Update from West Hartford's Emergency Operations Center

Here is the latest update from the Emergency Operations Center at the West Hartford police department:

Schools

West Hartford Public Schools are closed on Monday, and will remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday as well. Check back for further updates as they become available.

Town Buildings

Town Hall is open. The Bishop's Corner Branch of the West Hartford Public Library is open, but other locations remain closed.

Emergency Shelters/Warming Centers

The Elmwood Community Center is open as both a warming center where residents can get out of the cold and charge cellphones, and it also serves as an emergency shelter. Residents who need to take refuge there for the night are asked to please bring a sleeping bag or bedding, a change of clothes, medicine, and a towel. Space is limited and people will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Bishop's Corner Senior Center is also serving as a warming center, and will remain open until 6 p.m.

Businesses

Most of West Hartford Center has power, including Blue Back Square, and businesses are open. Beware – lines are long at coffee shops, and they are running out of some favorite food items.

Bishop's Corner businesses, including Big Y and the gas stations are also open, but some long lines for gas have been reported. Stations may be running out of gas.

Stop & Shop in Elmwood is open.

Many Park Road restaurants and gas stations are also open.

Westfarms Mall – to the delight of this editor's teenage daughter – is open.

Roads

Some intersections are blocked, but no roads are completely closed. Wires are down throughout town, and although most are not live, everyone should use extreme caution. 

Debris Removal

The Public Works Department will be coordinating a town-wide curbside collection of brush. A date for the start of the collection has not yet been set, but brush can be placed at the curb throughout the cleanup process, and it will likely take several weeks to complete.

Residents are asked to place their brush at the curb – not in the street. All brush should be cut to lengths no longer than six feet, with the butt end out. Only branches 6 inches in diameter or less will be collected.

Residents are encouraged to dispose of brush themselves if possible. EnvironCycle, the town's recycling center, will be open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4p.m. to accept brush from residents.