City officials in New Haven are tracking Hermine and said the storm should not impact the New Haven Road Race, which is still on for Monday morning.
City officials said Sunday morning that they have been monitoring Hermine, and with the storm tracking east, the biggest concern is the chance for coastal flooding at high tide. Officials said the city’s Emergency Operations Center is open and the city is preparing for the worst.
EOC Deputy Director Rick Fontana said that while it does not appear that the storm will have a major impact on the city, it is easier to prepare for the worst scenario and scale back than to ramp up emergency operations in the middle of a storm.
If the storm does cause weather conditions to deteriorate, the city has designated emergency shelters and coordinated with the American Red Cross on response plans should they be needed. Career Regional High School and the Nathan Hale School have both been selected as shelter locations.
City Engineer Giovanni Zinn said that while there is a risk for flooding, residents should not expect to see the major flooding caused by other memorable storms.
“Right now we’re looking at a storm surge that is significantly below anything you saw in Irene or Sandy. Probably two to three feet,” he said.
All the city departments have been coordinating efforts ahead of the storm, and safety devices are in place at flood-prone areas along the shore and the Quinnipiac River to minimize the potential impact.
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As of Sunday morning all plans for the road race are unchanged, and city officials are working with event organizers to ensure everyone's safety if weather conditions force alterations. If conditions deteriorate, the police are prepared to open substations as meeting points and the city will provide transportation to one of the shelters for those who need it.
With all these safety measures in place, officials said the race is scheduled to kick off at its original start time and the city is ready to host the event. About 6,000 runners are expected to attend, according to organizers.
New Haven officials remind residents and race participants to monitor weather reports, have an emergency evacuation plan and emergency communication plan in place, and an emergency supply kit at the ready.
For more information on the race, click here.
