Tag Archives: Hurricane Irene

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff today issued the following statement about Westport’s preparations for Hurricane Irene.

Westport is well along in its preparations for Hurricane Irene which, if the forecasts turn out to be accurate, could be one of the worst storms the town has experienced.  We are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.  It is of utmost importance that Westport residents pay very close attention to the forecasts and announcements that will be coming from our emergency management team.

Heavy rains, flooding, prolonged power outages and evacuations are likely to be part of this emergency.  Those near the shoreline and along rivers and streams should make preparations now to evacuate and prepare their homes as best they can for flooding.

I was on several conference calls today with state emergency management and National Weather Service personnel and also met with our emergency management team. As a result, we are taking the following actions and making the following requests of Westporters:

• Westport will activate its Emergency Operations Center, 515 Post Road East, at mid-day Saturday,
• We will open an emergency evacuation center at Long Lots Elementary School, 13 Hyde Lane, at 6 p.m. on Saturday.  Pets will be accepted; bring your own pet food and cages.
• Residents who are in flood-prone areas are urged to move their cars to higher ground before the rains begin to fall and to leave their homes well ahead of the storm, now predicted to make landfall some time on Sunday.
• Residents should be prepared for prolonged loss of power, stocking up on food, water, batteries and other emergency essentials.
• The Public Works Department is making sandbags and sand (make your own) available at its Sherwood Island Connector headquarters.
• The town website has been updated with the latest information about hurricane preparations.  In addition, the town will use the Staples High School radio station, WWPT-FM, 90.3, to broadcast emergency announcements.  Announcements will also go out via the CodeRed emergency telephone notification system (sign up on the town website) and via Twitter, account name ‘westportctgov.’
• It is highly likely an evacuation order will be issued for low-lying areas.  But based on past experience, there will be those who will refuse to evacuate and prefer to ‘ride out’ the storm. They will do so at their own peril.  They should be aware that our emergency services will not respond to last minute evacuation requests as waters rise, risking the lives of first responders.
• Beaches and marinas will be closed as the storm approaches.  No swimming in the rip tides or surfing the waves will be permitted.
• We are working with the state to identify specified ‘debris management areas’ where debris from the storm will be taken.

Westporters should not underestimate the power of this storm and the devastation that could result.  We will be doing all that we can to minimize damage and prevent loss of life.  But it is up to each individual resident to help us do that by taking every precaution in advance that you can – including leaving town for safer areas.

Alert “06880” reader Kelly Crisp snapped this photo today:

She noted:  “Westporters, normally risk adverse to preservatives, take a big position in fancy canned soup.  Still plenty of good ‘ol Campbells.”

Kelly added:  “Taking a page from cowboys of the Wild West, Westporters made a run on canned baked beans.  Pun intended.”

We’re laughing now…

An alert “06880” reader reports:

My normal very tranquil nightly visit to Stop & Shop is interrupted by those in fear of the coming hurricane.  My first clue is that the parking lot is nearly full at 11 p.m.

As I pull up to find a spot, 2 large women are emptying their shopping cart full ofbottled water into the back of their over-sized gas guzzling SUV.  I wait for them tomove their cart so I can park but they do not budge.  This is not the friendliness that a snowstorm brings.  This is downright fear, and a feeling that Darwin was absolutely correct:  Only those whose pantry is full will survive.  The store is full of “stockers” who are in earlier than normal, so they can unpack all the boxes that clutter the aisles.

Shoppers are plentiful.  All have their carts stacked to the brim, their underwings full of bottled water, soda, dog food, and almost anything that can be bought in bulk.

True to form, there is only 1 cashier at this time at night.  I trail a lady with $434.45 worth of groceries.  I know this because, despite the fact that I only have my usual 7 items, she ignores me and I watch each of her items scanned.

She smiles at the cashier, but you can see fear in her eyes.  My God, I think, we only have 2 days of shopping left until the hurricane hits . . . maybe.

(NOTE:  In the event of a power outage, “06880” will strive to keep publishing.  No promises — but we’ll do our best.  Please send stories and photos to dwoog@optonline.net)