Vernon Storm Center: Friday, Feb. 8, Saturday, Feb. 9

Here is the latest on the current winter storm:

• The Emergency Operations Center remains open, but for a 6 a.m. shift change, Supewrintendent of Schools Mary Conway, Police Chief James Kenny, Deputy Emergency Management Director Michael Bova and Finance Director James Luddecke had to be picked up by emergency crews.

• Several calls have come into the EOC aboutredints over-exerting themselves while clearing snow. Officials are urging residents to drink fluids and take the proper rest periods - and ask for neighborly help if medical conditions exist - when clearing snow. 

• The prediction of 30 inches seems accurate, but drifts can be as high as 5-feet. Most roads in town were impassable on Saturday morning, Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro said.

• A decision on schools will not liklely be made on Saturday, Purcaro said. At 9 a.m., crews - with a fresh work exemption from the Department of Motor Vehicles - were still trying to get the main roads cleared and could not even think about parking lots, Purcaro said.

• Right on cue, the storm intensified at 9 p.m. Winds were close to 40 mph and the snow was at a pace of about 3 inches per hour. About a foot was on the ground in most spots around town.Visibility was poor and few civilian vehicles were on the roads. By 11, about another half-a-foot had fallen.

From 3 to 8 p.m., Vernon police had eight calls. By 10, the count was 18 - mostly medicals and domestics. One arrest had been made on an outstanding warrant, police said.

• Vernon Diner declared it was staying open. A-1 Brick Oven Pizza was open and deivering.

• Shortly after 7 p.m., Fire Chief William Call ordered all firefighters to their respective stations.

• The Department of Motor Vehicles issued an emergency exemption for plow driver operating hours.

• Until 6 p.m., with crews making constant passes around town, the roads were generally passable. But as the storm intensified, public safety officials were urging residents to stay off the roads.

• After taking what he said was "the last train out of Washington," U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney came home to Vernon on Thursday night. Counrtney joined a conference call with the governor at 5:30 p.m.

• Police are reminding residents that an on-street parking ban willbe in effect until eight hours after the snow stops.

• Mayor George Apel signed declaration of emergency civil preparedness at 12:35 p.m. at the snow, which began at about 9 a.m., began to intensify.

• Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the state declaration of emergency preparedness at 11:45 a.m. 

• The state meteorologist said that north central Connecticut can expect the worst of the storm to hit between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday. The snow should taper off to flurries by noontime Saturday, but before that it the storm will feature blizzard - and even whiteout - conditions with snow falling at the rate of 5 inches per hour with strong winds. The town could get more than 30 inches of snow from the storm.

• The National Guard, state police and local police are working together to assist stranded motorists. The governor is urging folks to stay off the state's roads.

• The Vernon Emergency Operations Center will be activated at 3 p.m.

• The regional emergency shelter at Vernon Center Middle School was on stand-by as of 1 p.m. The shelter is always pet-friendly, but animals must be crated.

• Friday's trash and recycling has been called off and the Friday collections will resume in a week. 

Vernon Patch will update storm information as it develops.