Shelters Opening in Advance of Storm

With Hurricane Sandy just hours away from impacting Connecticut, several towns are opening emergency shelters.

You can call 211 for your local shelter.

Full Coverage of Hurricane Sandy here.

Bridgeport

Three shelters will be open as of noon on Sunday:

  • Jettie Tisdale, 275 Hollister Ave.
  • Geraldine Johnson, 427 Lexington Ave.
  • Cesar Batalla, 606 Howard Ave. -- Note:  The Cesar Batalla School shelter is full. Residents who are evacuating should go to Geraldine Johnson School.
  • Pack a blanket, pillow, medication, personal identification and snacks. Pets are allowed at all shelters, but they must be on leashes or in cages, and pet owners are asked to supply food for their pets.
  • If you live in the East Side or East End, go to: Jettie Tisdale School
  • If you live in the South End, go to: Geraldine Johnson School
  • If you live in the West Side, West End or Black Rock, go to: Cesar Batalla School

Bristol

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.

Cheshire

Cheshire Youth Center, 559 South Main St., opened at noon on Monday.

Colchester

The Town of Colchester has an emergency shelter open at Bacon Academy. 

Durham
Unless conditions warrant otherwise, the emergency center at Coginchaug High School is expected to open no earlier than Wednesday for services including food and water distribution, hot meals, charging stations, Internet access, showers and overnight accommodations. 

East Haven

East Haven's emergency shelter is located at East Haven High School on Wheelbarrow Lane.

East Lyme

East Lyme Middle School, 31 Society Road, Niantic. It will open at 4 p.m. on Monday. Residents may bring their pets but are required to also bring rabies tags, a carrier, a leash, pet food and bowls.

Fairfield

Fairfield will open an emergency shelter at Ludlowe High School at 785 Unquowa Road beginning at noon on Sunday. People will be allowed to bring their pets to the shelter.

Farmington

The town will open an emergency shelter at Farmington High School, at 10 Monteith Drive.

Greenwich

The town will open the Western Greenwich Civic Center at 449 Pemberwick Road as an emergency shelter if needed.

Hamden

An emergency shelter open at noon on Sunday at Hamden High School. It will be open until 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Hamden High School is equipped with an emergency generator for power and the shelter will be manned by Hamden’s Community Emergency Response Team and the Hamden Fire Department.

Bring

  • Bedding
  • Medications
  • Lite snacks or special dietary food
  • Electronics and cell phone chargers
  • Change of clothing
  • Toiletries

Cots, pillows and blankets will be available, but depending on the number of people that need to be accommodated there might not be enough for everyone. The town and the Board of Education are working together to provide bagged lunches for people who need shelter, but it is advisable to bring snacks and special dietary needed food for you and your family.

The shelter will accept pets only on if owners provide proof of current vaccinations and license, food, medications, carry case for small pets. Pets are kenneled in a separate area of the shelter and monitored by animal control personnel. The shelter will be accessed from the northern side of the building, closest to the Hamden Plaza, through either set of doors and residents will be asked to register upon entry.

Hartford

  • Pope Park Recreation Center
  • Parker Memorial Center. Both shelters have been stocked with cots, generators tested and staffing plans are finalized.
  • A senior and chronic health shelter has been set up at South End Senior Center, 830 Maple Ave.

Harwinton

An emergency shelter will open at the Harwinton Consolidated School at 4 p.m. on Monday. Any Harwinton residents who are in need of sheltering are asked to bring pillows, blankets, toiletries, medications and any other personal items needed.

Lyme

East Lyme Middle School, 31 Society Road, Niantic. It will open at 4 p.m. on Monday. Residents may bring their pets but are required to also bring rabies tags, a carrier, a leash, pet food and bowls.

Middletown

Middletown High School on LaRosa Lane will open as an emergency shelter at noon on Monday. Bring feminine products, toiletries, towels, medication and medical equipment. Bring pillows and blankets as well, because supply is limited.  A cot, food and beverages will be provided. Pets are allowed, but must be in pet carroers or  on leashes.

Milford

Jonathan Law High School, 20 Landsdale Ave.  The shelter is also equipped to accept pets for those residents being housed at shelter. Take required medications and financial materials with you. Secure your property prior to leaving the dangerous areas.

Montville

East Lyme Middle School, 31 Society Road, Niantic. It will open at 4 p.m. on Monday. Residents may bring their pets but are required to also bring rabies tags, a carrier, a leash, pet food and bowls.

