Community Corner

Drill Simulates Category Three Hurricane, Tests Preparedness

Learn how to find water, power and services through preparedness for major storms.

 

The town of Newtown, along with the majority of the 169 towns in the state of Connecticut, is participating in a Statewide Drill being conducted by the Governor’s office.  The exercise will simulate a Category 3 hurricane and will give all of the participants in the drill the opportunity to test some specific components of planning, coordination and response to such an emergency.

 After last year’s storms, a particular concern of the town’s leadership and emergency response personnel was communication with residents.  Many residents were without power and telephone; as such, receiving information about the status of their power restoration, where to get drinking water, where to shower, recharge electronic devices (such as medical equipment, cell phones, computers), and what businesses were open proved to be a significant challenge.

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The Governor’s exercise will run from July 28 to July 31 as two separate two-day sessions.  Newtown will be participating in the July 30 and 31 session. 

Although the feedback from townspeople indicated the CODE RED automated phone calls to all residents from the First Selectman were extremely helpful, not everyone could receive them.  Part of the exercise will include using the CODE RED automated call which will be done on MONDAY July 30 at 10:00am, as well as on-line newspapers (the Bee, the Patch and the News Times) as well as signs, posters and flyers throughout the community.

Find out what's happening in Newtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other procedures that will be tested may be less apparent to residents; they will include testing alternative communication modes amongst response partners, readying shelters and personnel, and evaluating the needs and potential responses for vulnerable residents (medically fragile, frail or isolated).

It is also very important at this time for residents to do their part to make plans for their own response to such an emergency or to update the plans they have already made.  Contact information for family, friends, loved ones should be checked and updated.  Know your evacuation route if you live in a flood prone area.  Have supplies available for your family and pets should evacuation be necessary or if “shelter-in-place” is necessary. Very helpful information is available at the following websites:

www.redcross.org

 

Residents will hear and see some of the town’s efforts as the exercise is conducted.  It is important for emergency response partners to test and practice their plans periodically to learn, to improve and to be better prepared.  We are hopeful that the residents will do the same and, if necessary, will seek assistance in making their plans and preparations.  The websites above are valuable resources and/or if a resident would like further assistance, they can call the Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Office at (203) 270-4370.


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