Hurricane Relief for Puerto Rico Happening in Ansonia

Ansonia updates emergency info

10/28/2012 - Sandy - Sunday evening update (taken from the City of Ansonia website)

 

This information was sent out earlier on a CodeRed alert:

Hello, this is Mayor James DellaVolpe with an important message from the City of Ansonia.

The current forecast shows that Hurricane Sandy will impact the City of Ansonia after midnight tonight with the worst of the weather during the day and evening on Monday and into Tuesday.  While the track of the storm may change, we can expect to receive hurricane force winds and heavy rain over a one or two-day period.  Be prepared for street and basement flooding as well as power outages. 

Please stay away from any downed trees, poles, or power lines.  During the height of the storm, police, fire, and emergency medical crews may only be able to respond to life-threatening emergencies. Please call 911 to report emergencies. 

The City of Ansonia’s emergency managements personnel will be staffing the emergency operations center beginning tonight at 100 p.m. and continuing thru the storm and the immediate cleanup.

The City of Ansonia has made the decision to open the Emergency Shelter on Monday at 8 a.m. for those seeking emergency shelter. The emergency shelter is located at the Ansonia High School on Pulaski Highway.  Any residents that are going to the shelter are asked to bring any medication, pillow, blankets, and personal toiletries. 

If needed, an animal shelter will be opened at Prendergast School. Any animals need to be caged and the resident is required to supply food for the animal.  One resident will be needed to remain at the school with their animal.

Depending on the amount of damage caused by the storm, assistance with debris removal may be delayed for several days after the storm.

City crews have begun cleaning catch basins and will continue to do so until the storm priorities dictate otherwise.  If possible, we would appreciate any assistance in keeping these catch basins unobstructed to help reduce local flooding. 

We will be updating residents as the need arises. (See below for UI outage information.)

Thank you and be safe.

Mayor James Della Volpe

UI Outage information:

The United Illuminating Company encourages all of its customers to be prepared for the impending storm.  

First of all, please be safe.  Always remember to stay far away from any downed power lines.  Assume downed wires are live, stay far away and please call UI at 1-800-722-5584.

 Also, if you witness utility crews at work in your area....... please allow them to complete restoration work. 

These crews have limited direct information for the public and restoring power to neighborhoods is often delayed when they are detained by well-intentioned customers.

The best option is to call UI at 1-800-722-5584 or visit the website at uinet.com for updates and information. 

You can also get information by following the UI on Twitter @UnitedIllum.

As an Ansonia resident, I was pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from the mayor minutes ago with this information. 

City website posts emergency information

The following information taken from the City of Ansonia's website is a storm note for oxygen dependent and medically fragile residents.

Please note: oxygen dependent and medically fragile residents should take heed of the impending storm. 
Spare batteries should be charged in the event of power outages; medications should be filled; along with other emergency procedures (as noted in Mayor James Della Volpe’s press release – see below).

If you need assistance, contact the Ansonia Police Department at: 

                                                                 203-735-1885

          (Please save this number by your phone)

* It is noted for oxygen dependent residents to contact this number if you see your supply running low, but prior to running out.


The mayor's press release issued Friday is below:

Hurricane Sandy Preparations

October 26, 2012

ANSONIA – Mayor James Della Volpe announced today that the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is working on preparations for the impending storm next week. The National Weather Service is forecasting Hurricane Sandy to make an east coast landfall late Monday.

“This morning we held a preliminary EOC meeting with all departments and will be closely monitoring the storm situation,” Della Volpe said. The EOC is comprised of Ansonia’s various departments which include: police, fire, medical, education, and public works. Representatives from area utilities will also work out of the EOC to coordinate local response to issues as they arise.

The EOC is led by Della Volpe and Police Chief Kevin Hale, the city’s Emergency Management Director.

Della Volpe also urged residents to take heed of hurricane preparedness tips provided by the Department of Emergency Management Homeland Security:

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

·        At least 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

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

·        Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

·        Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

·        Local maps

·        Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

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 has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to 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.

·        Subscribe to alert services. Many communities/states now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about severe weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. In Ansonia, go to www.CityofAnsonia.com  to register for Code Red alerts (at the bottom of the home page).

UNLESS EVACUATION OF A RESIDENCE IS ORDERED OR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY EXISTS, RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO REMAIN INSIDE THEIR RESIDENCE AND STAY OFF THE ROADS DURING THE HURRICANE.

