Conn. Governor Declares State of Emergency

The storm was forecast to bring up to a foot or more to central and western parts of the state.

 A nor'easter delivered an early blast of wet, heavy snow Saturday that snapped tree limbs, forced road closings and knocked out power to more than half a million customers in Connecticut. The storm was blamed for one death in the state.

The storm, which caused more power outages than Hurricane Gloria in the 1980s, was also on its way to shattering October snowfall records across southern New England.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy declared a state of emergency as he urged residents to show patience with utilities that would likely take days to restore electricity. He said one person was killed in a traffic accident blamed on slippery conditions in Colchester and a state trooper was injured in a separate accident.

    
"We would like people to stay off the roads as much as possible," said Malloy, who signed an order earlier Saturday banning non emergency vehicles on the Wilbur Cross and Merritt Parkways because of dangerous driving conditions.
    
The storm was forecast to bring up to a foot or more to central and western parts of the state before tapering off Sunday morning.
    
In Danbury, a fire department dispatcher said crews were responding to calls about trees that fell onto two houses, but no injuries were reported. Mayor Mark Boughton ordered all drivers off local roads as of 4 p.m. due to downed limbs and dangerous conditions. He said only emergency vehicles were allowed out on the roads.
 
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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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