General Messages (RIEMA)
• THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUE WE FACE WITH THIS EVENT IS THE HIGH PROBABLITLIY OF ICE AND SLEET • ICE AND SLEET EVENTS BRING WITH THEM UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE DIFFERENT RESPONSE SCENARIOS THAN THE SNOW EVENTS WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH • COMMUTERS SHOULD KNOW TOMORROW MORNING’S COMMUTE WILL BE QUTE TREACHOROUS AS BLACK ICE WILL BE PRESENT, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS • THE DOT WILL BE TREATING STATE ROADS ALL NIGHT BUT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE, THE EFFECTIVENESS THAT PROCESS COULD VARY SIGNIFICANTLY • EXTREME CAUTION IN DRIVING IS THE MESSAGE FOR THE MORNING AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO VENTURE ONTO THE ROADS, YOU WOULD BE BETTER SERVED TO WAIT UNTIL MID-DAY WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE PREDICTED TO RISE AND MELTING SHOULD TAKE PLACE • THOSE PEOPLE THAT ABSOLUTELY MUST DRIVE DURING THE STORMS ARE ADVISED TO BE PATIENT AND ALLOW THEMSELVES EXTRA TIME TO TRAVEL TO THEIR DESTINATION • THE ICE ISSUE ALSO CONTNUES TO WORSEN ROOF LOADING ISSUES WHICH CONTINUE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. • MOTORIST ARE REMINDED THAT THEIR VEHICLES SHOULD BE CLEARED OF "SIGNIFICANT" AMOUNTS OF SNOW OR ICE PRIOR TO BEING DRIVEN ON THE ROAD. AS MANDATED BY RI GENERAL LAW • RIEMA REMINDS YOU THAT ROOF COLLAPSE CONTINUES TO BE OF HIGH CONCERN. THE AMOUNT OF RECENT SNOWFALL THAT IS PILING UP COULD WEAKEN ROOF STRUCTURE AND CAUSE A COLLAPSE. HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THEMSELVES AND OCCUPANTS BEFORE REMOVING SNOW FROM ROOFS. A CONTRACTOR COULD BE HELPFUL IN ASSESSING THE NEED FOR SNOW REMOVAL • WE ARE ENCOURAGING BUSINESS OWNERS TO CONSIDER STAGGERED OR LATE START TIMES TOMORROW IF POSSIBLE, IN THE INTEREST OF COMMUTER SAFETY • AGAIN...THIS EVENING’S COMMUTE SHOULD BE FINE IF EVERYONE USES CAUTION BUT TOMORROW MORNIG’S WILL BE CONSIDERABLY MORE TREACHOROUS AS ICE AND SLEET PELT THE AREA • THE RIEMA EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS OPEN FOR THIS EVENT AND CURRENTLY MINIMALLY STAFFED PENDING FURTHER ANALYSIS.
• RESIDENTS SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN DIGGING OUT FROM THE STORM. EXCESSIVE SNOW SHOVELING CAN CAUSE A RANGE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS, FROM BACK INJURIES TO HEART ATTACK, IF NOT DONE IN MODERATION. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT OVEREXERT THEMSELVES AND SHOULD TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS FROM SHOVELING
• THERE WERE NUMEROUS SPINOUTS AND MINOR CAR CRASHES ACROSS THE STATE. MANY OF THEM WERE ATTRIBUTED TO SNOWY ROADS OR DRIVING TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS.
• RIDOT EXPECTS WINTER STORM CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND IMPACT THE EVENING COMMUTE.
• WHILE FORECASTERS ARE CALLING FOR A LULL IN PRECIPITATION, ROADS MAY REMAIN SLICK FOR SOME TIME, ESPECIALLY SECONDARY ROADS.
• EVEN WHEN ROADS APPEAR CLEAR, THE SIDES OF THE ROADS AND EXIT RAMPS MAY BE SLUSH COVERED AND SLIPPERY.
• RIDOT ENCOURAGES MOTORISTS TO REDUCE THEIR SPEED AND PLAN EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION. AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY TRAVEL.
• FOR THE LATEST ON DELAYS THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR COMMUTE, VISIT HTTP://WWW.TMC.DOT.RI.GOV/.
Business and School Status’
• MANY SCHOOLS IN RHODE ISLAND ARE CONDUCTING EARLY DISMISSALS AS A RESULT OF THE STORMS IMPACT ON THE ROAD CONDITIONS.
• THE COMMUTER RAIL IS RUNNING 15-20 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE. FOR THE LATEST ON COMMUTER RAIL DELAYS VISIT HTTP://WWW.MBTA.COM/RIDER_TOOLS/TRANSIT_UPDATES/.
• THE BLOCK ISLAND FERRY IS STILL RUNNING AS OF 14:15. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE BLOCK ISLAND FERRY VISIT HTTP://WWW.BLOCKISLANDFERRY.COM/.
• MANY FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED BOTH IN BOUND AND OUTBOUNDOUT OF T.F. GREENE AIRPORT. FOR THE LATEST ON DELAYS AND CANCELATIONS VISIT HTTP://WWW.PVDAIRPORT.COM/.
