The Town of Newtown used its CodeRED system this morning, telling town employees who do not need to be working during Winter Storm Niko to stay put.

Emergency Communications Director Maureen Will recorded the message, which was distributed to all residents signed up for the CodeRED system. In the brief announcement Ms Will said that Newtown Municipal Center will be closed for the day, and "all non-essential personnel are requested to please stay home."

The town's center of government is expected to reopen on Friday, February 10.

The issuance of the CodeRED comes as Newtown - and the four southern counties of Connecticut - is under a Winter Storm Warning. Winter Storm Niko arrived in the area a few hours past midnight, bringing steady snow into the area.

Similarly, Governor Dannel P. Malloy on Wednesday had asked that nonessential first and second-shift state employees stay home on February 9, also in advance of the coming winter storm.

The governor also announced that planned to activate the state's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Thursday at 5 am to continue coordinating the state's response to the storm.

A bulletin from the National Weather Service's New York City office, issued at 5:30 am Thursday, indicates dangerous travel conditions will remain while the Nor'easter continues its course. Long Island is currently under a Blizzard Warning due to the storm.

The Danbury and Waterbury areas, according to NWS, should see a minimum of 7 inches of snow before the storm moves out to sea. Its 5:30 am report says there is the potential for up to 17 inches, but the "Most Likely Snow Forecast" is for Danbury to have 13 inches of snow to contend with by the time Niko is done in this area.