Crime & Safety

Winter Storm: Norton Information Center

Stay up to date with the latest on this weekend's winter storm.

Norton Patch will keep you in the know about what's happening around town during superstorm Nemo. Below is a list of closings, storm safety tips and important phone numbers to keep handy. Norton Patch will also use Cover It Live so Patch editors and readers alike can share information and photos on what's happening.

NORTON PATCH STORM CENTRAL UPDATES, CLOSINGS & MORE:

Monday, Feb. 10

Find out what's happening in Nortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

3:30 p.m.: Interim superintendent Dr. Christopher Martes: "We will have school tomorrow unless something unusual happens overnight."

11:40 a.m.: The parking ban in Norton will be in effect at least through today. It will be reevaluated tomorrow. 

Find out what's happening in Nortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The School Committee meeting, 2014 budget hearing and middle school girls basketball game scheduled for tonight has been cancelled.

Saturday, Feb. 9

9:30 p.m.: Classes at Wheaton College have been cancelled for Monday, Feb. 11.

5:55 p.m.: Southeastern Vocational Technical High School and Bishop Feehan High School will be closed Monday.

3:29 p.m.: Cardinal Spellman has been added to the area schools closed for tomorrow.

3:15 p.m.: Norton Public Schools and Foxborough Charter School will be closed Monday.

1:13 p.m.: New Testament Christian School will be closed Monday.

11:30 a.m.: Charlene A. Fisk, director of communications for the Town of Norton, urges residents to help by staying off the road so highway can continue to clean up roadways. She also asks residents to dig out fire hydrants, clean street drains and get the snow off roofs in anticipation of tommorrow’s rain storm. The wet heavy snow can damage or collapse a roof in a short amount of time.

6:23 p.m.: National Grid said that everyone in Norton should have power within the next 12 hours.

1:30 p.m.: Norton Police Department says no one has been cited for violation of the driving ban. The driving ban will be lifted 4 p.m. Right now there are narrow roadways. Mansfield Avenue is currently closed at Smith Street. Todd Drive Ext. is closed due to a wire across the road. No other roads are closed. 

11:11 a.m.: There will be no mail delivery today.

For those within walking distance, Michael Legendre says that Tedeschis in Norton is open. They have plenty of coffee, milk and other supplies you may need.

10:52 a.m.: According to National Grid, 393 Norton customers are without power. They are currently assessing the condition and do not have a time estimate of how long it will be before power is restored.

1:07 a.m.: No power on Eddy Street. 

Friday, Feb. 8

11:43 p.m.: National Grid lists 379 customers without power.

11:35 p.m.: Police are handling numerous streets impassable by fallen trees. Highway is working to remove them. Mansfield Avenue is detoured at Smith Street.

9:55 p.m.: According to National Grid, 167 Norton customers are without power. Reader say S. Worcester Street and Massasoit Avenue are included in that number.

4:13 p.m.: The post office will be closed tomorrow. 

1:36 p.m.: From Nine Lives of Norton: "In case there's any doubt, we will NOT be having adoption hours tomorrow. We'll play it by ear as far as Sunday hours. Stay safe out there."

12:53 p.m.: Governor Patrick: "I have signed an executive order banning vehicle traffic effective at 4 p.m. today."

10:49 a.m.: For life threatening emergencies only dial 911. For all other assistance, wires down, etc. dial 508-285-3300.

9:45 a.m.: Norton Town Hall will close at noon.

12:30 a.m.: Southeastern Regional Vocational High School will be closed today, along with all schools in the area.

Thursday, Feb. 7

11:28 p.m.: Due to the impending storm on Friday, the Providence Bruins game has been cancelled. The Norton Public Schools' Family Night planned for that night will be rescheduled to a Friday night in March. Information regarding the new date will be forthcoming.

Gold's Gym is expected to close at 5 p.m. Friday. Morning classes and babysitting will be available, but evening classes will be cancelled. The gym will open 10 a.m. Saturday, but classes and babysitting have been cancelled. 

“We’re asking tonight declaration of a state of emergency for tomorrow afternoon so that Norton has the legal authority to be prepared for the emergency, to respond to the emergency and take steps required under federal and state laws to comply with emergency response,” he said.

7:20 p.m. Norton selectmen approved a request from deputy director of emergency management Ray Cord to declare a state of emergency in Norton. LaSalette will be used as a warming station, and if there are extended periods of power loss, will be used as a shelter.

7:01 p.m.: All Old Colony Music Together classes are canceled Friday and Saturday due to the winter storm. These classes will be made up Feb. 22 and 23.

6:38 p.m.: Cardinal Spellman has cancelled school for Friday.

6:13 p.m.: Foxborough Regional Charter School will be closed Friday.

6:11 p.m.: Friday classes, weekend activities cancelled for Wheaton College.

6:04 p.m.: Foxborough Regional Charter School will have early dismissal Friday.

5:55 p.m.: Norton Public Schools have cancelled classes for Friday.

4:48 p.m.: From interim superintendent Dr. Christopher Martes: NHS and LG Nourse will be dismissed at 11 a.m., Yelle at 11:30 a.m., NMS at noon and Solmonese at 12:30 p.m. "If that holds up and the forecast stays the same, all will be home by 1:30 p.m," he said. "The last storm prediction is it will start to intensify between 2 and 5 p.m. I will let you know if anything changes and I have to cancel the day."

3:35 p.m.: Norton Public Schools will be dismissed early Friday.

2:58 p.m.: New Testament Christian School will be closed Friday.

