Severe Winter Storm Expected -- Are You Prepared?

Statement

Dear Friends,

A major winter storm is predicted to hit Connecticut from late Monday into Tuesday. Given the likelihood of heavy snow, strong winds and treacherous road conditions, I wanted to provide as much information as possible to ensure that you have the necessary tools to keep your families, homes and businesses safe. I have compiled the following checklist with resources from federal agencies and have created a webpage where you can find more in-depth information on how to prepare for the storm.

The most important things you can do to minimize damage and keep you and your loved ones safe are to stay informed and prepare for multiple scenarios. Governor Malloy has encouraged all residents to get home early today and has issued a travel ban on state highways as of 9:00 p.m. tonight.

Stay Informed
The State of Connecticut uses the CT Alert Emergency Notification System to notify residents of emergencies. This system allows you to receive updates on your cell phone or via email. It will help ensure you are notified of changing weather, evacuation orders and other timely information, even if you lose power or do not have radio access.

Click here to register for CT Alert.

If you lose electrical power, please call Connecticut Light & Power at 800-286-2000, or report the outage on your mobile device or home computer via cl-p.com. Downed power lines should be reported immediately to CL&P.

Many local fire stations and town government buildings will operate as warming centers for residents that have lost power and heat. Please contact your town directly to ensure availability and safe travel to the centers.

Be Prepared
Every family should put a plan in place to respond to the upcoming storm. The following outline will help you craft a plan. Once you have reviewed the information below, click on the links or visit my emergency preparedness webpage for more information on what to do, what to have and how to respond.

What are the different situations you could face, what supplies do you need, how will you respond to different scenarios, and how will you stay in contact with your family?

Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each potential hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact. All family members should check in with this contact at designated times.
Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to leave your home. Many hotels do not allow pets.
Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones, such as your local emergency management office and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
Create a Disaster Supply Kit and stock it with non-perishable emergency food, water, supplies, flashlights, batteries and first aid necessities.
Use a battery-powered radio to stay-up-to-date on changing conditions during the storm and make sure you have fresh batteries.
For more information on how to prepare, put together a disaster kit, develop an evacuation plan and learn how to receive up-to-date information on the changing weather situation, visit my Emergency Preparedness webpage.

For additional information on winter weather preparedness, please visit www.ready.gov/winter-weather, www.ct.gov/demhs or www.redcross.org.

Over the next few days, I will be staying in close contact with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, the Connecticut Department of Public Safety and your local officials. While I am happy to provide further assistance in any way I can, please remember that your local first responders and Emergency Operations Centers will be able to provide the best assistance and information in any dangerous situation.

Please stay safe.

Sincerely,
Jim

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