Hurricane Sandy: North Branford Information Center

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to receive the latest updates from town and state officials, utility companies and your fellow residents. And here's where you can find all you need to know about Hurricane Sandy.

State of Emergency in North Branford

Oct. 29, 2012: 7 p.m. Bonnie Therrien, interim town manager, declared a Townwide emergency at 5:19 p.m. Non-essential workers for Town Hall offices will not report to work and all non-public safety offices will not be open.  

North Branford's UI power outages have climbed to 1,570 (46.73 percent), according to UI's outage list, including Evergreen Woods, which lost power just before 6 p.m.

Road Closures

The following roads are closed: Totoket (both ends), Clear Lake Manor and part of Dogwood. In addition, the following roads were added as closed as of 8:30 p.m.: Route 80 (east of West Pond Road), Totoket Road (south of Route 80), and Valley Road and Notch Hill Road "where a tree is leaning on wires and probably will go down overnight," according to Therrien.

"There are side streets, but the closure of the roads listed above could cause major traffic issues," said Therrien. "Depending on the weather, UI and our crews will start making these areas safe beginning at 8 a.m."

Don't Call Fire Departments, Call EOC or 911

Oct. 29, 2012: 5:30 p.m. Fire Chief William Seward reminds people that they should not call fire stations directly for any type of assistance.  The number they should be dialing is 911 for emergencies or the EOC numbers (203-484-9549, 484-2196, 484-2583 and 484-9538) for non-emergent requests or questions.

Therrien also warns that trees are beginning to fall and two streets are blocked. Stay safe! 

Power and Shelter Updates

Oct. 29, 2012: 4:10 p.m. Currently there are approximately 50 Wallingford Electric customers without power, according to Interim Town Manager Bonnie Therrien. UI's outage map reports 340 without power (10.12 percent), but that number was as high as 30 percent earlier today. UI restored several areas, including the senior housing complex at Hillcrest Terrace.

"Right now, because of wind speeds, electric crews will not be working on wires up in the air – only ground work," said Therrien.

The town offices closed at 2 p.m. today. There are eight people at the North Branford Intermediate School shelter at this time – all town residents, though the Red Cross-run shelter is a regional shelter.

North Branford Emergency Operations Center Latest Info

Oct. 29, 2012, 10:45 a.m. 

• Trash will be picked up today but not tomorrow and then the rest of the week will be delayed one day. 
• Sandbags can be picked up at the Public Works Department between 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 
• Potable water can be picked up at Fire House # 4 and the Intermediate School.

Press release from Town Manager Bonnie Therrien

Oct. 28, 2012, 1:30 p.m. 

The Town of North Branford would like to be proactive in sending out information to our residents. Please note the items listed below for Hurricane Sandy which is projected to be a very long lasting storm with long power outages. Make sure you are self sufficient for at least a week in case of severe power, phone and cell outages.

• Make sure your neighbors and family members are safe and have enough food, water and supplies to last a week and check on them every day.
• Schools are closed on Monday and Tuesday
•  The Emergency Operations Center will be located at the Police Station and right now, will open at 7 am on Monday. Phone numbers there are: (203) 484-9549, 484-2196, 484-2583 and 484-9538. Please call these numbers instead of 911 for non-emergency situations.
• The Town will be sending out severe weather, road closures and updated safety information via the SAFER North Branford Emergency Notification System where we can contact thousands of residents in seconds with a push of a button. If you have not signed up for SAFER or need to update your information on the system, please go to the North Branford Town Website (www.townofnorthbranfordct.com) TODAY and fill out all of the information. You can also update your information via the CT Alert System (www.ctgov/ctalert). Having your latest contact information is the only way to ensure that we can contact you in an emergency.
• The regional shelter run by the American Red Cross will open at 7 p.m. on Sunday night. It will be located at the North Branford Intermediate School and you should enter the main entrance, the door to the right of the flagpole and bring with you medication (in their original labeled vials) to last 7 days, a list of all medications, clothes, blankets and pillows, things to keep children active, toiletry items (toothbrush/toothpaste/contact lens solutions, etc.) and towels. We will not be taking pets there but if you want to bring your pets, you can go to the Branford Shelter at Mary T. Murphy School at 14 Brushy Plains Road.
• If and when power is restored, charging stations for cell phones and medical equipment will be available at the Town Hall, Community Center, two Libraries and the Intermediate School. 
• Press Releases with emergency updates will be given out every day.  These will be on the Town’s website, given out through our SAFER System and where there is power, through local businesses and the Emergency Operations Center.
• If you need to report a power outage or power lines down, please call 1-800-7CALLUI (1-800-722-5584) for UI customers or go to UI’s website – www.uinet.com/outagemap. For Wallingford Electric, please call 203-265-5055.
• If you need potable water, it will be available at the Intermediate School 654 Foxon Road, North Branford and North Branford Ambulance Company #4 – 1351 Middletown Avenue, Northford
• The Fire Stations will be manned with volunteer staff if you need anything starting at midnight tonight.
• Now is the time to check the outside of your home for trees and bushes that need to be cut back or bring indoors items that could fly around in a storm causing damage.
• Volunteers will be needed for the shelter. If you can volunteer, please call after 7 am to one of the phones at the Emergency Operations Center. 

