Windsor Locks and East Windsor Make Preparations for Hurricane Sandy

Update at 4:20 p.m.

Windsor Locks officials say they are prepared for any effects of Hurricane Sandy but don’t expect to start seeing any until tonight when the high winds are expected to reach the area.

Victor Puia, emergency management director, said he and First Selectman Steven N. Wawruck Jr. have been meeting with town department heads assessing the situation.

“Frankly, there’s not much going on,” Puia said this afternoon. “We have no power outages. Everything is good in town.”

Puia said town officials understand they will see the brunt of Sandy starting after 5 p.m. through the overnight.

Preparations have been made for the storm including a tree and line crew assigned by CL&P to Windsor Locks waiting at the public works building. That crew will be on hand for clearing any street fro a 911 sick call or clearing trees and fallen electrical lines in  the community.

Puia said he and town leaders will make decisions about what might need to be done in the community after 7 a.m. Tuesday. Those decisions could include whether there is school in session on Wednesday. If a shelter is needed after tonight preparations have been made for cots and other supplies at Windsor Locks High School, as well as the school system’s food services staff on call to make meals, Puia said.

If you have an emergency call 911. Routine storm questions; shelter, water, food should be addressed to the EOC Office at 860-627-1400.

UPDATED:

In East Windsor, town officials said they aren't experiencing in storm-related issues. The emergency operations center is open and monitoring the situation.

"We have no loss of power, and no risk to public safety," a statement from First Selectwoman Denise Menard and Police Chief Edward J. Marco Jr., said. "No evacuations were ordered. Therefore, no shelter accommodations have been ordered at this time."

"In the event that a shelter is needed, one will be immediately opened at town hall, 11 Rye Street. If a larger shelter is needed one will be open at East Windsor High School."

Town hall will be opened the rest of the day and will partially open on Tuesday, Menard said. There will be no trash pick on Tuesday.

A tree and line crew has already be assigned to East Windsor and is standing by in town, Menard said.

Original story

Officials in Windsor Locks and East Windsor said they are making preparations for the oncoming storm. Neither of the community’s leaders have issued an emergency declaration but expect to make that decision early Monday.

The public school systems in both communities will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

First Selectman Steven N. Wawruck Jr. issued a statement saying, “The town departments have been prepping for Tropical Storm Sandy since last Thursday. Our public works department has prepped the necessary equipment to clear downed trees and branches.”

“Our Emergency Director Vic Puia and myself have been on conference calls with the State Emergency Ops Center through the weekend. On Monday morning we will meet with all the Emergency Departments to evaluate the needs of the town based on the morning report.”

“In the meantime I encourage residents to stock up on batteries and food as necessary for an outage that may last longer than a few days due to the predictions that we will have sustained winds of more than 30 mph for 36 hrs or longer. Also clean around your homes to secure any lawn furniture, equipment that may get blown around and do damage.”

“As the storm progresses we will use #211 and other means available in regards to shelters, more and water distribution. I will update this message at 11 a.m. Monday."

In East Windsor, First Selectwoman Denise Menard said the town’s emergency management team met Saturday and partially activated the emergency operations center. The center will be fully activated at 4 a.m. Monday and emergency management officials will meet at 8 a.m. to assess what actions need to be taken then.

Menard said town officials are in full communication with the state’s emergency operations. CL&P will have a dedicated line and tree crew in East Windsor by 8 a.m. Monday, Menard added.