. Morton Government Center, 999 Broad St., and the Bridgeport Health Department, 752 E. Main St., will be closed to the public tomorrow (Feb. 13). Key personnel will be contacted by a Supervisor if they are to report to duty tomorrow.
Garbage and recycling pickups are suspended until further notice. The Transfer Station will be closed on Wednesday, Feb.13.
A list of passable streets can be found online (bridgeportct.gov/content/87201/137292.aspx.
As the week progresses the City expects to be in a position, unless there is more snowfall, to be focused solely on snow removal efforts.
The National Guard has been deployed to the City since Saturday and is assisting the police and fire departments with several high-wheel, 6X6 trucks to help answer emergency calls for service throughout the City.
“We are asking everyone to have patience and to stay inside and off the roads until snow plows can make their way down City streets,” said Mayor Finch.
City asks residents to help clear the inlets and catch basins near your house or business. Keeping catch basins clear of snow and ice will reduce the possibility of street flooding during heavy rains or snow melting periods.
Following snow storms residents and businesses with flat roofs are particularly vulnerable. As the snow on most roofs has frozen, removing any new snow and its additional weight will be very important. If not cleared off, snow piled high on roofs can act as a sponge, absorbing any rain, adding additional stress to structures.
Information regarding Storm Nemo cleanup efforts is available on the City’s website at www.bridgeportct.gov/bptsnow.
6 pm, no plows on Glendale Ave.
Spoke with a contractor working in a city next to us–most won’t come to Bridgeport because local contractors know they take 6 – 9 months to pay–so they go to other towns first, because they will be paid quickly–we are LAST on their list! We will have to import snow movers from Hawaii pretty soon …
Steve, I know how you feel. We finally got plowed out and now I don’t feel like a prisoner.
I feel the city lost this snow battle when they sent the plow workers home Friday night. If the plows were kept working they could have made a big difference. Having the plows off the road when we were getting 2-3 inches an hour was a recipe for disaster.
Finch gets blamed because he is at the top and the buck stops there but in reality the big shots at Public Facilities are at fault for this mess and heads should roll. Will they? NO.
Andy, they took care of your street because Finch was afraid you were going to take a mob to Crown St. I have been seeing so many neighbors I haven’t seen since the Foster campaign. Three days of shoveling a driveway and chatting. San Remo to break the monotony and looking forward to Obama’s speech tonight.
*** Over 30+ inches of snow in a 48-hour period is a lot for any money strapped urban city, no? However without knowing the facts, it seems like regardless of the ample storm notice beforehand the Gov and city Mayor dropped the ball on this one in not (examples) activating the N/G before the weekend and not during, asking for help from other citys and states, having a staging area for city and state workers to stay, sleep and eat for 8 hours and work for 16 hours and not send them home if not needed! It’s all in the preparations and commitments by all; State, City government and its citizens. Lord knows the OT is good, especially in this economy! And let’s give thanks to Mother Nature who brought the storm, sunshine and rain with mild temps, that helped. Again I’m shooting from the hip without real facts and just what you read and hear; what say you OIB? ***
I don’t think we’ll ever know all the facts but so long as the reality is the cleanup appears to be flawed and the pre-planning poor, Finch as “leader” is at fault. He’d be quick to take credit so he deserves the blame. Too bad it doesn’t faze him and even sadder is the citizens will forget this fiasco with a few well-placed patronage jobs. Occupy the vote and rid this town of one-party rule!
Courtesy of “Doing it Local”
“Bridgeport CT–The Department of Public Works reminds all residents and business owners to shovel the sidewalk and walkways in front of their home or business, including curb cuts, for pedestrian safety. If sidewalks are not cleared, the City may clean the sidewalk and charge the owner a fee for doing so, as well as impose a $100 per day fine for violating a City ordinance.”
Bada Bing.
So should we fine the city for not plowing our streets in due time? Let them try it!
*** THANK YOU, BUFFALO! ***