Power goes out for thousands, evacuations expected as blizzard’s impact begins to be felt (http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/02/08/national-weather-service-repeats-its-warning-blizzard-coming-blizzard-coming/lu16IdVkHUKvWpeDP5hf9K/story.html)
www.boston.com | February 8, 2013

…Roads emptied out late this afternoon as drivers apparently heeded an extremely rare order issued by Governor Deval Patrick banning driving after 4 p.m….

Patrick, at a news conference this afternoon at the state’s emergency bunker, announced that he was declaring a state of emergency to allow the state to take special steps and mobilize assets to ensure residents’ safety….

Kurt Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said at the news conference that the travel ban announced by Patrick applied to all roads in the state, but there were various exceptions, such as for public safety, media, and vehicles supplying essential businesses like convenience stores and hardware stores. Violating the travel ban, he said, could incur a penalty of a year in jail and a $500 fine.…