While the state’s shoreline communities are clearly in the most danger, Gov. Dannel Malloy Sunday night mentioned the Housatonic River below the Stevenson Dam as a specific area of concern as Hurricane Sandy approaches Connecticut.
At the same time, Shelton emergency officials urged those in flood-prone areas along the Housatonic to leave the area before serious flooding happens. Shelton will be opening a shelter at the Shelton Senior Center at 81 Wheeler St. at 12 p.m. Monday.
The “Frankenstorm” nor’easter-hurricane hybrid storm is expected to push an “unprecedented” storm surge onto coastal Connecticut.
That water is expected to push water from the Long Island Sound up into the Housatonic River.
The river will likely flow backward, up into the Naugatuck Valley, Malloy said.
“Water heights as far as the Stevenson Dam on that river will be impacted. That’s a reality,” Malloy said during a press conference.
That is critical information for residents in Derby and Shelton who live along the flood-prone areas of McConney’s Grove and the Maples — in addition to the area of Oxford just under the Stevenson Dam.
The Shelton Office of Emergency Management sent out the following message Sunday night:
Residents of the City of Shelton: Maples, Upper Birchbank, and Birchbank Area
With the upcoming storm Hurricane Sandy, please be advised that there is a potential for a rapid rise of waters within Lake Housatonic , depending upon the track of this storm, amount of rain, and other factors.
In addition, travel may be interrupted due to downed power lines and trees within your area and limited access. We are recommending that you make plans to move personal items and to seek shelter at higher ground before the storm hits, since your residence is in a flood prone area.
Once the storm arrives evacuation assistance may not be available by the emergency services. Please consider early evacuation.
Sheltering will be available at the Shelton Senior Center – 81 Wheeler Street, effective 12:00pm on Monday – October 10/29/2012.
If you have any questions please contact the Office of Emergency Management at (203) 924-5941.
Malloy Sunday urged all residents on the coast and anyone who lives along the river to acknowledge Hurricane Sandy’s potential for damage.
Wind gusts Monday and Tuesday could top 80 mph. That will almost certainly topple tree branches and lead to power outages.
While a hurricane usually lasts six to 12 hours, the “Frankenstorm’s” winds could last 36 hours, Malloy said.
If the area gets sustained winds of 40 mph, utility linemen will not go up in bucket trucks to make repairs to damaged wires — so that increases the probability of prolonged power outages.
“Mother Nature is going to dictate that. Forty mile an hour winds — we can’t even walk down the street with an umbrella with 40 mph winds. I’m not going to subject my people to that,” said John Prete, a senior vice president with United Illuminating.
UI has customers in Ansonia, Derby and Shelton.
In addition, six power substations owned by United Illuminating in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Milford and New Haven are in danger of being flooded.
UI is putting in sandbags to protect the substations and pumping systems are in place.
There are back-up energy distribution plans if UI loses some of those substations, Prete said.
UI had 290 linemen on the ground Sunday night and 200 tree clearers. Another 600 linemen and tree workers from out of the area are ready to go, Prete said.
He asked for Connecticut to pray for the workers who will be out in the elements during the storm — and that people pray residents make it though Sandy unscathed.
CL&P’s senior vice president William J. Quinlan said the utility company has 3.5 times the manpower in the state than it had during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.
Malloy urged residents to take this storm seriously.
“The last time we’ve seen anything like this — was never,” Malloy said.
Sandy is “potentially the most serious storm any of us in the state of CT has experienced,” Malloy said.
All schools are closed in the lower Valley Monday.
The following is a press release sent out by Malloy’s office Sunday night:
Governor Dannel P. Malloy on Sunday evening announced that he has ordered all non-essential state employees not to report into work for all shifts on Monday, October 29, in response to the impending severe impact of Hurricane Sandy on Connecticut.
“After having consulted with state agency officials and our weather forecasters, I am ordering all non-essential state employees to stay home Monday,” Governor Malloy said. “Actually, I’m not a fan of that term – to me, everyone who works is important, but that’s the term that’s used. So if you’re designated as non-essential, stay home. If you’re designated as essential, then report to work.”
Further announcements will be made as the storm progresses through the state during the coming days.