EMERGENCY SHELTER INFORMATION

As part of the emergency operations plan, the City of Ansonia is making preparations to open an emergency shelter for Ansonia residents, if needed.  In event that the emergency shelter is needed, the opening of the shelter shall be posted on the City of Ansonia web site at www.CityofAnsonia.com.  Additionally, information can be obtained by calling the Ansonia Police Department at 203-735-1885.

The primary emergency shelter for the City of Ansonia will be located at the Ansonia High School, 20 Pulaski Highway.  Parking will be available in the high school parking lots.  Residents that elect to use the shelter are encouraged to bring blankets, pillows and any emergency supplies that will be needed for a short-term stay.  No domestic animals except for emergency service dogs will be allowed in this emergency shelter. 

EMERGENCY PET SHELTER

If the primary emergency shelter is opened, the pet shelter will be located at Mead School, 75 Ford St.  Residents will be required to provide food and a kennel for their pets while at the shelter.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Police/Fire/Medical Emergencies – 911 or 203-735-1885

Power Outages should be reported to United Illuminating at 1-800-722-5584 or 203-499-3333.

“Our main concern is for the safety and security of our residents,” Della Volpe said. “We ask all residents to take this weather event seriously.”

The EOC will be meeting late Sunday afternoon to monitor updates and continue storm preparations. Updated information will be posted on the City of Ansonia’s website (www.CityofAnsonia.com) and local media as it becomes available. Please share this information with neighbors that do not have computer access.

 

Valley officials preparing for Sandy

Note: In case you missed it, here is info I got from officials yesterday. Stay safe!


Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe announced Friday the city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is working on preparations for the impending storm next week.

"This morning we held a preliminary EOC meeting with all departments and will be closely monitoring the storm situation," Della Volpe said. The EOC is comprised of Ansonia's police, fire, medical, education, and public works departments.

Representatives from area utilities will also work out of the EOC to coordinate local response to issues as they arise.

The EOC is led by Della Volpe and Police Chief Kevin Hale, the city's Emergency Management Director.

In Seymour, police spokesman Lt. Paul Satkowski said police and town emergency officials have already met several times to put plans in place.

“We had a lot of experience last year (dealing with Hurricane Irene and the late October snowstorm) and we will build off of that,” he said.
“We have our cars gassed up and our equipment in place (if needed) to block off roads,” Satkowski said.

Derby officials are “closely monitoring” the storm, Mayor Anthony Staffieri said. “On Monday morning I’ll have a meeting with all the department heads for the whole city,” he said, to make final preparations.

“Public works has been clearing storm drains and lowering the ponds and reservoirs and testing the flood gates," Staffieri said. “We’re going through all the steps” to prepare, he said. 

Ansonia officials take part in emergency drill

Ansonia’s Emergency Operation Center during the state-wide drill last week. Photo by Deputy Emergency Management Director David Geloso.

ANSONIA -- Last Monday, Ansonia, along with other Emergency Operation Centers throughout the state, practiced a disaster scenario: a localized Category 3 hurricane.

Ansonia has an Emergency Operations Plan that it utilizes as guidance though various situations.
Issues that arise include when to open the primary emergency shelter, monitor the river levels for when to close the flood gates, and evacuations if needed.
The Ansonia EOC (Emergency Operations Center) was open on July 30 and 31 with various department heads, United Illuminating personnel and representatives from Lower Naugatuck Valley Health District on hand.
The need for the drill was an outcome from the storms that raged through Connecticut in 2011.

“This drill served Ansonia residents by providing a better-prepared emergency service,” said Mayor James Della Volpe, who participated in the scenario. “This can only enhance the city’s ability to respond in disaster situations.”

During the two-day drill, the state coordinators threw different issues at towns for response reactions. As example, after Ansonia’s emergency shelter was established, the storm developed strong winds tearing the roof off the building. The question the EOC had to tackle was how to react and what was the next course of action.

“This was a very good drill which helped us to better prepare in case we are ever faced with a disaster in the future,” said Police Chief Kevin Hale, who also serves as Ansonia’s Emergency Management Director. 
“While a drill of this nature cannot truly present us with conditions of an actual emergency, we were able to see our strengths as well as areas that we need to address.”  

Della Volpe noted that the city’s new CodeRED alert system was tested July 30. “This is another enhancement to our ability to provide timely and accurate information to our residents.”

“We were very pleased especially with the roll-out of the CodeRED alert system, which will allow us to contact our citizens in particular areas or throughout the entire city and provide them with timely information should the need arise,” Hale added.

Residents can access the CodeRED system on Ansonia’s home page at: www.CityofAnsonia.com.


The above information is taken from a release from Eileen Krugel, grant writer, City of Ansonia.