All that talk of a mild winter has quickly gone out the window.

What the National Weather Service described as a “crippling and potentially historic blizzard” descended on the Ocean State this week, shutting down schools, city and town halls, businesses and roadways. Even before it arrived, the Blizzard of ’15 – or Winter Storm Juno – evoked memories of the Blizzard of ’78 and other major storms, and the stark warnings issued about the impending snowfall spoke plainly to the seriousness of the situation.

“Heavy snow and strong winds will result in white-out/blizzard conditions with near zero visibility,” read a NWS advisory from Monday morning. “Travel will be impossible and life threatening across the entire region…those venturing outdoors may become lost or disoriented.”

Accumulations of 20 to 30 inches were predicted across the region, with snow falling as quickly as two to four inches an hour. Downed tree limbs, extended power outages, high-velocity wind gusts – all were foreseen during the blizzard, which began Monday afternoon and was set to linger through early Wednesday.

Governor Gina Raimondo on Monday signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency, a step she said was essential given the magnitude of the approaching weather. She also declared a travel ban starting at midnight on Tuesday, to remain in place until further notice.

“I have become convinced that due to the severity of the storm, lives in Rhode Island are at risk,” the governor said, flanked by other state leaders and emergency officials at the State House.

“My message to the people of Rhode Island is to get prepared,” she added. “It’s going to be the most severe storm that we’ve seen in years, maybe decades…we have to prepare, so hunker down.”

Major storms are nothing new to Rhode Islanders, or to all New Englanders. Thankfully, unlike in the past, technology has allowed us to be aware of what’s ahead and to plan accordingly.

We urge all our readers to heed the official warnings, to be prepared, and to reach out to loved ones and neighbors who are especially vulnerable during this time of crisis. Together, we will get through this, and do so safely.