2:41 p.m.: Southeastern Vocational Technical High School will be closing three hours early Friday.

1:42 p.m.: Parking ban in effect for Norton tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 8 at noon. Vehicles that remain on the street will be towed.

1:34 p.m.: From Highway Department Superintendent Keith Silver: 

Please keep all roadways clear. Street parking is not permitted in the winter.   Remove any and all articles on the roadside or curbside, including basketball stands. Make sure your mailboxes are secure and sturdy.

12:00 p.m.: Wheaton College will likely have announcements by Thursday evening concerning any special plans, parking advisories or rescheduled events due to the storm. 

 

Scroll down for important phone numbers, websites and more. Stay with Norton Patch as we keep you updated throughout the storm.

For instant updates on weather and storm news (and more!), follow Norton Patch on Facebook and Twitter, or sign-up for our e-mail newsletter.

See a tree down in your neighborhood? Notice a road is icy? Just saw a store clerk put out more snow melt products? Please use this story on Norton Patch to help out your neighbors.

As we prepare for the winter storm, we want to make sure that Norton stays connected. For live updates during the storm, be sure to download our App for your smartphone or tablet and 'like' Norton Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Norton Patch is all about connecting neighbors and helping neighbors so we hope you’ll find this information hub helpful during the storm. Stay safe Norton!

National Grid Urges Storm Safety 

National Grid has started preparing for widespread, prolonged power outages that could result from the predicted blizzard-like conditions. Although the path of the storm still is being monitored, crew assignments are being developed and equipment readied in anticipation of harsh weather. 

“We continue to monitor the weather and are taking action now to be able to respond quickly and safely to potential outages that could occur. Our pre-planning activities are in anticipation of a very damaging storm,” said Kathy Lyford, vice president, New England Operations. “We take the safety of the public and our employees very seriously. We are reaching out to our life support and critical care customers and have plans in place to provide regular updates for customers.” 

Several steps have already been taken to prepare for the possibility of service interruptions. These include the following: 

- Implementing our storm command system to coordinate preparation and restoration efforts throughout the event; 

- Contacting our contractors with whom we regularly work for storm support; 

- Planning to bring in additional resources and crews as needed; 

- Continuous monitoring of the storm, setting up staging areas and positioning our resources to best respond to storm outages; 

- Reaching out to state, regional and local officials to inform them of our plans and open the lines of communication;

- Providing routine public updates. 

Customers Urged to Keep in Touch 

In addition to Outage Central, National Grid offers a number of ways for customers to report outages or learn about restoration efforts and important safety information. Here’s how: 

Outage reporting hotline – Massachusetts and Rhode Island customers can call 1-800-465-1212 to report an outage. 

Text messages – Customers can receive text message alerts and updates through a free service the company offers. Text the word STORM to NGRID (64743) to sign up for the service. 

National Grid uses social media – Facebook and Twitter – to communicate with customers about service issues and interruptions during storms. 

E-mail alerts are also available to customers who create an online profile on the company’s website. All alert services can be started and stopped at the customer’s request. 

Customers can use their mobile devices to track outage information and storm related safety tips through National Grid’s new mobile site that can be accessed at nationalgrid.com

Staying Safe 

National Grid wants everyone to stay safe before, during and after the storm. Here are some tips to help customers avoid injuries and stay safe: 

- People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223. 

- It’s a good idea to have a number of working flashlights, at least one battery-operated radio and an extra supply of batteries in your home. A radio is a good way to stay in touch, as National Grid provides news media with timely information regarding service restoration efforts. 

 - If you plan to use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to only operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize crew safety. 

- If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. 
 
 
- After the storm, be sure never to touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see a downed power line, keep everyone away and call us immediately at 1-800-465-1212. 

- Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it’s an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food. 

- Please leave damaged poles alone. Handling or cutting utility poles—or burning them in your fireplace, woodstove or furnace—potentially exposes you to the chemicals used to treat and preserve these poles. 

- Please drive carefully and use caution when driving near any repair crews working to restore power. 

- Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage. 

RELATED STORY LINKS

  • Blizzard Forecast for Norton
  • Upload Your Norton Blizzard Photos
  • Avoid a Roof Collapse: How to Clear Snow From Your Rooftop
  • What Do You Think About Gov. Patrick’s Travel Ban?
  • Travel Ban Lifted Statewide as of 4 PM
  • After the Storm - Rain Forecast for Monday
  • Got Power? Let Us Know
  • 5 Things Feb. 9: Day Two of the February 2013 Blizzard
  • MAP: How Much Snow Has Fallen in Norton?
  • Share Your Photos: How Much Snow Do You Have?
  • Morning Forecast Puts Snow Totals Closer to 3 Feet
  • Norton Declares State of Emergency
  • 5 Things Feb. 8: Blizzard Edition
  • Transcript: Blizzard of '13 Live Chat
  • Blizzard Forecast for Norton
  • NWS Issues Blizzard Watch for Norton
  • 35 Years Later: What Do You Remember From the Blizzard of ’78?

IMPORTANT NUMBERS & WEBSITES: 

  • In an emergency, dial 911
  • Norton Police Department: 508-285-3300
  • Norton Fire Department: 508-285-0248
  • Highway Department: 508-285-0237
  • National Grid power outages: 800-465-1212
  • National Grid gas emergencies: 800-233-5325
  • Verizon: 1-800-837-4966
  • Comcast: 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278)

Snow removal:

  • B & B Landscaping

Towing: 

  • Buster's Auto Body: 508-222-6602

NORTON PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Norton