State officials urge residents to shelter in place as blizzard approaches

State officials held a briefing warning that a major blizzard would bring heavy, wet snow and high winds across Connecticut and urged residents to stay off the roads, prepare emergency supplies and check on vulnerable neighbors.

The governor opened the briefing and repeatedly urged people to "stay off the roads," saying crews need room to operate and that the state is coordinating response among transportation, utility and emergency-management partners. "Advice number 1 is, stay off the roads," the governor said.

Garrett Euclidoz, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, said DOT has mobilized roughly 650 plow trucks and about 900 drivers plus "a couple hundred" contractors. He warned that wet, heavy snow will slow clearing and asked residents to "please stay home" while crews work. Euclidoz said all bus service in the state was suspended at 02:00 and that Shore Line East and the Hartford Line would end service early and have no service tomorrow; Metro-North would operate on a significantly reduced schedule.

Steve Sullivan, responsible for electric operations across Connecticut for Eversource, said the company activated its emergency response plan, staged external contractors and prepared for extensive tree-related damage to lines. Sullivan said Eversource was operating at a level 4 response and that "several hundred thousand customers could be without power," with restoration potentially taking "two to six days" in a major event. He said the field force would be "well over 1,000 crews," working staggered 16-hour shifts as conditions permit.

Ronnell Higgins, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said the Connecticut State Police and the division of emergency management and homeland security had been briefed and that a state police representative would be assigned to the state emergency operations center (EOC) 24/7 during the storm. Bill Turner, the state emergency management director, said the EOC would activate at 5:00 p.m. and described the event as a multi‑hazard blizzard with possible coastal flooding, high winds and "impossible travel" overnight into Monday morning.

Lori Volkert, the state fire marshal, urged residents to follow heating and generator safety guidance: keep space heaters three feet from combustibles, run generators at least 20 feet from homes, do not use grills or propane heaters indoors, and ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have fresh batteries. She also asked residents to keep fire hydrants clear by shoveling three feet around the hydrant to help emergency responders.

Officials repeatedly emphasized neighbor checks and sheltering options: the lieutenant governor reminded people to call 211 for shelter assistance and to help elderly and vulnerable neighbors. When asked about utility coordination, officials said United Illuminating would have a representative in the state EOC beginning at 5:00 p.m. and described a municipal hub that lets towns send restoration requests directly to Eversource for prioritization.

Officials said they expect updates tomorrow and were discussing a follow-up briefing in the morning or early afternoon. The governor thanked longtime responders and closed by stressing patience while crews complete clearing and restoration work.

Next steps: the state emergency operations center will be activated at 5:00 p.m., utility and municipal coordination will continue through the evening, and officials will provide further updates when available.