Hurricane Preparation

The Board of Warden & Burgesses agreed at their July meeting that everyone in the Borough needs to know what to do in case a severe hurricane heads our way. The Borough will be working in conjunction with the Town of Stonington Emergency Management team and the town’s Human Services Department.

These simple points are important:

1) The Town of Stonington website (www.stonington-ct.gov) has a comprehensive Emergency Management page. Click on Key Facts About Hurricane Readiness for excellent general instructions regarding supplies, preparing to evacuate, etc. Click on Hurricane Information (NOAA) for the most up-to-date weather forecast. You may have also read the town’s Flood Awareness Newsletter sent to all residents, which also has useful information in it. This month, the Westerly Sun will be publishing a supplement, Stonington Emergency Preparedness Guide 2006. It will be packed with vital information. Look for this guide. Extra copies will be available from the Borough office. The key here is: GET READY EARLY.

2) To assist Emergency Response personnel with identifying residents in need of assistance during a storm, the Town has created a Special Needs Registry. Anyone who is handicapped in any way – or simply needs transportation – should complete a form and send it to Stonington Human Services. The forms will be available in the above-mentioned Guide and also from the Human Services Dept. (535-5015).

3) If necessary, the State of Connecticut and the Town of Stonington will declare of state of emergency. At that point, and only then, emergency personnel (fire, police, etc.) will notify residents of the emergency and the need to evacuate. In the event of a declared emergency, Stonington High School will be the designated shelter, and personnel will be there to assist.