Wallingford Participating In Two-Day Drill To Prepare For Ice Storms

A press release from the Wallingford Police Department:

Today and Saturday, the Town of Wallingford will be participating in a two-day statewide emergency preparedness drill coordinated by the state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS). The drill is designed to simulate a major ice storm in the western part of the state and the subsequent trickle down affects that it may have on state and individual community’s resources.   

The main goal of this exercise is to improve communication between the state’s utility companies and state and local governments during emergencies and to test the state’s mutual aid system.

As part of the exercise, the Town of Wallingford will activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC will be staffed by Wallingford department heads and emergency managers. The exercise will give officials the opportunity to participate in the statewide drill as well as review local emergency operations plans, resources, and responses to local emergencies 

The exercise is part of Governor Malloy’s ongoing Emergency Preparedness and Planning Initiative (EPPI), which began in 2011.

Overall goals of the exercise include:

• Improving Communications for Road Clearing & Utility Restoration: Utility company crews will be working with certain towns to exercise the “Make Safe” protocol that will enhance road clearance processes and communication.
• Activating Local Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and Convening Unified Command:  All participating municipalities and Tribal Nations will have key local officials and leaders meet at their local EOC to simulate preparedness, response, and recovery planning.
• Establishing Coordinated Emergency Shelters: Certain municipalities will exercise regional shelters in coordination with the Red Cross.
• Regional Emergency Support Plans: Each DEMHS Region will be reviewing their Regional Emergency Support Plans and implementing them as needed during the exercise, with particular focus being given to: Transportation, Logistics, Hospital Surge Capacity, and Communications.

At Governor Malloy’s direction, state agencies are also fully participating, including a test of each agency’s Continuity of Operations Plan.  State officials will also support state and local emergency operations through the staffing of the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Hartford, which will be activated during the exercise.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a very active hurricane season with 13 to 20 named storms.  Around 7 to 11 of them could become hurricanes, with 3 to 6 possibly becoming major hurricanes.  This is well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.

Materials related to the exercise and the Governor’s Emergency Planning and Preparedness Initiative can be found at www.ct.gov/demhs.

“We must always look to improve the way we respond to an emergency so that when disaster strikes, the state’s utility companies and every level of government have a clear mission and goal,” Governor Malloy said.  “Storms and other emergencies are inevitable, but the more we all work together, the more we can limit the impact of those disasters so that aid reaches those most in need of help; roads, schools and businesses can re-open more quickly; and communities can return to normal sooner than might otherwise be possible.”

“This exercise continues our commitment to ensure that the people of Connecticut receive the timely, coordinated response they deserve when the next inevitable catastrophe hits,” Lt. Governor Wyman said.  “These two days will create a blueprint of how we can improve our preparation heading into the height of hurricane season.”