Town: Mandatory Evacuation Of Low-Lying, Flood Prone Areas Ordered

A mandatory evacuation order has been issued by the town for residents in low lying and flood-zone areas – the majority of
which will be notified by the Everbridge automated phone system. Stonington First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr. said affected residents should plan on being out of their homes and on higher, safer ground before dark.

“We are using the (phone system) but we will also have fire tucks going through those areas with bullhorns.” Haberek said.

Haberek said the town “cannot guarantee that emergency
services will be able to respond” to people who do not heed the mandatory evacuation.

Tropical storm winds and rains including powerful storm surges are slated to begin at 11 p.m. tonight. He said “we’re expected to see 8 to 10 inches of rain and a 4 to 6 foot storm surge. This thing is coming in to the Stamford area as a Category 1 tomorrow morning,” he
said.  

The town shelter, Stonington High School, will open at 1 p.m.

Food will be provided by the Red Cross as well as cots
for sleeping, but Haberek advised bringing bedding including sleeping
bags and pillow as well as “toiletries, medications, and stuff to keep kids busy for a day or two.”

“Bring your essentials,” he said.

“People could be staying there for a day or two or more,” he said. “We will have major losses of power for several days.”

For those evacuating to other locations, he said that while the town does have evacuation route maps, “just use major and
state roads to get to the highway, like Routes 27 and 2.”

According to the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s hurricane update, major coastal flooding is possible.  Hurricane force winds are anticipated beginning at around 7 a.m. Sunday.

Haberek said evacuees may bring pets to the shelter as long as they are caged/kenneled and have sufficient food and, if required,
medications. He will be posting a blog on Stonington-Mystic Patch outlining other measures the town is taking to protect life and property.

Haberek said that a number of school buses are
available to evacuate people in low-lying areas should it be required. While people in the affected zones should have received either a phone call, email or otherwise been notified, those unsure about those zones can access an interactive map on the town’s GIS system to view 100 and 500-year flood zones
at    http://gis.stonington-ct.gov/mapxpress/ags_map/default.htm.

The special needs members of the community,
about 60 individuals (especially those serviced by visiting nurses) have already been reached. The town’s Emergency Operations Center, located at the , can be reached at (860) 535-5050.