Newington

The Newington Senior and Disabled Center, 120 Cedar St., will be used as a storm shelter, effective 3 p.m. on Monday. Residents are asked to bring pillows and blankets, toiletries, towels and medication in original prescription bottles and are reminded that no pets will be allowed in the shelter. Call 860-944-6438 for more information regarding the shelter. A pre-recorded information hotline is also available at 860-665-8686.  Contact 211 for a list of area pet-friendly shelters.

The following shelters are also available to Newington residents:

  • Avon High School, 510 West Avon Road, Avon. Opened at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Phone: 860-404-4747
  • Vernon Center Middle School, 777 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon. Opened at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
     

New London

The emergency relocation center for New London will be located at Winthrop School at 74 Grove St.  and East Lyme Middle School, 31 Society Road, Niantic. The Niantic site opens at 4 p.m. on Monday. Residents may bring their pets to East Lyme Middle School, but are required to also bring rabies tags, a carrier, a leash, pet food and bowls.

Norwalk:

Brien McMahon High School. The city’s Maritime parking garage is open for your vehicles.

Norwich:

Kelly Middle school has been designated as the official emergency shelter for Norwich.  It opened at of 2 p.m. on Sunday. There is also a pet shelter at the Kelly middle school site.

Old Lyme

East Lyme Middle School, 31 Society Road, Niantic. The shelter serves East Lyme, New London, Waterford, Old Lyme, Lyme and Montville. It will open at 4 p.m. on Monday.

  • Bring:
  • Pillow
  • Blanket
  • Personal toiletries
  • Personal clothing and items
  • Medications
  • Valuable documents
  • Residents may bring their pets but are required to also bring with them:
  • Rabies tags
  • Carrier
  • Leash
  • Pet food and bowls
  • Residents who need assistance with evacuation should call:
  • Old Lyme EOC Call Center: 860-598-0120
  • Directions to East Lyme Middle School: Take I-95 North to Exit 73.  At bottom of ramp turn left onto Society Road.  At stop sign, bear left.  School is on left approximately ¼ mile ahead.

Old Saybrook

Old Saybrook High School, 1111 Boston Post Road. The shelter opens at 3 p.m. on Monday. Pets will be allowed only if they are in a pet crate. A limited number of crates will be available at the high school.

Plainfield

As of noon on Monday, the Plainfield High School will be opened as a Regional Shelter for any area residents who need to evacuate their homes. Meals will be available for those individuals who are staying in the shelter only. The shelter will also be available for shower usage to those who are without water and power supplies or who may need to charge cellular telephones. The Plainfield Town Hall will be open during normal business hours for use of facilities and can be used as for temporary shelter if needed. A distribution station for drinking water will be available on Unity Street near the flag pole if any residents should require it.  If residents need any assistance, call the Plainfield Police Department at (860) 564-0804.

Southington

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

Stonington

Stonington High School

Vernon

The emergency shelter is located at Vernon Center Middle School. If you are in need of transportation, call ACE Taxi at telephone number #860-244-9999. The Town of Vernon has arranged an agreement with ACE Taxi. Residents in need of a one time/one way direct trip to the emergency shelter will receive the service at no cost. Residents with questions can contact the Town of Vernon Emergency Operations Center at 860-872-9126.

Waterford

East Lyme Middle School, 31 Society Road, Niantic. It will open at 4 p.m. on Monday. Residents may bring their pets but are required to also bring rabies tags, a carrier, a leash, pet food and bowls.

Westbrook

Daisy Ingraham School, 105 Goodspeed Drive, opens at 6 p.m.  Eat before you come and bring snacks.  Bring a three- to five-day supply of clothes, medicine and personal hygiene products as well as a pillow, blanket, and towels. A cat or dog is permitted at the shelter in an appropriate pet crate with food.

West Haven

A shelter will open Carrigan School on Tetlow Street effective at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Bring all necessary personal needs and medications for the next four days. If you have pets, you may bring them to the shelter but must bring food , a leash, medications and a cage or travel kennel. Parking is available for those using this shelter. Do not park at West Haven High School, Stiles School and Savin Rock School.

Westport

Long Lots Elementary School on Hyde Lane will open as a shelter at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Pets are allowed. If you come with a pet, bring your own crate and your own pet food. Residents planning to going to shelter are reminded to bring a change of clothes, bedding and pillows, any special medications or dietary items and a working flashlight with extra batteries.

Wethersfield

The emergency shelter staff is on standby and the shelter at the Pitkin Community Center will open should the town experience emergency conditions or widespread power outages. Once the shelter opens, residents are reminded to bring their identification, medicine and bedding with them.  

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.
 

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