PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Hurricane Henri is expected to arrive in Connecticut early Sunday. The track of the hurricane – as of Saturday afternoon – puts landfall further west along the Connecticut coastline than originally predicted.
Henri is predicted to make landfall in the Madison area early evening Sunday, August 22. The National Hurricane Center predicts there could be sustained winds of 70 mph with gusts up to 85 mph. Leading up to the evening landfall, wind and rain are expected to intensify as the day progresses. As much as 3 to 6 inches of rain is expected.
With the rain and high tide cycles, moderate flooding may occur along the coastline and along rivers Sunday with a storm surge of 3 to 3 ½ feet. The storm is expected to move out of the area overnight Sunday into Monday.
In preparation for the storm, our team of first-responders with extra staff and equipment have been staged to respond to any situation that may arise from this weather event. As of this evening (Saturday, August 21), ferry service to both Island Beach and Great Captain Island is suspended until further notice.
Please do not risk your safety and that of our Town’s first-responders - police, fire, EMS, Parks & Trees and Public Works - by visiting our waterfront during the storm. Please shelter in place.
Should you need to evacuate your home, the John Margenot Atrium, located at the Town of Greenwich Public Safety Complex at 11 Bruce Place, has been designated a cooling and charging station. Open 24 hours. Please wear a mask and maintain proper social distancing if you come to use the facility.
For businesses participating in the outdoor dining experience this summer, they should ensure that all tables, chairs, tents and umbrellas are brought indoors. Residents are advised to secure their outdoor furniture. It is advisable that residents have a supply of non-perishable food, as well as water, first aid materials, flashlights and batteries, and a supply of their prescriptions.
Storm Preparedness:
- Flood Preparedness – get ready if flash flooding or heavy rainfall is predicted:
- Be prepared in case of power failure – have flashlights ready, vehicles fueled.
- Move belongings and equipment out of harm’s way – this may mean elevating or moving belongings stored in basements or garages, moving a car to higher ground, etc. Protect window wells or other areas of your home if needed, based on your conditions and the storm predictions.
- Do not walk or drive through flooded areas – whether in your home, yard or road.
- Please do not discharge storm water to the sanitary sewer system – it is illegal and can cause sewer overflows.
- Remember, drainage systems are not designed for flash floods or high intensity/large or long duration storms – so preparing your home for such weather is important. Storm water typically recedes quickly after flash flooding events.
- Power Outages
- Stay away from downed wires. All wires should be viewed as live – with the potential to electrocute. Downed wires should be reported to 9-1-1.
- If a traffic signal is out – treat signals as stop signs and proceed with caution. Service will be restored as quickly as possible.
- Use of portable generators: Place generators outside, at least 20 feet from any structure. Close windows that are on that side of the home where the generator is located. If the concentration of carbon monoxide is above 35 ppm, it can be toxic. Carbon monoxide symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911. Keep watch on any burning candles or other open flame sources used for lighting.
- Road Blockages
- You can report blocked roads to the Greenwich Public Safety General Dispatch number at 203-622-8004.
- Utility Outages
- Utility outages o Report all outages to Eversource online at www.eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000.
- Optimum: message at optimum.net/chat; tweet to @Optimumhelp or call 866- 950-3278.
- Frontier: customer service: 1-800-239-4430 for residential customers or 1- 800- 921-8102 for business customers.
- Storm Cleanup
- Storm cleanup o Please remember – the Town will clean up downed Town trees in the right of way. Please do not put your own property’s trees/branches or other debris out in the street – it will not be picked up.
- We will post updates – as needed - via the Town’s website, the reverse 9-1-1 system and the Town’s social media accounts.
- On behalf of all of our first-responders, I thank you in advance for your cooperation during this weather event.
- Optimum Online storm information https://www.optimum.com/storm
- Call 203-622-8004 to report trees and wires down and if roadways are blocked. Please use 911 for emergencies only.
- For media inquiries, please contact Executive Assistant to the First Selectman Barbara Heins at barbara.heins@greenwichct.org