PRESS RELEASE - FIRST STORM OF THE SEASON

PRESS RELEASE

EAST HAVEN READY FOR FIRST STORM OF THE SEASON

EAST HAVEN — Mayor Joseph Carfora along with his Emergency Management staff Fire Chief Matt Marcarelli and Police Chief Ed Lennon say the Town is prepared for the arrival of Tropical Storm Isaias. The storm which is expected to be upgraded to a Hurricane as it hits the Carolina’s early Tuesday and is predicted to weaken to a Tropical Storm again by the time it passes the Connecticut Coastline at or near 4:00 pm today.

As part of the storm preparation, the emergency management staff met with public services to ensure that they are in a state of readiness for storm response and recovery.  All personnel have been placed on alert that they may be expected to work extended hours to clear roads of debris and downed trees. All trucks have been fueled, and town buildings prepared for the storm.  In the event there is a need for relocation or evacuation, designated shelters have been prepared, the locations of which will be announced at that time. Emergency management staff have been in regular contact with Connecticut Emergency Management Officials since the storm threatened Connecticut and they will continue to monitor this storm throughout the event.

The storm is expected to hit at an astronomical low tide, so flooding should be limited to the most flood prone areas, but wind is expected to be the most concerning threat from approximately 2:00-7:00 PM this evening; gusts may reach 65-75 MPH. There is also a risk for weak tornadoes according to the National Weather Service.

Residents are encouraged to stay home during the storm and follow some simple guidance ahead of it:

Charge any electronic devices that may be needed in the event of a power outage; cell phone, CPAP or any other rechargeable devices;

Gather supplies, flashlight, food, water, medications in the event you have to leave home or stay have to stay home for a while;

If using a generator make sure it is far away from the home to avoid carbon monoxide gas getting into your home. Never operate a portable generator inside your home;

Never travel through standing water, it may be deeper and faster than you think;

Never approach downed power lines, assume they are energized. Outages can be reported by calling UI at 1-800-722-5584; and,

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Joseph Carfora
Mayor
Town of East Haven