As of Sunday afternoon, more than 50 percent of Hamden’s roads remain impassable, according to the town of Hamden’s automated phone call to residents Sunday night. Roads with first plowing priority like Dixwell Avenue, Whitney Avenue, Shepard Avenue and Evergreen Avenue have been plowed since Saturday morning. However, most clear roads are still narrow.
Mayor Scott D. Jackson sent out an automated phone call earlier this evening where he outlined the progress the town is making with snow removal. Mayor Jackson continues to urge residents to stay off the roads for faster efforts from snow removals.
“The more people can stay off the roads the faster our crews will be able to make them passable,” Jackson said.
The town of Hamden will bring in snow removal equipment from out of state in order to speed the snow removal process over the next few days. Regular plowing equipment has proved ineffective with the chart-topping volume of snow Hamden received this weekend.
“Most of our heavy equipment was not even able to get up roads without getting stuck and slowing our efforts to assist our emergency police, fire and medical vehicles get where they needed to be,” he said.
Payloaders and plows will work together to clear away the snow, rather than just pushing it into driveways and sidewalks.
“The process is slower but ultimately more effective for residents,” Jackson said. “We have contracted with multiple private entities to augment our equipment already, and the Town has requested National Guard assistance with snow removal.”
Hamden Public Works has been working in “storm mode” since Friday morning and according to Mayor Jackson will remain working 24/7 until all streets are cleared.
President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Connecticut today thus implementing federal aid to the state, according to the Post-Chronicle.
There are more than 4,000 National Guard troops available to help with removing snow or rescuing stranded residents, Connecticut National Guard spokesman Col. John Whitford said. Residents must request help through the Office of Emergency Management.
Hamden had the highest snowfall of any town affected by the storm this weekend. The recorded 40 inch total was Hamden’s highest snowfall in over 40 years, exceeding the Blizzard of 1978.
“We are fortunate that there has been no loss of life, no significant property damage and no widespread power outages,” Jackson said. According to Hamden Patch, 19 homes lost power through the storm, but as of Sunday night,, United Illuminating was reporting only 6 locations in Hamden without power.
