Thomas Breen photo
Mayor Elicker and emergency director Rick Fontana Thursday: "These are dangerous conditions."
Watch out for dangerously cold temperatures, heavy rains, fast winds, and high tides this weekend.
And whatever you do, don’t drive through flooded streets.
A half-dozen top city officials delivered those words of caution during a Thursday midday press conference in the city’s Emergency Operations Center in the basement of the municipal office building at 200 Orange St.
City Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana and Mayor Justin Elicker warned that the city should see an inch or two of rain on Friday. That, coupled with the highest tides of the month at around midnight and 10:30 a.m. Friday, could lead to a “three-foot inundation” and flooding in familiar locales like Union Avenue and Middletown Avenue — as well as less frequently water-logged spots like John Murphy Drive and City Point.
On top of that, Fontana said, the temperature is expected to plummet by 20 degrees to be in the 20s for most of the weekend. Coupled with expected 50 – 60 mile per hour winds, the temperature could feel closer to 0 degrees.
All of that should mean “high winds, freezing temperature, and potential power outages,” Elicker said.
“We don’t normally see a three-foot inundation,” Fontana said. “These are astronomical high tides … That’s going to cause a significant amount of flooding.”
Elicker said that the city will be activating a cold weather protocol effective 6 p.m. Friday and running through Monday. That means that warming shelters at 266 State St., 882 Grand Ave., the 180 Center, and Varick Memorial Church — which are usually open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — should be open 24 hours. Those shelters have a combined capacity for 145 people. City Director of Community Resilience Carlos Sosa-Lombardo said that the Columbus House homeless shelter will also have 40 spaces available at its overflow site.
There’s no parking ban planned for now, Elicker said. He said public works crews are on hand to salt and sand the streets as necessary to ward off against a potential freeze.
“These are dangerous conditions,” Fontana stressed.
So charge electric devices and make sure pets are safe and cared for, Fontana said. Check in on neighbors.
And don’t drive through flooded streets.
On Thursday evening, the mayor’s office sent out the following email and text message alert about the coming storm.
The National Weather Service is forecasting significant rain, high winds and freezing temperatures for our region. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are expected, and coastal flooding is likely is some of the city’s low-lying areas, which may cause road closures. Then, beginning Friday afternoon and through the weekend, overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the teens and, with the wind chill factor, into the single digits.
The City has activated its severe cold weather protocols and I wanted to pass along a few quick safety tips for residents:
• Make sure to fully charge your cell phones and critical electronic and medical devices in preparation for a potential power outage;
• Drive with caution and, if possible, adjust your travel times, if you are traveling for the holidays. The rain followed by freezing temperatures may result in icy roads.
• Do not drive through flooded roadways – instead, turn around and choose a different route.
• Check in on your family, friends and neighbors.
• Call 9 – 1‑1 for any storm-related emergencies.
Our walk-in winter Warming Centers will be open 24 hours a day beginning Friday 6pm. The list of warming centers can be found on the city’s website: newhavenct.gov or by calling 211.
Most importantly, for kids in New Haven expecting a visit by Santa, know that — no matter what — that no winter storm can stop Santa Claus. Santa is still on his way and Santa is still coming to town. Happy Holidays!
The city cannot prevent downpours, which are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change. But it can send out DPW crews to clear drains in flood-prone areas in advance of the storms. Obviously, the crews will need to be paid. But I suspect this will be less expensive than dealing with the flooding caused by a storm. (Residents should do the same thing, but this will not help in areas like Union Avenue near the train station.)