Hurricane Irene Town Update - Friday

I wanted to utilize the blog to keep residents updated. Hurricane Irene preparations continue as we are in our 36 hour designation.  Connecticut has declared a and .

Our forecast states that the “track has become a bit more clear, with the Hurricane making landfall in the Norwalk area and hurricane force winds being felt throughout Connecticut.  It’s important to remember the storm’s impacts will be felt far from the center.”

We had an Emergency Mgt Dept Head meeting at 10 a.m., and state conference call at 11 a.m. and continue to make preparations. A couple of important items:

•  I am recommending residents who are in a low-lying or flood prone areas take this opportunity to “voluntary” evacuate to higher ground or more inland in New England.
• Saturday, we have a 1 p.m. Emergency Management Meeting to determine mandatory evacuation areas in town.
• If the need to evacuate, residents will be notified to either relocate with family or friends out of the danger area or to our mass shelter at . Reverse 911, Everbridge Notification System, and a Door-to Door process will also occur.
• To sign up for Enhanced Emergency Notification see https://ww2.everbridge.net/citizen/EverbridgeGateway.action?body=home&gis_alias_id=380761
• Currently, we planning to open our shelter at 4 p.m.
• If you have a dog or cat and need to evacuate, you can bring them to the shelter. The auxiliary gym will be available for pets.  Requirements include the pet needs to have a cage, food for the duration and any meds the pet may need. The owner will need to stay with the pet. If you need a dog cage, please reach out to Groton Animal Control who has some for “Regional Use”.
• If you have Special Needs please be sure your signed up on our registry  http://www.stonington-ct.gov/Pages/StoningtonCT_EMS/specneedsregistry
• Residents with Special Needs are being contacted and told about  the evacuation procedure
• Please note that power will probably be lost for several days as a result of this Hurricane

I look forward to keeping residents updated about forecast and advisories before and through the Hurricane by local media, Town of Stonington website www.Stonington-ct.gov , and personally through my social media sites of Facebook, Twitter and my blog. Again, please make sure you prepared for this Hurricane. Any questions feel free to contact my office at 860-535-5050.