Granby, East Granby Face the Big Dig; Malloy Orders All Roads Closed

Snow that started about 9 a.m. Friday continued to fall throughout the day and night, leaving Granby and East Granby under massive amounts of snow. Early Saturday morning, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered all roads in Connecticut closed until further notice.

"It's critical right now that residents stay off the roads, so that our plows can continue their efforts to clear our streets and highways," Malloy said. "This is a record setting storm. It's going to take time to dig out of the snow. Stalled or abandoned vehicles will only slow that process. Unless you face an emergency, please stay put."

Saturday is all about digging out and getting power restored to those who lost it. The excessive snow accumulation also creates some serious safety issues.

The state Department of Construction has issued this warning:

Homeowners and business owners that "should be alert to signs of increased stress due to snow and ice overloading. Visible signs such as new or enlarged cracks in walls, sagging roof lines, or water leaks may be indications of excessive snow accumulation. If such signs are observed, an owner may want to remove some snow accumulation to relieve the load on their roof. Extreme caution should be taken to insure personal safety and to avoid damage to the roof while removing ice and snow. 

"Also, vents, air intakes or exhausts for appliances such as boilers, furnaces, hot water heaters, generators or clothes dryers may become blocked by drifting or accumulated snow. Blocked openings have the potential to cause carbon monoxide to build up in buildings. This is a greater concern for direct vented appliances whose discharge vents and air intakes are located near the ground where much higher snow accumulation could occur due to drifting. Snow should be cleared away from openings."