• MANY BUSES ARE DELAYED TODAY AS A RESULT OF THE SNOWY ROAD CONDITIONS. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON DELAYS AND POSSIBLE DETOURS VISIT HTTP://WWW.RIPTA.COM/.
• POWER OUTAGES ARE MINIMAL THIS MORNING. AS OF 14:15, THERE WAS 1 ACTIVE OUTAGE. TO REPORT A POWER OUTAGE, CALL NATIONAL GRID AT: 1-800-465-1212.
Excess Snow and Ice Effect on Small Fishing Vessels and Recreational Boats
• WITHIN THE PAST WEEK THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITHIN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND WHERE RECREATIONAL OR SMALL FISHING VESSELS SUNK AT THEIR PIER OR MOORING DUE TO EXCESS WEIGHT FROM SNOW AND ICE. WITH ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM DUE IN OUR AREA THIS WEEK, MORE VESSELS MAY BE AT RISK.
• HARBORMASTERS, MARINA OWNERS AND OPERATORS, AND OWNERS OF RECREATIONAL OR SMALL FISHING VESSELS STILL IN THE WATER MAY WANT TO EXAMINE THEIR RESPECTIVE BOATS FOR EXCESS SNOW AND ICE AND, IF SAFE TO DO SO, REMOVE THE SNOW AND ICE FROM THE BOAT(S) TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, AND/OR REMOVE THE BOAT(S) FROM THE WATER ALTOGETHER.
• QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS BULLETIN MAY BE ADDRESSED TO MR. EDWARD G. LEBLANC AT U.S. COAST GUARD SECTOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND, 401-435-2351.
• DUE TO THE EXPECTED POOR WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS THAT WILL INCLUDE FLOODING IN SOME AREAS DUE TO THE LARGE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM PREVIOUS STORMS. ALSO, PRIOR TO VENTURING OUT ON THE ROADWAYS PLEASE ENSURE YOUR VEHICLE IS FULLY GASSED, YOUR WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR IS TOPPED OFF, YOU HAVE AN ADEQUATE SNOW REMOVAL SCRAPER DEVICE, AND YOU ARE WEARING OR HAVE THE APPROPRIATE COLD WEATHER CLOTHING SHOULD YOUR VEHICLE BECOME DISABLED.
Driving Safely on Icy Roads • DECREASE YOUR SPEED AND LEAVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP. YOU SHOULD ALLOW AT LEAST THREE TIMES MORE SPACE THAN USUAL BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU.
• BRAKE GENTLY TO AVOID SKIDDING. IF YOUR WHEELS START TO LOCK UP, EASE OFF THE BRAKE.
• TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS TO INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY TO OTHER MOTORISTS.
• KEEP YOUR LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD CLEAN.
• USE LOW GEARS TO KEEP TRACTION, ESPECIALLY ON HILLS.
• DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL OR OVERDRIVE ON ICY ROADS.
• BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES, OVERPASSES AND INFREQUENTLY TRAVELED ROADS, WHICH WILL FREEZE FIRST. EVEN AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING, IF THE CONDITIONS ARE WET, YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER ICE IN SHADY AREAS OR ON EXPOSED ROADWAYS LIKE BRIDGES.
• DON'T PASS SNOW PLOWS AND SANDING TRUCKS. THE DRIVERS HAVE LIMITED VISIBILITY, AND YOU'RE LIKELY TO FIND THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THEM WORSE THAN THE ROAD BEHIND.
• DON'T ASSUME YOUR VEHICLE CAN HANDLE ALL CONDITIONS. EVEN FOUR-WHEEL AND FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES CAN ENCOUNTER TROUBLE ON WINTER ROADS.
Road Safety
• THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND INJURIES DURING WINTER STORMS IS TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS.
• IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, MAKE SURE YOU CAR IS STOCKED WITH SURVIVAL GEAR LIKE BLANKETS, A SHOVEL, FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES, EXTRA WARM CLOTHING, SET OF TIRE CHAINS, BATTERY BOOSTER CABLES, QUICK ENERGY FOODS AND BRIGHTLY-COLORED CLOTH TO USE AS A DISTRESS FLAG.
• KEEP YOUR GAS TANK FULL TO PREVENT GASOLINE FREEZE-UP.
• IF YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE OR TWO-WAY RADIO AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE, KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED AND KEEP IT WITH YOU WHENEVER TRAVELING. IF YOU SHOULD BECOME STRANDED, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CALL FOR HELP, ADVISING RESCUERS OF YOUR LOCATION.
• MAKE SURE SOMEONE KNOWS YOUR TRAVEL PLANS.
• PLAN YOUR STOPS AND KEEP MORE DISTANCE BETWEEN CARS. BE EXTRA ALERT.
• REMEMBER, SNOWDRIFTS CAN HIDE SMALLER CHILDREN.
• MOREOVER, ALWAYS MATCH YOUR SPEED TO THE ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.