BE SAFE AND LOOK AFTER YOUR NEIGHBORS!!!

North Branford Schools Are Closed

Oct. 28, 2012, 1 p.m. Like most other school districts in the area, North Branford schools have been closed on Monday and Tuesday, according to WTNH. Here's their full list of closings.

Town Manager Therrien Calls for Volunteers

Oct. 27, 2012: 8 p.m. Interim Town Manager Bonnie Therrien has put a call for volunteers to help at the shelter after the storm is over. If interested, you can post your contact information below or call the Emergency Operations Center after it is activated (tentatively scheduled for 7 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 28). EOC numbers are  (203) 484-9549, 484-2196, 484-2583 and 484-9538.

North Branford Department of Social Service Press Release

Oct. 27, 2012, 8 p.m. Be ready for severe weather with Hurricane by American Red Cross. Monitor conditions in your area or throughout the storm track, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out – a must have for anyone who lives in an area where a hurricane may strike or has loved ones who do.

From your mobile phone, call "**REDCROSS" (**73327677) and we will send you a link to download the app to your phone or you can download them directly from the iTunes or Google Play app stores.

UI Reverse-911 Storm Alert

Oct. 27, 2012, 8 p.m. 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

At any time you can get storm tips, preparation strategies, safety information, restoration priorities and other helpful information from the UI website.

Thank you for your time and understanding........And most of all ......please be safe.

Press release from Town Manager Bonnie Therrien

Oct. 26, 4:15 p.m. The latest update on Hurricane Sandy from the Town is a long-lasting duration storm of 36 hours. This could mean no power for longer than 36 hours, as storm and power restoration will not start until after the storm is over.

Although the Town may only receive 3 to 6 inches of rain during that time period, the winds could be sustained at 60 to 80 miles per hour for 12 hours starting at around midnight on Monday. The major part of the storm is due to come in at noon on Monday with tropical storm effects starting Sunday after midnight. You must be prepared for at least 36 hours of no power, if not more. A new update from the Town will be released tomorrow.

Press release from Town Manager Bonnie Therrien

Oct. 25, 3:30 p.m. Although computer models are still unsure of where Hurricane Sandy may be by next week, the Town of North Branford would like to be proactive in sending out information to our residents.  Please note the items listed below in case Sandy does hit Connecticut, which is projected for next week, Monday - Wednesday:

• Make sure you are self sufficient for at least a week in case of severe power, phone and cell outages.
• Make sure your neighbors and family members are safe and have enough food, water and supplies to last a week and check on them every day.
• The Emergency Operations Center will be located at the Police Station.  Phone numbers there are: (203) 484-9549, 484-2196, 484-2583 and 484-9538. Please call these numbers instead of 911 for non-emergency situations.
• The Town will be sending out severe weather, road closures and updated safety information via the SAFER North Branford Emergency Notification System where we can contact thousands of residents in seconds with a push of a button. If you have not signed up for SAFER or need to update your information on the system, please go to the North Branford Town Website TODAY and fill out all of the information. You can also update your information via the CT Alert System (www.ct.gov/ctalert).  Having your latest contact information is the only way to ensure that we can contact you in an emergency.
• If a shelter needs to be opened, it will be located at the North Branford Intermediate School and you should enter the main entrance, the door to the right of the flagpole and bring with you medication (in their original labeled vials) to last 7 days, a list of all medications, clothes, blankets and pillows, things to keep children active, toiletry items (toothbrush/toothpaste/contact lends solutions, etc.) and towels.
• If and when power is restored, charging stations for cell phones and medical equipment will be available at the Town Hall, Community Center, two libraries (Smith and Atwater), and the Intermediate School. 
• Press Releases with emergency updates will be given out every day.  These will be on the Town’s website, given out through our SAFER System and where there is power, through local businesses and the Emergency Operations Center.
• If you need to report a power outage or power lines down, please call 1-800-7CALLUI (1-800-722-5584) for UI customers or go to UI’s website – www.uinet.com/outagemap. For Wallingford Electric, please call 203-265-5055.
• If you need potable water, it will be available at the Intermediate School and Northford Fire Company #2 – 1370 Middletown Road.
• Now is the time to check the outside of your home for trees and bushes that need to be cut back or bring indoors items that could fly around in a storm causing damage.