The following is an important update sent out by Congressman Joe Courtney to the residents of the 2nd District.

Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02)

OLD LYME/LYME — Tropical Storm Henri has intensified to a Category 1 hurricane, and it could make landfall in our region. As of this morning, the National Hurricane Center is projecting the storm to come ashore over Long Island and to move into Connecticut on Sunday afternoon or evening, and a hurricane watch has been issued for New London and Middlesex County. A tropical storm warning has been issued for the rest of the state.

Be careful out there—nothing is more important than protecting yourself and your family. Our local first responders are already making preparations to help our towns get through this, and Governor Lamont has already made a pre-land fall disaster request to FEMA to make sure our state is fully reimbursed for storm preparation and response, which I fully support. To all of our local firefighters, police officers, health care workers and other first responders: we are thankful for your service to our communities.

If you haven’t yet, you can take some steps now to get prepared. Below I’ve shared some information and resources from FEMA on how to get ready and stay safe. For more information from FEMA, click here. My office is monitoring the situation, and we’ll be ready to help anyone who needs to get connected to recovery resources.

Prepare Now for Hurricane Henri

Information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service National Hurricane Center expects hurricane conditions to begin late tonight or Sunday in portions of Connecticut and Long Island, New York. Storm surge watches are in effect for portions of Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Storm surge could be up to 5 feet in areas from coastal New Jersey to Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts. Heavy rainfall may result in flash, urban and small stream flooding.

Key Highlights

• Anyone in the forecast path of the storm should monitor their local news for updates and directions provided by their local officials and heed local evacuation orders. Gather supplies for your entire household now. Include medication, disinfectant supplies, face masks and pet supplies. After a hurricane, you may not have access to these supplies for several days.
• FEMA is positioning supplies such as meals, water and generators to assist states anticipating impacts from Tropical Storm Henri. FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams and liaison officers are in place, while other teams are on standby for deployment if necessary.
• Download the free FEMA app (available in English and Spanish) to receive emergency alerts and real-time safety notifications, emergency preparedness tips and disaster resources. The app is available for Apple and Android devices

Prepare to evacuate if ordered to do so

• Storm Path: Hurricanes and tropical storms can produce high winds and heavy rains far from the storm’s center. Focus on the storm’s impact, not the predicted storm path. Now is the time to prepare for severe weather. Visit Ready.gov or listo.gov to learn how you can keep yourself, your family and your pets safe.
• Evacuating: If you are in potentially affected areas, you should be familiar with evacuation routes, have a family emergency communications plan, keep a battery-powered radio handy and have plans for your family members and pets.
• Personal Safety: Evacuate if told to do so. If you go to a community or group shelter, remember to follow the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for protecting yourself and family from COVID-19.

Be prepared for power outages before and after the storm

• Use only flashlights or battery-powered lanterns for emergency lighting. NEVER use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. A grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devices should never be used inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. These should only be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows.
• Use a generator safely. Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open.
• Keep generators outside and far away from your home. Windows, doors and vents could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. Read both the label on your generator and the owner’s manual and follow the instructions.

Keep yourself safe before and after flooding 

• Don’t drive through flood waters: Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low lying areas at bridges and at highway dips. As little as 6 inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• If you are a person with disabilities, you may need to take additional steps to plan for the needs of yourself and your service animal if you have one. Visit Ready.gov/floods to learn how to stay safe before, during and after a flood.
• Stay out of floodwater. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines or contain hazards such as human and livestock waste, dangerous debris, contaminates that can lead to illness, or wild or stray animals.
• Flood Insurance: Your National Flood Insurance Program policy will cover and reimburse certain actions you take to minimize damage to your home and belongings before a flood.

What to do if your home has been damaged by a flood 

• Report your flood loss and damage immediately: Contact your insurance agent or carrier and be sure to ask them about advance payments. For finding your insurance agent or carrier, call the National Flood Insurance Program at 877-336-2627.