Guilford Police Offer Storm Preparedness Tips

Information via Guilford Police Department

GUILFORD, CT — With heavy rain and wind in the forecast Tuesday into Wednesday, the Guilford Police Department has offered up several storm preparedness tips.

According to the National Weather Service, rain will continue overnight with wind gusts as high as 55 mph. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches are possible. A flood watch, high wind advisory and coastal flood advisory are in effect.

Tips from Guilford police:

• Charge all electronics
• Make sure your flashlights are ready
• If you have a well, fill up pots and pans with water and fill your tubs with water in case of power outages for those flushing needs (close doors to bathrooms in households with small children or pets to prevent drowning)
• Fill up cars and portable generators
• Have a safe location for generator placement that will not lead to carbon monoxide issues
• Avoid downed power lines and trees- report any road hazards and do NOT drive over downed lines
• We are not Eversource so please do not call the police if your power is out. If you hear a transformer explode or see lines down, call us.
• Ensure items in yard are tied down or put inside that might go airborne in the predicted high winds
• If the road is flooded, do not attempt to drive or walk through it. 6 inches of moving water can knock a person of the road and 12 inches of moving water can move a vehicle off the road
• Make sure to have medications for a few days on hand
• If you have to be out on the road make sure to have an emergency kit with blankets, flares or reflective triangles, water, and snacks. Keep headlights on while your wipers are on. Stay home if you are not required to be out
• If you live in low-lying areas or on the shore, watch for rising water levels. The storm will be active during high tide and the predicted winds could influence the normal high tide levels. Multiple inches of rain predicted could cause localized flooding. Make sure to clean any drains near your house or on the roadways to assist with drainage.
• If we have BLOCKED a road with cones, tape or other signage, do NOT remove the barriers. They are there for your safety, the safety of the community and for first responders. Removing those barriers could be life-threatening.
• With the level of ground saturation and a large amount of dying trees, avoid being out during the storm as there is potential for downed trees
• Check on loved ones and neighbors to make sure they are ok
• Be ready for the Guilford Weather Vortex… we all know it exists