A year after going through the freak October nor'easter that knocked power out for much of the state, towns across Connecticut are preparing for Sandy.
In advance of the storm, register for alerts on the state of Connecticut Web site. You can also call 211.
Bridgeport:
Twitter and Facebook accounts to follow:
- Mayor Bill Finch -- @MayorBillFinch - Facebook
- City of Bridgeport @CityofBptCT -- Facebook
- Bridgeport-Emergency-Operations-Center: @BridgeportEOC - Facebook
Bristol:
Mayor Art Ward has convened the City Emergency Management Team for an 11 a.m. meeting on Friday, Oct. 26 to discuss preparations, some of which are already in place, for when the storm arrives. Sand bags are available at two of the fire houses in Bristol: Engine 5, located on Mix Street and Engine 4, located on Vincent P. Kelly Road. Sand is only available at Vincent P. Kelly Road and can be picked up at any time. Preparations are being made to open a shelter at Chippens Hill Middle School, if the need arises. You can call the Mayor’s Office at 860-584-6250 to find out if it is open.
East Hartford:
Mayor Marcia Leclerk on Friday will meet with representatives from Connecticut Light & Power to review procedures with the town liaison. Over the weekend she will prepare and record announcements for use on the town’s Everbridge Reverse Notification System. The town is reviewing its emergency operations procedures and shelter operations and recording safety preparedness segments for local channels 5 or 96.
East Haven
The East Haven Fire Department is urging residents of the Cosey Beach Avenue area to clear out anything from their property that could get blown away or taken out to sea. A 3 p.m. meeting is planned to go over storm preparations. If residents need to evacuate, the high school will be made available as a shelter.
Fairfield
Fairfield will use CodeRED, the local emergency notification system. If you have not yet signed up, you can sign up online. The Town of Fairfield Facebook page and website will be updated periodically. Residents are asked to remove unsecured items from their yards and prepare for power outages. The emergency shelter at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, 785 Unquowa Road, will be open if needed. Call the Town of Fairfield information line at 203-254-4899 for updates.
Farmington
Preparations for a town shelter are underway and final determination on a shelter location will be made on Monday. Residents are encouraged to sign up for “Everbridge Citizen Alert Notifications.” Residents should also go to www.CTAlert.gov and sign up for emergency notices.
Town personnel are securing all town facilities, reviewing their response plans and organizing their human and physical resources to be ready. Residents who need sandbags can pick them up at Sound Beach Firehouse in Old Greenwich, Cos Cob Fire Station and Glenville Fire Station.
The town will open the Western Greenwich Civic Center at 449 Pemberwick Road as an emergency shelter if needed.
Hartford
- Pope Park Recreation Center and Parker Memorial Center, the city’s two shelters, have been stocked with cots, generators tested, and staffing plans finalized.
- All utility companies, including Connecticut Light & Power, have been contacted; plans shared and coordinated efforts discussed.
- The Department of Public Works has already begun street sweeping operations to ensure that sewer grates are clear and they have dispatched leaf vacuums to clear major arterial and primary secondary roads ways.
- All regular DPW employees have been notified that they are on stand-by this weekend.
- DPW staff has also packed at least 120 sand bags and stand ready for immediate deployment.
- DPW sign shop staff has already closed streets that have a history of severe flooding.
- The DPW Forestry crew has been working extra hours to clear older limbs in historically problematic areas. At least five contractor crews have been put on stand-by.
- All city pump stations have been tested and are ready for extended use.
- The moment the Emergency Operations Center at City Hall is activated, all City Parks will be closed and those that can be gated and locked will be.
- HPD uniformed staff has been briefed by Chief Rovella and are prepared for high call volumes and increased dispatches.
Milford:
Mayor Ben Blake will hold a storm preparedness update for the City of Milford at 3:30 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium at 110 River St.
Newington
If needed, Newington will use the high school at 605 Willard Avenue as a shelter. Cots, meals, showers and cell phone charging stations will be provided at the shelter. Newington has set up a pre-recorded information hotline which will be activated at 8 a.m. on Sunday. That number is 860-665-8686.
New London
The emergency relocation center for New London will be located at Winthrop School at 74 Grove St. Mayor Daryl Finizio has ordered all necessary city preparations to be completed by Monday. The Public Works Department will be placing sandbags at known flood areas. The Public Works Department will be securing city property, such as hanging plants downtown and garbage cans, to limit damage to storefronts and residential windows. Drain tops will be cleared by Monday and the Bank Street pump has been tested and is fully operational in anticipation of high levels of rain. Mayor Finizio has also authorized the transfer station to be open on Saturday, Oct. 29, so residents will be able to clear bulky garbage in preparation for the storm. Furthermore, residents are able to fill up their own sandbags at 109 Crystal Avenue. They are required to bring their own sandbags and shovels.
