As Irene Approaches—

Officials Warn: Beware Of Closed Roads, Downed Wires

By John Voket

As Newtown welcomes hurricane season with the likelihood of heavy cast-off rains from US-bound Hurricane Irene this weekend, local emergency management and fire officials talked with The Bee about some particular public safety and health concerns they have related to heavy weather events.

While monitoring the aftereffects of an earth tremor that was felt in Newtown Tuesday, Newtown Emergency Management Director William Halstead and Deputy Director Donna Culbert were also keeping an eye on the approaching hurricane, which is predicted to bring heavy rain and wind gusts up to 45 miles-per-hour to the area Sunday afternoon and evening.

Ahead of the anticipated storm, Ms Culbert, who is the regional Health District director, was set to attend a statewide hurricane preparedness workshop August 25.

Mr Halstead, who is also chief of Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue, said whenever a storm packing heavy rains and wind is predicted to hit Newtown, he becomes most concerned about the frequency that residents ignore closed roads and downed wires.

“When people are on their way home and they encounter blocked roads with either hazard tape or saw horses posted, I can’t believe how many will just drive right through,” Chief Halstead said. “Sometimes they will just push road sign right out of the way.”

Besides creating further hazards for drivers who come into the areas after the signs are disabled or moved, Chief Halstead said he is also concerned that both drivers and homeowners seem to have little regard for fallen wires. And while they may very well be nonelectrical cables, there is always the possibility a fallen wire may be fully charged with electricity, and capable of delivering a fatal jolt.

“As firefighters, we assume every wire is live, so residents should, too,” he said. “If we know there are live wires down we will try to keep someone there to keep people away.”

But with limited manpower, especially after dangerous storms with lots of wires and trees down and possibly other fire or rescue activity, Chief Halstead said there may be times when warning barriers must be left unattended, but this does not mean the potential hazard lying beyond is minimized.

In the event of high winds, the emergency management officials also warned residents and local business people to secure any exterior furnishings or fixtures that could be affected, and they urged homeowners to either check or prepare a home emergency kit. The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (CDESP) says that kit should include:

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

*At least a three-day supply of nonperishable 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 (if someone is trapped inside a home)

*Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

*Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

*Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

*Manual can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

*Local maps

*Cellphone with chargers, inverter or solar charge

The CDESP also recommends residents:

*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 has a cellphone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cellphone, 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 have 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.

Chief Halstead also said to be sure exterior gas and propane tanks are secure, and if residents detect the smell of gas, they should exit the building immediately and call 911.

“Otherwise, residents who are at home when a storm hits should plan to stay there until it is safe to travel outside,” Ms Culbert said. “Unless you are in imminent danger inside the house or building during a storm, stay put.”

Newtowners may subscribe to the Code Red alert service in town by clicking on the icon at newtown-ct.gov, or by calling the fire marshal’s office at 203-270-4370, or through the statewide alert system at www.ct.gov/ctalert.

Ms Culbert is also concerned about the many areas of standing water that may be left after the weekend storms, because the next three weeks will see the highest incidents of West Nile Virus communication from mosquito bites. And if people have to be outside in the late afternoon or early evening, they should wear commercially available repellant.

Beside avoiding, if possible, outdoor activity at dusk until at least mid-September, Ms Culbert urges residents and business people to walk their property after any rain to locate and dump any standing water where mosquitoes can breed.