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08/20/2021 12:00 AMEarly this morning, Mayor Joseph Carfora summoned a meeting with Fire Chief Matt Marcarelli and other public safety officials as well as his superintendent of Public Services to make sure plans were in place ahead of Tropical Storm Henri.
“As a shoreline community we always make sure our hurricane plan is ready to deploy,” Carfora said.
He went onto say just as the town is planning, so should residents.
“Have a plan in case there is no power, make a kit; water, basic first aid, food, batteries, flashlight, and a radio are some basic supplies,” the mayor said. “Our town has had a great deal thrown our way in the last year, a global pandemic, a micro-burst storm, and Tropical Storm Elsa. My administration, Department of Public Works, and public safety officials have successfully navigated use through those challenging times and will do the same in the face of Storm Henri,” Carfora stated.
At 11 a.m. Tropical Storm Henri was located approximately 345 miles south southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.Henri is moving to the northwest at 7 mph with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Henri is forecast to turn to the north northeast by later today and forecast to become a Category I hurricane. Henri is then forecast to make landfall near Stonington along the Rhode Island border, Sunday evening between 7 and 8 p.m. as a strong tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph and gusts to 85 mph.
“We expect moderate to major coastal flooding especially around 11:45 a.m. with a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet. I have directed public services crews to make sure that storm drains in the flood-prone areas are clear. With rain of 4 to 6 inches, moderate river flooding is also expected which can be problematic along the Farm River,” Carfora said.
Public Services crews have been clearing debris along the river to ensure proper drainage and prevent flooding to the degree it is possible.
“Never drive through standing water, it may be deeper and move faster than expected,” Carfora said.
As with any storm, the beach parking lots will be open so residents along the beach can relocate their cars. With winds forecast up to 85 miles mph on Sunday, downed trees and wires are always a hazard. East Haven’s Public Safety Team has already been in contact with United Illuminating, which will be opening its Emergency Operations Center on Sunday.
Carfora said, “please do not approach downed wires, they may be energized and if using a generator make sure it is far away from the house.”
Regular updates will be provided as the storm develops, and in the event of evacuations East Haven shelters are ready to be opened at a moment’s notice.