Groton Shoppers Prepare for the Storm

Groton shoppers kept Johnson's True Value Hardware busy Thusday as residents stocked up on snow shovels, rock salt, generators and portable heaters to prepare for a blizzard and the power outages likely to follow.

"Better to be safe than sorry," said Tiffany Evans Planchon, of Groton, who bought lanterns at Johnson's, than headed to the grocery. "I'd rather be overprepared than underprepared."

Groton Public Schools closed schools and canceled all school-related activites.

Groton City Police issued a parking ban from 8 a.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday on these streets: Thames Street from Broad Street to School Street, Slocomb Terrace, Beckwith Place, Latham Street (odd side only) and Fort Street (odd side only).

Bill Johnson, vice president of Johnson's True Value, said residents were also filling propane tanks so they'd have something to cook with if they lost power.

"I think everyone's running around trying to get everything they can, especially with the threat of a power outage. That's the biggest fear," he said.

Kathy Napert, of East Lyme, stopped during her lunch break to pick up a roof rake and ice melt.

"I really think it's going to be like the storm of '78, which I lived through," she said. "I'm also concerned about flooding." She didn't plan to grocery shop, however.

During the last two hurricanes, she said she stocked her refrigerator, then lost $500 worth of groceries after she lost power for eight days.

She had a Groton tree service take down two pine trees in her yard last week, she said.

"I miss my trees," she said. "But now that we're going to get a lot of wind, I won't miss them."