NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WFSB) – It’s all hands on deck as Connecticut prepares for Winter Storm Benjamin, with grocery stores packed, gas stations busy, and plow drivers getting ready for what could be a long day ahead.
The Stop and Shop parking lot on Washington Avenue in North Haven has been filled for hours, with people coming out carrying gallons of milk, bread and shovels to prepare for their snow days ahead.
“This is New England, deal with it,” said Frank Skoranski of North Haven, who was filling up his gas tank and preparing his snow blower.
“I’d rather not have it, but here it is. We’ve been lucky the last few years, so I guess we have to accept it,” Skoranski said.
He stopped to fuel up after leaving the KFC his family owns in Derby, joining many others getting ready for the storm.
“I got gas for my snow blower, and I made sure work is all set,” he said. “Food and groceries my wife took care of, so I don’t have to worry about any of that.”
Not everyone has been so lucky with their preparations. At the Stop and Shop in North Haven, it’s been a sea of people getting groceries, with some even picking up shovels.
Stephanie Powell, who just got promoted to oversee the dairy department, says it’s been overwhelming.
“It’s been very, very stressful,” Powell said. “We’re trying to keep up with the fast-paced environment of the milk and eggs just flying off the shelves.”
As residents stock up, plow drivers are preparing for long shifts ahead. The Department of Transportation has 650 trucks and 900 operators ready to clear state roads. They’ll all be working 12-hour shifts until cleanup is done.
In nearby New Haven, 36 plows will take care of over 230 miles of city roads.
To help plow crews do their jobs effectively, state officials have a clear message: stay home.
“Travel conditions are going to be treacherous and incredibly difficult on Sunday, with a high rate of snowfall,” said Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the Department of Transportation. “Our plow drivers can’t really do their job effectively if there are vehicles stopped on the roadside unable to traverse.”
Skoranski plans to follow that advice.
“I’ll go home and relax, and then tomorrow I’ll watch the football games all day,” he said.
Many parking bans are already in effect or will be soon. In North Haven, the ban starts at midnight. Residents need to move their cars to avoid getting towed during the storm.
The Stop and Shop on Washington Avenue is planning to stay open both Sunday and Monday for anyone braving the storm who needs essentials.
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