Mayor Drew to Citizens: Safety Priority One During Blizzard

UPDATE: 11:21 p.m. Friday: NBC Connecticut is predicting up to 30 inches of snow in Central Connecticut, including Middletown. From 2-4 a.m., the worst of the storm will hit us, and by daybreak, our city will see the blazing blizzard moving on.

Just after 11 p.m. Friday, Mayor Dan Drew offered this message to citizens on his Facebook page: "I am strongly urging everyone to stay off the roads as long as possible tomorrow. This is a very significant accumulation and cleanup will continue through the weekend. Stay safe!"

Original version:

The mayor is asking all residents to refrain from driving as the blizzard, which is expected to drop anywhere between 14 and 20 inches of snow on the city, begins to hit Middletown hard.

Mayor Dan Drew, who is known for his proactive stance on potential weather dangers like when he issued a curfew ahead of last October's Hurricane Sandy, posted a photograph of the city's emergency operations center bustling along midday Friday on his Facebook page, "Our EOC is open and we're prepared for whatever comes our way!"

Accordingly, Drew is asking all Middletown residents for their safety to stay home. 

A parking ban is in effect for all city streets and all city parking lots are open for off-street parking, according to a press release issued by Middletown Fire Marshal Al Santostefano late Friday afternoon.

The warming center at South Church will be on the following schedule: Feb. 8, 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., Feb. 9, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

The shelter at Middletown High School is not open. The governor has ordered all unnecessary vehicles off the roads so plow crews can keep up with the accumulating snow 

Middletown City Hall closed at 11:30 a.m. Friday. 

Middletown Patch is compiling all cancellations, postponements and closings throughout the course of the blizzard. Check back here for up-to-the-minute information.