Markeshia Ricks Photos
Malloy encourages people to download the CTPrepares app for emergency info.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy Tuesday said it’s too soon to predict whether Hurricane Irma’s impact will be felt in Connecticut, but it’s not too soon for residents to prepare for the worst.
Malloy joined city officials in New Haven’s Emergency Operations Center in the bowels of 200 Orange St. for a joint press conference to urge people to download a free mobile application called CTPrepares on their smart phones and tablets so they will have the most up-to-date information in the event of an emergency.
“Hurricane Harvey and impending Hurricane Irma are also reminders of us to be prepared in case of disaster if it should strike us,” Malloy said. “The time to plan for a storm is not when it stays away but well in advance. That is why emergency managers and first responders routinely drill for the worst-case scenario.”
The app, which you can get from the Apple iTunes store for iPhones and Google Play store for android smart phones, was launched last year to provide real-time news and information to state residents.
Hurricane Irma’s trajectory Tuesday at around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
On Tuesday afternoon Hurricane Irma was heading menacingly toward the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis, according to the National Weather Service. The category five storm — the strongest on Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, meaning the damage would be catastrophic — was projected to make landfall in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands beginning Wednesday and Florida Keys and peninsula later this week.
Malloy said since he became governor Connecticut has had six presidential disaster declarations for blizzards, hurricanes, and tropical storms and that it is imperative that the state’s residents be prepared.
“Following our experience with Irene, Sandy and the snowstorms, we have worked diligently on preparedness and communication at all levels of government,” he said. “The months of September and October are the height of the hurricane season and the tropics are very active. I know people concerned watching closely this powerful storm prepared to respond in the event that we are impacted.”
Schriro.
In addition to downloading the app, Malloy urged people to check the status of their flood and homeowner’s insurance, prepare a kit of basic supplies and make sure that they have their prescription medications.
“We are at the height of hurricane season in Connecticut,” added Dora Schriro, state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection commissioner. “An important aspect of preparation is to know where the evacuation routes and weather hazards are in your community such as storm surge, areas prone to flooding, and those roads and bridges that frequently close due to severe weather.”
Mayor Toni Harp said about 9,100 acres of the city is within the 100-year flood zone. Her administration has been working to increase awareness, enforce floodplain ordinances, maintaining drainage systems, and protect the coast, she said.
“Gov. Malloy is right to call our attention to these potentially deadly threats posed by storms like these,” she said. “There is no such thing as being overly prepared.”
EOC’s Fontana speaks with Mayor Harp about Irma.
Rick Fontana, the city’s emergency operations director, said that the city is already strategizing a game plan in the event that Hurricane Irma makes its way to Connecticut. He said emergency and public safety officials tend to over plan for such events because “we know how to scale back.”
Echoing Malloy, he cited three forms of preparation that can save your life in the event that a storm as disastrous as Houston’s Hurricane Harvey hits the Elm City: having an emergency evacuation plan, preparing a kit filled with things like water, batteries, an additional cell phone charger and prescription medication, and being registered with the city’s Everbridge system to receive emergency alerts. (Sign up for alerts here.)
“Don’t wait for that plan as the hurricane is coming in,” he said. “Build a kit … and stay informed. Register with the City of New Haven. Sign up for alerts. It’s so important. If we can’t reach you, we can’t give you information that could save your life.”
Echoing Malloy, he cited three forms of preparation that can save your life in the event that a storm as disastrous as Houston's Hurricane Harvey hits the Elm City: having an emergency evacuation plan, preparing a kit filled with things like water, batteries, an additional cell phone charger and prescription medication, and being registered with the city's Everbridge system to receive emergency alerts.
He forgot the fourth one.And that is we can not wait to see you leave office.