ASSOCIATED PRESS
An August 30, 2010 satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurriane Earl. Hurricane Earl, now a powerful Category 4 storm, barreled toward the U.S. coast early Tuesday, August 31, 2010 after battering tiny islands across the northeastern Caribbean with heavy rain and winds that damaged homes and toppled power lines.
With Connecticut under a Tropical Storm warning, Gov. M. Jodi Rell asked President Obama to issue a "pre-landfall" declaration of emergency Thursday.
The Governor's request seeks federal funding for efforts to ensure public safety and security during the storm.
"Whether the storm arrives as a full-on hurricane or as relatively milder rains and strong winds, state and local governments have a critical responsibility to ensure the safety of our residents," Gov. Rell said. "This request for a federal emergency declaration will make sure that Connecticut taxpayers will not have to bear the costs of these measures."
The state has been coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Gov. Rell has ordered the full activation of the state's Emergency Operations Center at the State Armory in Hartford beginning Friday morning.