Trash pickup to replace Tuesday morning pickup.

Message from Mayor Tim O'Brien for people for Tuesday trash collection:

Good news for people whose trash could not be collected this Tuesday morning because the storm was coming through: I have succeeded in working something out a replacement trash collection.

For people whose trash was not collected yesterday (Tuesday) morning, I have worked about a Friday morning pickup for your trash. That means, if you normally leave your trash out Monday nights for Tuesday morning pickup, for this week only, you can leave your trash out tomorrow (Thursday) night for a Friday morning pickup. It is possible that the pickup on some streets might not be completed on Friday, but those streets are to be done on Saturday.

This is still more work to be done in the wake of the storm, but I hope this helps.

Cleaning up and celebrating Halloween

A message from Mayor Tim O'Brien: Cleaning up and celebrating Halloween.

City and utility workers continue clean up and fix up after the storm. As of this message, there are still people in the city without power, and we are continuing our work with CL&P on that. We are also working on clearing fallen branches, trees and other debris and are otherwise working to return life in our city to normal. I want to thank all of the city workers who worked hard to serve and protect city residents and businesses during the storm, and let me share my appreciation to our city's residents for doing what you needed to do to prepare and be ready.

Here are some updates and information:

• With the storm emergency passed, the New Britain Emergency Operations Center, which had been open for the storm since yesterday morning, closed today. The city is, however, continuing to work on clean-up and restoration.
• The Senior Center, which had operated as our city's shelter through the night, closed this morning.
• To help the city's residents, our Recycling Center at 642 Christian Lane in Berlin will be available during normal hours for city residents to bring trash, wood debris and recycling. This will be free for New Britain residents until Saturday. Please bring a proof of residency to access this free service.
• This (Tuesday) morning trash pick-up was cancelled and it is not practical for the city to reschedule the city's pickups to allow Tuesday pick up until next Tuesday morning. I apologize for any inconvenience. However, the Recycling Center is free for city residents to bring trash until Saturday, if you would like.
• If your recycling pick-up was for this (Tuesday) morning, we have scheduled a special recycling pickup for you for next Tuesday morning. After that, your recycling schedule returns to normal.

Halloween!

• The City's downtown Halloween celebration will be happening tomorrow (Wednesday) night. My house at 25 South High Street and many downtown businesses and organizations will have treats for kids and fun programs from 4:30pm to 6pm. At 6:30pm, there will be a costume parade for the kids and prizes for great costumes.
• For trick or treating citywide, please be safe. Some neighborhoods may still have some debris on the ground and, of course, please keep kids (and adults) away from any downed power lines.

Thanks so much, again. And have a fun and safe Halloween!

Post Storm Safety Information

After Storm Safety Information from Mayor Tim O'Brien.

With the storm past us, there are some important safety tips that I would ask people to keep in mind as the city and utilities clean-up.

• If you don't have to go out in the early morning, please avoid doing so, as there are still downed power lines and trees. The city and utilities are working to clean those up, and I want to ensure your safety.
• School has been cancelled for today (Tuesday).
• Please stay away from downed power lines. Please especially make sure there are no downed power lines where children might be. You can report downed power lines and branches by calling 860-826-3000.
• The Senior Center at 55 Pearl Street will be open today as a shelter, Tuesday, at least during the day, if you do not have power or for any other reason you feel you need it.

I would like to thank all everyone in our community for being careful and conscientious during the during the storm.

Storm Safety Message from Mayor Tim O’Brien, October 28, 2012, 6:50pm

An Important Safety Message from Mayor Tim O’Brien 

 Dear New Britain resident,

Ø  Hurricane Sandy is approaching Connecticut. This is a large, dangerous storm that will impact New Britain, for a period of 24 to 36 hours beginning Monday.

Please be advised of the following: Ø   New Britain, is expecting high winds of 40 - 60 MPH and heavy rain. Ø   Downed trees, power outages and flooding are expected with this storm. New Information ·         Due to this storm, all public and private schools will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.    ·         There will be no trash or recycling collection for Tuesday morning pick-up. ·         The Senior Citizen Center on Pearl St. will open Monday morning at 8 am as a shelter. Please do these things today: •       Bring inside all lawn furniture, cooking grills and trash bins. •       Be prepared to be self-sufficient in your home for 72 hours. •       Have food, water, flashlights and a battery operated radio available. •       Charge all cell phones. •       Check on elderly and at risk neighbors and relatives. •       Stay informed, listen to storm information, and please take action now.       Please remember these things for your families’ safety:  •       Do not use candles for lighting, use flashlights. •       Do not use propane or charcoal grills indoors for any reason. •       Stay away from downed power lines. •       Call 860-826-3000, to report fallen trees, fallen wires and flooding. •       Call 9-1-1 for police, fire and medical emergencies. Updates will continue to be available at www.newbritainct.gov as the city continues our work for you during the storm. Thank you for your cooperation.

Severe weather watches are in effect.

Here is the weather watch information affecting New Britain from the National Weather Service:

The prediction on wind:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE
MONDAY NIGHT.

* LOCATIONS...ALL OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

* HAZARDS...VERY STRONG TO DAMAGING WINDS.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.

* TIMING...STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR MONDAY AND MONDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES POSSIBLE.

The prediction on rain is:

  PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL. RAINFALL OF 1.5
  TO 3 INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE WATCH AREA. HOWEVER
  LOCALIZED TOTALS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...WHICH WOULD
  BRING THE THREAT OF URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING. THE HIGHEST
  PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO FALL ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN AND
  HILLS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...AND EAST FACING SLOPES OF SAID
  HIGHER TERRAIN. FLOOD ISSUES COULD LINGER INTO TUESDAY.

Again, please be aware of news about the upcoming storm, and please do follow my advise on this blog and at www.newbritainct.gov to prepare and be safe.

City officials have been working to prepare.

Thank you very much -

~Tim O'Brien
   Mayor
   New Britain

Hurricane Sandy information - October 27, 2012, 7:54pm

An Important Safety Message from Mayor Timothy E. O’Brien

Saturday, October 27, 2012, 7:54pm

Dear New Britain resident,

New Britain officials are monitoring the status of the approaching Hurricane Sandy. This is a large, dangerous storm with the potential of impacting the state for a period of 24 to 36 hours beginning late Monday. City agencies are preparing for the storm.

Please be advised of the following:

• Connecticut, including New Britain, is expecting heavy winds, with stronger gusts, and rain in excess of 5 inches.

• Downed trees, power outages and flooding are expected with this storm.

New Britain officials are requesting residents to do the following:

Now

• Monitor the path of the storm
• Top off all generators and vehicles with fuel.
• Prepare an emergency kit consisting of nonperishable food, water, flashlights with fresh batteries, and a battery-powered radio.
• Remove / secure lightweight items from your yards.
• Be prepared to be self-sufficient in your home for 72 hours.
• Stay informed, listen to your local authorities, and please take action now.

For more information and emergency instructions please go to www.getreadycapitolregion.org and www.newbritainct.gov

During / After the Storm

• Do not use candles for lighting, use flashlights.
• Do not use propane or charcoal grills indoors for any reason
• To report fallen trees, wires down and flooding, call 860-826-3000.
• Maintain your safety, but if possible, check on your neighbors.
• For emergency assistance from police, fire, EMS, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Mayor Timothy E. O’Brien