Town Of Tolland – Hurricane Henri Update

Press release from the Town of Tolland:

August 21, 2021

Overview:

Hurricane Henri is expected to make landfall in Connecticut between New Haven and New London on Sunday morning. The updated forecast continues to indicate that the storm will slow down once it reaches landfall causing significant flooding concerns and sustained wind hazards. Hazard winds are expected to develop Sunday morning around 6 a.m. extending through Monday afternoon and early evening. Sustained winds will be from 35-50 mph, with peak wind gusts up to 70-75 mph. Isolated tornadoes are also possible across the state.

The Town has a dedicated Eversource Liaison working with our Public Safety Department. Eversource expects to activate this as an ERP event level 2. This would indicate that there could be 15,000 to 48,000 trouble spots within their system and the activation of 290 to 1,000 line crews being available at the onset of the storm. An ERP level 2 indicates 625,000 to 870,000 customer outages with a restoration time of 8-21 days. Let’s hope that we are not hit hard, however, it is important to be as prepared as much as possible.

All Town departments have been preparing for what we can. Please keep in mind depending on the wind speed and variety of the storm, some services and department response will have to wait until it is safe to respond. Emergency services will be up in running as well as Police and Public Works.

The Tolland Alert system will primarily be updated for road closures. Sign up here for emergency alerts: https://member.everbridge.net/... The Tolland Fire Department Social media platforms will carry similar information but mainly focus on Emergency incidents. We have a dedicated social media group that monitors activities and will provide updates. We will also provide information on the Tolland home website www.tolland.org

If there are wires down CALL 911. You may also report emergency road concerns to 911.
Public Works main number is 860-871-3696 during normal town business hours. You may leave a message if it is a non-urgent situation. If it is urgent, please report the situation to 911 and they will dispatch the appropriate response team. The State Troopers office phone number is 860-875-8911.

How to prepare:

The Connecticut Red Cross has a checklist to ensure you are prepared for a hurricane or severe storm, which you can view here. As this storm approaches, we have an opportunity to prepare our homes. As a reminder secure all outside items that may become airborne. This applies not only to patio furniture, but hanging plants, wind chimes, outside grills, and anything that if you can pick up so can the wind.

Check your generators, start them and have gas for a few days. Remember do not run gas powered equipment inside or in your garage. CO is one of the biggest calls the fire department gets during a storm.

Check flashlights and have spare batteries. Charge all your battery powered electronics. Some of your electronics can recharge off of your car USB ports. Those of you that have cable, or land line phones could lose your phone system if the cable, or lines fail. So let family and friends know to try your cell phone before becoming alarmed. Cell towers have backup generation but this too is not guaranteed. Check your battery powered radios and keep them accessible.

Check to see that you have any medicine you will require. If a member of your family requires oxygen, check to see that you have the capability to provide it if you lose power. That being said, check with friends who you feel may need assistance and let them know you are available if needed. Fill your tub with water to flush in case your well loses power.

Extend your water drains away from house to get water away from your basement.

Try not to go out or drive through roads that are barricaded or closed. These closures are done for your safety as well as ours. Please do not put yourself or our volunteers and paid staff at risk.

Here are some resources to keep in mind before, during, and after this storm.

FEMA Resources:

Please visit Ready.gov or listo.gov (Spanish) or FloodSmart to learn how you can keep yourself, your families, and your pets safe.

The FEMA app is available in both English and Spanish and is free to download. The FEMA app will provide emergency alerts and real-time safety notifications, emergency preparedness tips and disaster resources. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.

FEMA urges people NOT to drive through flood waters. Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles.

Shelter Needs:

If you are in need of emergency shelter because of damage to your home caused by the storm, you can contact the CT Red Cross by calling 877-287-3327.

Outage Updates:

Eversource outage map: https://outagemap.eversource.c...

Reporting or checking on an outage: https://outage.eversource.com/...

Outage and storm updates: https://www.eversource.com/con...

For the latest information from Eversource you can visit their website, Twitter, or Facebook pages.

If you are experiencing an outage you can call Eversource at 1-800-286-2000, or text ‘OUT’ to 23129, or report it here. And for your safety, please stay far away from any downed wires and report them to 911.

Food Safety:

When in doubt, throw it out. If you have experienced a power outage the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends the following when it comes to food safety:

The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.

A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.

For more recommendations from the FDA when it comes to food safety during power outages and flooding please visit their website here.

Generator Safety:

If you are using a generator while waiting for your power to be restored, please be careful and watch for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Here are some safety tips from the Center for Disease Control:

Never use a gas range or oven to heat a home.

Never leave the motor running in a vehicle parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, such as a garage.

Never use a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside your home, basement, or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent. Use an extension cord that is more than 20 feet long to keep the generator at a safe distance.
When using a generator, use a battery-powered or battery backup CO detector in your home.
Never run a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside a basement, garage, or other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open, unless the equipment is professionally installed and vented. Keep vents and flues free of debris, especially if winds are high. Flying debris can block ventilation lines.

Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.

If conditions are too hot or too cold, seek shelter with friends or at a community shelter.
If CO poisoning is suspected, call 911 or your local Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or consult a health care professional right away.

This press release was produced by the Town of Tolland. The views expressed here are the author’s own.