Elected Officials Advise Residents to Start Preparing for Hurricane Season

Memories of the storm damage from Irene and Sandy are still fresh in the minds of many shoreline residents. 

This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects this could be the most active hurricane season since 2012. 

“We’ve taken steps in New Haven, in Bridgeport, in Stamford to protect our shoreline in a way that will mean less flooding if a significant storm hits,” U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said of improvements since Sandy battered parts of the Connecticut coast four years ago. 

Still, there are steps residents and businesses should start taking now to protect their property. 

“You can go out into your yard and make sure your trees are cut back,” Senator Murphy said, “so they are less likely to disrupt your power.” 

Official said do not wait until the last minute to put together an emergency kit with three days of non-perishable food, a gallon of water per day, as well as batteries and flashlights. 

“These weather events have a power that is unimaginable until they happen and then it can cost lives as well as dollars,” U.S Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said. 

During severe storms, New Haven’s emergency operations personnel monitor dozens of cameras, keeping a close eye on shoreline bridges and infrastructure.

Deputy Director of Emergency Operations Rick Fontana said a lesson learned since Sandy is a better understanding of evacuation strategy and routes.

“We missed out on a couple of areas that should have been evacuated, so we’ve learned let’s go one step higher,” Fontana said.

Find more tips on preparing for hurricane season.

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