02/17/2003

projo.com and Journal staff reports

5:05 p.m.

Snowfall spot check

Wondering what the snow is measuring up to in your neighborhood? See what the National Weather Service is recording, posted with the help of "cooperative observers, skywarn spotters, amatuer radio, and the media."

Deepest snowfall reported in Rhode Island so far: 13 inches in Westerly, in the most southwestern corner of the state, at 3:15 p.m.

For more, go to: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/fcsts/BOSPNSBOX.html

4:20 p.m.

Giving and getting help in Providence

In addition to the city's efforts, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline is looking to residents to help each other cope with the storm.

Journal photo / Sandor Bodo NEW ROLE: Normally a favorite of walkers and joggers, Blackstone Boulevard in Providence adds a dimension today as city residents Cindy Dow and Mary Clifford turn it into a cross-country ski route.

Residents are being asked to check on elderly and inform neighbors, remain inside if possible and use caution in all outdoor activities.

He's also asking for volunteers -- "young, healthy volunteers looking to do community service" -- to help with the chore of shoveling walkways and paths to the street or utility pipes. Those interested should call the city's Emergency Management Agency at 831-HEAT(4328).

If residents need such help, the mayor urges them to call the same phone number. Such help will be provided for free, he said.

The city's EMA can also help residents get to a required medical appointment, such as kidney dialysis, or emergency prescriptions. It will also assist medical personnel who need transportation to work.

In an emergency, however, residents should call 911, the mayor said.

The mayor expects to join the shovel brigade himself. He's already spent time today traveling with tow-truck operators to see first hand what they are facing, with a parking ban in effect until further notice. With 350 miles of streets, the city is focusing on clearing main arteries first.

2:10 p.m.

A winter State House?

Governor Carcieri is "actively directing Rhode Island's snow response," even though the governor is some 1,400 miles away at his Florida home, his office announced in a press release today.

"Rhode Island's citizens should know that we are as well prepared as possible to effectively handle this winter storm," Carcieri said from Stuart, where the temperature is 78 degrees. "We have almost 400 plows and sanders working to keep the state roads and highways clear. The National Guard, the State Police, the Department of Human Services and other state agencies are aso on standby.

Carcieri, in Florida working on his budget address, has kept in touch with the Ocean State via telephone.

"While the blizzard conditions predicted for this afternoon might tax our resources for a brief period, I believe that we'll be able to stay on top of the situation," Carcieri said in the press release.

The wind is supposed to pick up this afternoon in Stuart, too. West winds are expected to increase to 15 to 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

And it's not all sunny in the Sunshine State. The weather service reports it's cloudy in Stuart, but tomorrow should be sunny with highs around 70 degrees.

Hey, the weather should also improve in Providence tomorrow. The snow is supposed to stop sometime tomorrow morning.

Blizzard wear

As he stepped in today for Governor Carcieri, Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty was neatly dressed in a gray suit, blue shirt and coordinated tie as he hosted a 2 p.m. press conference updating the state's response to the blizzard.

His apparel was in sharp contrast to the fondly-remembered plaid flannel short worn by then-Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy during the massive Blizzard of '78. That shirt is now in the hands of the Rhode Island Historical Society.

Limits on fuel delivery lifted

Governor Carcieri has extended an executive order that will allow for uninterrupted delivery of home heating fuel and propane, his office also announced today.

The order lifts federal restrictions on the number of hours worked by the delivery drivers.

The first executive order was issued Jan. 17. By declaring another home heating fuel transportation emergency, the governor lifts the restrictions for another 10 days.

Short work day

Many workers who were initially stuck working on the Presidents Day holiday didn't have to work for long.

For example, Johnson & Wales University in Providence held some classes this morning, but sent home workers and cancelled classes for the remainder of the day at noon.

Providence Washington Insurance stays open during most storms, but decided to close at 11:30 a.m. "We think this storm is unusual," said Richard Hoag, chief executive officer.

At United Healthcare of New England, workers were sent home by 1 p.m. About 200 people normally work at the insurer's Warwick location, but many had already taken the day off as vacation, spokeswoman Deborah Spano said.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island also planned to close at noon.

Many other companies -- such as New England Gas. Co.'s administrative offices in Providence -- were already closed for the holiday.

Non-essential state workers were also given the option of leaving work early, if they felt it was too risky to stay.

Strain on snow budgets

Today's storm, which is likely to be the biggest of the season, is sure to tax the already-strained municipal snow removal budgets.

For example, Providence snow plow crews have already been out 16 times. In normal winters, they go out 10 times.

As of Feb. 11, the state had already used the $9.2 million set aside for snow removal, said Dana Nolfe, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

Before today's storm arrived, crews had already spent 253 hours treating and plowing the state's highways and major roads, Nolfe said.

Don't worry, she said. The state won't stop clearing the roads. It will have to find money to pay for it elsewhere.

"If it snows ten more times, we'll still be out there," Nolfe said. "We'll do what we need to do."

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Jack Perry and Journal staff reporter Dave McPherson