|
|
« Providence chamber: Consider sending workers home | Today | Update: Oster apparently kills self in verdict's wake » February 22, 2008Storm watch: Leave early, but not all at once / Photo
After 4 p.m., the snow may start to mix with sleet and rain; it’s expected to continue overnight. State agencies are working together to come up with a plan to send employees home early without clogging the roads as snow falls throughout this afternoon. After a conference call this morning, the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, the governor’s office, the Department of Transportation, state police, local emergency management agencies, the Rhode Island National Guard, local colleges and universities and the Chamber of Commerce have asked employees to stagger the times they leave. According to a statement from the EMA, the roads are still in fairly good shape, and will be for an hour or so, the safest times to travel. Ideally, the Agency would like everyone off of the roads between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. And in Massachusetts, the state Emergency Management Agency has already activated its State Emergency Operations Center to provide manpower and other assistance to communities hit hard by the storm. Check the latest closings and cancellations for around our area, courtesy of wpri.com. Not only are the roads a mess, the weather service has issued an airport weather warning for heavy snow at the state airports. Nearly 40 arriving and departing flights have been canceled at T. F. Green Airport, and a handful of flights have been delayed. One plus: This is winter vacation week for the state's public schools. While there have been many cancellations of youth activities and daycare programs so far today, the problem of sending students home on school buses is not likely to arise. Providence students stranded on buses for hours after a December snowstorm led to a widespread outrage and a review of how the city and state conduct their emergency system during snowstorms. In Providence, a parking ban went into effect at noon today and based on weather conditions, could remain in effect until noon tomorrow. The ban may be lifted earlier if weather conditions permit. The Department of Public Works has nearly 85 plows on the roadways, including private vendors, clearing the main arteries, overpasses and hospital routes before working their way to secondary roads, the mayor's office said. District lieutenants from the Providence Police Department have been assigned to monitor key intersections in the city and are prepared to respond needed. Posted by Brandie Jefferson Commentspaula san souci | February 22, 2008 5:06 PM link Sorry to see you guys suffer through these brutal winters. That is why I moved to Key West 4 years ago. 82 and sunny in Key West today:) Mark Entwistle | February 22, 2008 5:07 PM link The two good things about this storm were: 1. kids were on school vacation, so less cars on the road and 2. the storm was on a Friday, so the smart ones took the day off for an extended weekend..This was better than the 12/13 storm by far..It took me 40 minutes to drive from Warwick to Pawtucket this time..The last time, it took me 9 hrs! SD | February 22, 2008 8:00 PM link I love the 4 seasons here in RI, My dopey brother moved to Florida 5 years ago and he loves going shopping before 10am so he doesn't fry in the auto in the 100 degree summer heat. As far as taxes go, yes the corrupt pols in the state house comprised of teachers, lawyers, union hacks and their ilk have bankrupted this fine state. They always can fall back on blaming whatever Governor is currently in the state house though. The legislature is made up mostly of pond scum. Marcus | February 22, 2008 10:18 PM link Sorry to see RI suffer but that's New England! Left RI over a year ago for Hawaii. Today was sunny and cold winter temp. of 81 degrees in Honolulu. Ken Williamson | February 22, 2008 11:43 PM link "the Rhode Island National Guard, local colleges and universities and the Chamber of Commerce have asked employees to stagger the times they leave." Ok - great Idea, BUT under what plan? It's niced to say go home "staggered" - but does the Governor have a plan thatwill tell employees in different areas of the state when to go home? I was appaled to hear this announcement made whith no direction at all to the workers. RI, more of the same - talk, talk, talk! Rick Edwards | February 23, 2008 6:53 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
|
ADVERTISING |
|
|
|
|
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Glad I left Rhode Island. I am sitting in 85 degree sunny Naples FLorida weather..YEAHHHHH
And .. NO STATE INCOME TAX. DOUBLE YEAHHHH