A command center at Shelton City Hall was up and running as of 8 a.m. Monday and the city’s emergency management team includes a representative from United Illuminating.
A shelter at the Senior Center is NOT open in the city as of 1 p.m. Monday. The city indicated on Sunday it would be opening, but sent out revised information Monday.
Fire Chief Fran Jones said the city’s four firehouses are staffed and ready to go. Charging stations and fresh water are available in case of a prolonged power failure.
There are also ambulances at each firehouse and firefighters ready to assist them in getting to any medical calls, he said. Police and public works personnel will also be staging at the firehouses, he said.
Jones said anyone needing shelter should contact the Shelton Emergency Operations Center at 203 – 924-5941 for help. Those with emergencies requiring immediate attention should call 911.
Shelton’s firehouses are:
- Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Fire Company 1 (DOWNTOWN, 379 Coram Ave.) – 203 – 924-4200
- Huntington Fire Company 3 (HUNTINGTON, 44 Church St.) – 203 – 929-1414
- Pine Rock Fire Company 4 (PINE ROCK, 722 Long Hill Ave.) – 203 – 929-1539
- White Hills Fire Company 5 (WHITE HILLS, 2 School St.) – 203 – 929-4554
With the worst of the hurricane yet to hit the state, Jones said officials are in wait and see mode.
“At this point in time we’re just monitoring the conditions,” Jones said just before noon inside the city’s Emergency Operations Center at City Hall. “The latest weather update is only calling for maybe three to six inches of rain, and minimum impact to rivers.”
High winds are more of a concern than flooding. Jones estimated the worst will come Monday from noon to about 8 p.m.
“The biggest hazard are tree limbs coming down, or trees coming down, blocking roads, taking down wires,” Jones said. “They’re saying there’s going to be gusts up to 90 mph. Those are more than hurricane force winds.”
As of 1 p.m., firefighters were responding to a report of a downed tree on Meadow Street near Shelton High School.
Between the snowstorm last October, tropical storm Irene and other big recent weather events, Jones said people seem more aware of the potential for damage this time around.
“People are starting to better prepare their individual homes,” he said. “They’ve been to Home Depot, they’ve been to the local stores.”
