Hurricane Irene: What You Need To Know Now

Update at 12:12 p.m.

Gov. Dannel Malloy just posted this on Twitter: "We are urging any citizen who has ever experienced flooding previously to take necessary precautions by midnight Sat., maybe earlier"

Original story:

With hurricane Irene headed our way, here is the advice our local emergency management officials provided Thursday. They will be meeting again Friday and we will provide updates as they are provided to Patch:

• Evacuation routes: drive north. Options include Route 79 through Durham, I95S to I91N or I95N to Route 9N. Town officials recommend you plan to if you are going to leave, since there is the potential for signficant traffic jams in just about any direction if many people decide to leave at the last minute.
• Notification systems: For the town, subscribe to ctalert.gov and make sure you specify your cell phone number in addition to your landline number, in case you are on the move when an alert is issued. You can sign up multiple devices, set the order of receipt, and add additional locatlons as needed. 
• Emergency shelters in town: The town has not yet made a determination as to whether emergency shelters will be opened. If they are, one will be located at the town gym at the off of Duck Hole Road. The other will be located in the .
• Town officials are determining which areas of town might be most vulnerable to flooding. As of yesterday, they said the list might include the west end of Green Hill Road, Middle Beach, Middle Beach West, portions of Neck Road, and Circle Beach.

Madison Patch will be covering both the weather forecasts and local events and announcements. Sign up for our newsletter and make sure you are receiving our breaking news alerts. There are links to do that on the upper right hand corner of the page, and the bottom of each page. To get Patch on your mobile phone, go to iTunes and get the free Patch application.

The town's deputy harbormaster has recommended that all boaters and store them in a safe place, on a trailer at your home, or at a marina.

School officials set Monday, Aug. 29th as the first day of school. If that changes, they will issue a notification via the following channels:

• Check the district website
• Sign up for e-Notify and optional text messages through the district website. (The school will email you and alert you to a change in our school day.)
• View Channel 19 Madison Educational Access TV on the Comcast Cable System
• View local television news channels: WTNH 8, NBC 30, WFSB 3,
• Listen to radio stations: CBS, WTIC 1080AM, WTIC 96.5 FM, WRCH 100.5 FM, WRCH 100.5 FM, WZMX 93.7 FM, WELI 960 AM, WKCI 101.3 FM, WPLR 99.1 FM, WDRC 102.9 FM, WDRC 1360 AM

This is information distributed by the Madison Chamber of Commerce:

Please make note of the following preparedness tips passed along by our State Rep. Noreen Kokoruda,  who received them from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection:

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

A three-day supply of non-perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

A whistle to signal for help

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Local maps

Cell phone w/ chargers, inverter or solar charger (you can charge phone in the car, too)

Family Emergency Plan

Identify an out-of town contact.  It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and can call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you've listed them as emergency contacts.

Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.

Go to www.ct.gov/ctalert to register for alerts.

For more information on Hurricane Preparedness go to www.ct.gov/demhs or www.ready.gov

Price gouging prohibited

State Sen. Ed Meyer added this in his newsletter to constituents: "Connecticut has laws which prohibit price gouging during emergencies. If you think a business is charging an unreasonable price, or has just raised its price to take advantage of the emergency, please contact the Department of Consumer Protection at 1-800-842-2649."

Emergency housing in Branford

From the Branford Chamber of Commerce: "FYI - In Case of Storm Crisis: Baymont Inn & Suites will be open all weekend and has set aside 30 rooms at the discounted rate of $69 per nite for anyone in need of  emergency housing due to the impending hurricane. Baymont Inn & Suites, 3 Business Park Dr., Branford. 203-488-4991."