Norwalk:
Norwalk officials are making preparations to open the emergency operations center at the appropriate time. You can also follow the Norwalk Office of Emergency Management on Facebook for updates.
Norwich
City officials and Norwich Public Utilities are asking residents to check media websites, tune into WICH (1310 am), or follow NPU on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-date information.
Old Lyme
You can follow the Town of Old Lyme Emergency Management on Twitter or on Facebook.
Old Saybrook
The Town of Old Saybrook Office of Emergency Management has created a website to keep residents informed. You can view it at StormSandy.com. Several marinas will be moving boats out of the water today and on Saturday.
Simsbury:
The Town of Simsbury issued a news release saying emergency personnel met earlier today and are taking the steps necessary to prepare.
“The most important step for our residents to take right now is to sign up with CTAlert,” Chief Peter Ingvertsen of the Simsbury Police Department said. “We need to be able to communicate safety information to people when the lines are down. Please go to www.CTAlert.gov and sign up for emergency notices, using your cell phone if you have one – that is the most reliable way to get information.”
Residents are also encouraged to sign up for “Community Alerts” on the Town of Simsbury’s website. Residents can also receive the latest information by following the Town of Simsbury on Twitter.
Emergency numbers:
- Emergency (police, fire and ambulance): 911
- Routine Police Department calls: (860) 658-3100
- Routine Fire Department calls: (860) 658-1971
- Poison Control: (800) 222-1222
- Emergency Shelter Information: (860) 658-3100
- Emergency Pet Shelter Information: (860) 658-3100
- Social/Senior Services: (860) 658-3283
- Power Outage: (800) 286-2000
In the event of an emergency, Southington might open a temporary shelter for residents at The Calendar House, 388 Pleasant St.
Items to Take:
- identification and important documents
- prescription and emergency medication
- extra clothing
- pillows
- blankets
- hygiene supplies (soap, tooth brush and paste, hand sanitizer, etc…)
- flashlight with extra batteries
- small board games
- books for entertainment
- specialty snacks and juices for those with dietary restrictions
- baby food and formula
- diapers
- important papers such as names of physicians and relatives
- eyeglasses, contacts and contact solution
- Special items for children and infants, such as diapers, formulas and toys, should be brought, along with other items for family members who are elderly or disabled.
- You may not bring illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages or weapons
Stamford
In Stamford, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may close the Stamford Hurricane Barrier to all traffic as early as Saturday afternoon, according to Mayor Michael Pavia. The barrier could remain closed through Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Waterford
Register for the Everbridge Public Information System online at ct.alert.gov and click on Register. Residents who do not have access to the Internet may register in person or via phone at the Town Hall Annex at 424 Main Street (860-945-5255) or the Watertown Fire Department at 935 Main Street (860-945-5220) beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
Westport
Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff urges owners to remove boats this weekend from marinas and to store or tie down any outdoor furniture and fittings. Take the usual storm precautions of storing extra water, canned food, batteries and medications, as well as other necessities. A special link to flood information has been established: www.westportct.gov/floodinformation. The town will open its emergency operations center and use CodeRed, the Internet, and Staples FM station WWPT 90.3 to offer emergency updates to residents.
Wethersfield
In the event of an emergency, storm information for the Town of Wethersfield can be obtained at:
- The Town’s Website
- Government Access TV: Cox Channel 117-173; UVerse Channel 99
- Wethersfield Emergency Operations Facebook
- Wethersfield Police Department Facebook Page
- Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department Facebook Page
- In addition, emergency messages will be broadcast through the State of Connecticut Emergency Alerting System and the School Messenger System.
Here are some things that you need to know:
A basic emergency supply kit should include:
- One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- A whistle to signal for help
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger.
Family Emergency Plan
- Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
- Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
- Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
- Subscribe to alert services. Many communities/states now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about severe weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. In Connecticut, go to www.ct.gov/ctalert to register for alerts.
- If you live in a low-lying area that floods or next to the coastline you should begin consideration of seeking shelter with a family member or friend until the storm passes. Evacuation shelters are on standby in the event we need to shelter any evacuated residents.
- Have a boat? Moor it securely before the storm arrives. When your boat is moored, leave it and do not return once the wind and waves are up.
- Secure outdoor objects that might be blown away or uprooted, such as: garbage cans, garden tools, toys, signs, and porch furniture that can be lifted by hurricane winds; or store them in your garage.
- Have a full tank of gas in your car.
- Do not venture down any flooded streets or underpasses.
For more information on Hurricane Preparedness, visit ct.gov/hurricane.
