State Of Emergency Declared In Madison; Madison School Canceled Monday

The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Madison, in anticipation of the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene, has declared a Local Civil Preparedness Emergency, starting at noon on Saturday and lasting for the duration of the hurricane and for as long thereafter as the "town is in a state of duress from damage resulting from the hurricane."

The first day of school also is canceled Monday, said School Superintendent David Klein.

"The main factor here is that we are in for one heck of a storm," said First Selectman Fillmore McPherson. "I'm afraid if people ignore this we could have lose of life. As it is we could have some signficant property damage."

The town is strongly recommended evacuations along the shoreline area and the west end of Green Hill Road. Specifically, those who live or are visiting on Circle Beach, and southern portions of Stone Road, Hartford Avenue, Buffalo Bay, Twin Cove Road, Pleasant View, Oak Ave, Beach Avenue, Harbor Avenue, Chittendon Field Lane, Taylor Avenue, Blakeman, Lee, Kelsey, Overshore, Shorelands are asked to evacuate.

Also, the west end of Green Hill Road, portions of Old Post Road, All of Jonathan's Landing. Garnett Park Road, Meadow Lane, Park Lane, Boulder Lane, Canoe Road, Riverside, Whedon Lane, Maplewood Lane, Longshore Lane, Surf Club Road, Holly Park Road. Center Street, Parker Lane, Flower Avenue, Parker Avenue, West Wharf, Cherry Lane, Middle Beach West, Sunset Road, Prospect Street, Middle Beach Road, Tuxis Road, Gull Rock Road, Park Avenue, Linden Lane, Middle Beach Road East.

Also Dudley Lane and all of the streets off of Dudley Lane and the streets adjacent to the streets off of Dudley Lane near the Griswold Airport property.

Those who live in affected areas, and who are signed up with the town's message alert system through ctalert.gov received the following message:

This is an important emergency message related to Hurricane Irene from Fillmore McPherson, First Selectman.

Governor Malloy has declared a State of Emergency for all of Connecticut. Your board of selectmen has likewise declared a State of Emergency for the town of Madison.

You are receiving this call because it is extremely likely that your neighborhood will be flooded. You are therefore requested to evacuate your home by sundown on Saturday.

If you do not have a place to go, an emergency shelter will be available at the gym at Town Campus.

Please take this call seriously. Winds in excess of 50MPH are expected by midnight Saturday and winds gusts in excess of 100MPH could arrive by daybreak Sunday. These winds will be accompanied by major wave action and flooding.

If you have not left by midnight Saturday, we may not be able to help you should you have an unsafe situation occur later on.

For further information please check the town's website at www.madisonct.org

Thank you, good luck and stay safe.