News
Governor Rell, state agencies monitor storm Hanna; power outages, flooding are concerns
By Governor Rell's office
Sep 5, 2008 - 7:38:12 PM

Governor M. Jodi Rell said today she and officials in the state’s Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security are continuing to monitor the approach of Tropical Storm Hanna, which is expected to bring heavy rains and wind gusts up to 50 mph to Connecticut sometime on Saturday.

Emergency management officials and key state agencies will monitor the storm during the weekend. The Department of Environmental Protection will have teams observing Connecticut’s dams and flood-prone areas. Crews from the Department of Transportation have already been out cleaning storm drains and catch basins to ensure they are unobstructed. DOT crews will remain on standby throughout the weekend. The Departments of Public Safety and Public Health and the Military Department will also be on standby and ready to mobilize as necessary.

“We know from past experience that planning ahead for a major weather event is absolutely essential and our state agencies are at the ready,” Governor Rell said. “We will continue to monitor the potential for flooding in certain areas and the threat of power outages, a threat that increases if the combination of heavy rains and damaging winds start uprooting trees.

“Flooding conditions over roadways can create hazardous driving conditions and I want to urge special caution to people traveling on Connecticut highways during the storm,” the Governor said. “Downed trees combined with water on our highways have the potential to cause very dangerous conditions.”

The Connecticut National Guard has 200 soldiers and airmen on standby to respond to an emergency in Connecticut or out of state. Hundreds more could be deployed if necessary, as many guard units are drilling this weekend. The state’s utility companies also have crews ready to respond to power outages. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is re-locating 30 trailer truckloads of water and Meals Ready to Eat into the state prior to Hanna's arrival. The trucks will be staged in the Hartford area ready to be deployed if needed.

Connecticut residents may go to www.ready.gov to get information on storm preparedness for residents and business.

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