Ansonia Code Red alert posted

This is a Code Red alert from the City of Ansonia. 

The state of Connecticut is going to be impacted by a severe winter storm beginning on Friday morning and continuing into Saturday. 

Latest forecasts indicate our area will receive over one foot of snow as well as high winds. 

In preparation for this storm, the City of Ansonia is announcing the following:

--All City of Ansonia public buildings will be closed on Friday.

--There will be a parking ban on all city streets starting at noon Friday and ending at noon Sunday.  All City of Ansonia public and school parking lots will be open for off street parking.

--The City of Ansonia asks homeowners and businesses to assist in clearing snow from around fire hydrants near your properties to allow quick access to those hydrants in case of emergency.

Additionally, residents are encouraged to limit their driving on city roads during the storm to allow for emergency vehicles and road crews to perform their functions.

The City of Ansonia will send out further announcements as needed. 

At the ready in Ansonia

Ansonia's Mass Casualty Unit vehicle on the scene this morning at the emergency shelter at Ansonia High School. Patricia Villers/Register

Preparing for Sandy in Derby

Preparations were being made earlier today on Elizabeth Street.

DERBY - With Hurricane Sandy literally “knocking on the door” preparations have been ongoing locally. 

Above a public works employee removes the Commodore Isaac Hull banners from the downtown light poles.

In photo below, public works employee Frank Pelaccia was part of a crew that closed the downtown flood gates. Several workers are needed to close the gates.  

Pelaccia is lowering “the skirts” once the gates are closed to help prevent flow from coming under the gates.

Even though Metro North service had been suspended, Derby Public Works is in contact with Metro North when the gates need to be closed.

Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri has been meeting with department heads from Public Works, Police, Office of Emergency Management, Fire, Ambulance, Education and the Water Pollution Control Authority. They will continue to meet until the storm has passed. 
Members of the Office of Emergency Management will monitor the storm from the command center located in the basement of Derby City Hall.

This information was contributed by Derby resident MarkAnthony Izzo.

Valley residents taking a wait and see attitude

 

Ansonia resident Bob Bialek, a member of Ansonia Rescue Medical Services, shows the sanitized cots that are available to evacuees seeking shelter in the Ansonia High School gym. Patricia Villers/Register


By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
and Jean-Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent


Naugatuck Valley residents took a wait and see attitude concerning Hurricane Sandy.
As of late Monday morning just one senior citizen was staying in the emergency shelter the city had opened at 8 a.m. at Ansonia High School.

Beverly Favreau, who lives in the Ansonia Housing Authority’s Central Street Apartments complex, was reading as she sat on a cot in the gymnasium.

“I just was concerned when I saw on the TV that parking lots in Stratford were flooded,” Favreau said, and she decided to evacuate. Her sister gave her a ride to the shelter, she said.
Favreau was 11 when the Flood of ’55 devastated the Valley, and she said she has vivid memories of the devastation.

“You can’t trust the Naugatuck River,” she said.

Favreau was living on Maple Street in Seymour at the time and remembers that her church, Seymour Congregational on Broad Street, sustained a lot of damage. “I hope my church is going to be OK,” she said.

Ansonia Rescue Medical Services’ member Bob Bialek, of Ansonia, gave a visitor a tour of the shelter. He said boys’ locker room facilities are being used for men, and girls’ locker room facilities are available for women.

Bialek said the city has made accommodations to have Valley Transit District buses and buses from Emmett O’Brien (Technical High School) available “to use if a mass evacuation is needed.”

The high school is at 20 Pulaski Highway. Ansonia Rescue Medical Services’ personnel stationed there said they were there for the duration of the storm.

“We’re prepared to be here as long as necessary,” Bialek said. Drinking water is available there, as are 150 sanitized cots and blankets from Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.

EMT Terry Godfrey, of Ansonia, said cafeteria employees were there preparing lunch for workers and shelter clients.

She had her 15-year old twins, Andrew and Jenn, with her to help at the shelter. “They’re Junior Corps members,” Godfrey said, and have been involved with the organization for many years.

Godfrey said last year during Hurricane Irene three people, parents with a child, sought shelter at the high school.

Major Theresa Burkholder from the Ansonia-based Greater Valley Salvation Army arrived at the shelter to offer her agency’s assistance.

“We’re available if there’s a need,” Burkholder said. “We can provide meals, and we have blankets, toiletries, diapers, and other supplies,” she said.

Burkholder said she would deliver items to Ansonia High School if requested.

The above story is also at www.nhregister.com. Check back for updates.

Update: Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri said that at 2 p.m. he had just returned from areas of the city near the Housatonic River.

He said McConney’s Grove off Roosevelt Drive and O’Sullivan’s Island were “still in great shape. There were no significant water problems.”

Staffieri said he expected heavy wind could cause problems later today.

“Wind could knock down trees which could down power lines,” he said.

Staffieri said he held several meetings with department heads Monday.

“Their equipment is in good working order, and the flood gates have been closed,” he said.

If it’s necessary the city will open Derby Middle School as a shelter, with Bradley School as a secondary location if needed, he said.

“We have food and water, we’re prepared.”

Staffieri said it appeared that City Hall would be closed tomorrow.

“We encourage people to call the police department, the fire department, or public works,” he said. “Right now they are waiting for a call. Hopefully there won’t be any calls. That means that there were no problems.”  

Derby emergency numbers

The phone number for Derby Emergency Management: 203-736-1459.

Derby Police Department: 203-735-7811.

Derby Public Works: 203-736-1468.

Emergency info from Derby

The city of Derby is disseminating information from its Facebook page.

Info from Ansonia website

10/29/2012 - Trash collection for Tuesday is suspended until Wednesday in Ansonia.

 

Trash collection will be suspended tomorrow until Wednesday. All pick-ups for the remainder of the week will be a day later.

Ansonia closes flood gate

This is an e-mail message from CTNewsAlert@aol.com:

"ANSONIA - We have just been advised that Ansonia has closed the flood gate located on West Main Street near the train station in response to Sandy."

Flood concerns in Shelton

Report: Shelton residents may be asked to evacuate due to potential river flooding

The Valley Independent Sentinel is reporting on its website that Shelton residents may be asked to evacuate especially if the Housatonic River flood.

Storm info: Ansonia City Hall to close

From the city's website:

City Hall is open Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 

Due to weather concerns, Ansonia City Hall will close at 12:30. Please stay safe.

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.