Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Deputy Commissioner Peter Boynton just had a conference call with the media to give an update about Hurricane Irene and the steps the state is taking to prepare for what sounds like a whopper of a storm.
Boynton stressed that residents in low-lying areas on the coast could be asked to clear out. He advised those residents in Connecticut to monitor the media for advisories. There are no evacuation orders right now. Any evacuation order would come from local officials.
The latest forecast (11 a.m. Thursday) shows the center of Hurricane Irene passing through Stamford at 5 p.m. Sunday as a Category 1 hurricane. A Category 1 hurricane means winds could be 74 – 95 mph.
However, a forecast this morning had the center passing between Bridgeport and New Haven.
Forecasters aren’t trying to drive residents nuts — it’s just that the precise path could vary.
However, overall, “forecast confidence” in higher than normal for this storm, Boynton said.
So, Connecticut’s going to get hit — just where and how hard remains to be seen.
The chat below imports Hurricane Irene info from selected government agencies and weather gurus in Connecticut. The article continues after the chat box.
The forecast predicts Irene to be a slow mover, which could mean more “exposure to rain and wind,” Boynton said.
The effects from the storm will first be felt in Connecticut Saturday, with wind and rain arriving in front of the hurricane, Boynton said.
If there is a call for evacuations, those evacuations would not call for the “entire state,” Boynton said. The evacuation areas would be low-lying coastal areas, most likely, where evacuation routes are already established.
Rainfall predictions vary wildly. Generally, six-to-10 inches seems to be the consensus for Connecticut.
However, Boynton said the storm could dump as much as 14 inches of rain.
He stressed information is constantly changing — but that people should monitor the media and get prepared for Hurricane Irene.
