I'd like them to keep off the roads until the roads are clear.”

John King, Portsmouth Emergency Management

PORTSMOUTH — Local residents were hunkering down Thursday during winter storm Grayson, with only a few scattered cars seen braving the roads.

John King, director of Portsmouth Emergency Management Agency (EMA), was riding out the storm in the town’s emergency operations center on the second floor of the fire station.

“It’s pretty quiet up here, and we’d like to keep it that way,” he said when interviewed at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Mr. King’s first word of advice to Portsmouth residents was to stay indoors.

“I’d like to keep them off the roads until the roads are clear,” said Mr. King, who had not heard of any major accidents, power outages or other problems due to the storm as of 3 p.m.

“At this present time, we have zero power outages on all of Aquidneck Island,” he said. 

When asked if he anticipated any power outages later in the day, he responded, “I wish I knew. They’d have to pay me a lot more if I did.”

If any residents are in need of shelter, the Regional Emergency Shelter serving Portsmouth, Newport and Middletown at the JH Gaudet Middle School, 1113 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, will be open to the public when the roads are safe, he said.

“The shelter will not open until the island police chiefs declare the roads are safe for travel; we do that intentionally,” Mr. King said. "If there are people who still need transportation, they should call their local fire departments (401/683-1200 for Portsmouth). If there are not enough resources for that, we have a plan for buses to take them.”

If the Gaudet shelter reaches its capacity, an additional shelter will be opened at Portsmouth High School, with Portsmouth Middle School as an alternate site, he said.

Updates and alerts can be found on the Portsmouth EMA Facebook page.

No school Friday

Public schools canceled classes Thursday, and they'll remained closed on Friday, Jan. 5.

Riding it out

On the Portsmouth Times Facebook page, readers shared what they were doing to pass the storm.

“Watching the newest Barbra Streisand concert on Netflix,” said one.

“Watching the news while drinking coffee,” said another.

“Cooking and drinking beer,” added another.

Clements’ opens for a few hours

Clements’ Marketplace, which was besieged by shoppers picking up last-minute items on Wednesday, initially said it would be open until noon on Thursday. 

However, the store later announced it would close an hour earlier to the “rapidly deteriorating conditions,” in order to keep its staff safe.

Tractor trailer ban

With heavy snow and high winds impacting Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo instituted a restriction banning tractor trailer trucks from all state highways from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, January 4.

This restriction will aid in the Rhode Island Department of Transportation's (RIDOT) efforts to keep highways passable and safe for emergency vehicles. Already today the Rhode Island State Police has reported nearly a dozen incidents with tractor trailers becoming disabled and blocking travel lanes.

RIDOT is advising all motorists to use caution when traveling during the storm. If you have to be out, slow down, avoid distraction, buckle up and never drive impaired, RIDOT says. If you encounter plows, do not pass them and keep a safe distance behind, RIDOT advises. 

Parking ban

A parking ban remains in effect until noon on Friday, Jan. 5.

Road conditions

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by dialing 511.