What To Do Before Hurricane Sandy Arrives

The weather reports are growing increasingly ominous, and it looks like West Hartford will almost certainly get some heavy rain and wind courtesy of "Frankenstorm" Sandy.

The National Weather Service has issued a "Hazardous Weather Outlook" for the area.

There are several important tasks residents should take care of this weekend, in advance of the storm.

Take Care of Leaves in the Gutters and Storm Drains

Director of Public Works John Phillips is asking residents to be sure the road edges and gutters, as well as catch basins in front of their homes, are clear of leaves. "Leaf-filled gutters and catch basins will lead to an increase of localized street flooding. Please assist your neighborhood and your DPW staff, be prepared, and take some time this weekend to clean the road edge and gutter of your home," Phillips said in an email.

Sign Up for Everbridge, West Hartford's Emergency Alert System

It's easy, and it's the best way to ensure that you have the most up-to-date emergency information specific to West Hartford, but West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka said yesterday that he was surprised so few have registered. Residents can sign up through the Town of West Hartford website, or directly by clicking here. "As conditions warrant, we will be sending information out through that system," said Slifka. 

Make Sure You Have a Storm Emergency Kit

CL&P is working hard on public relations in advance of this storm, trying to avoid some of the criticism the company faced from the handling of Tropical Storm Irene and the October snowstorm. The American Red Cross also has extensive information about emergency preparedness, and yes, there's even "an app for that."

Safeguard Patio Furniture and Other Outdoor Items

Also from the American Red Cross: "Forecasts are still projecting damaging winds for us from Hurricane Sandy. Since we are already at the end of 'outdoor season,' use this weekend to put away lawn furniture, take down hanging planters, put away grills and store other stuff that could get blown around when Sandy hits us early next week.'"

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One of the differences between Sandy and many other recent storms, is that it is expected to last more than a day. “We’re talking about a (storm) delivery timeframe of substantially longer than perhaps what people are used to,” Gov. Malloy told a gathering of reporters outside his offices at the state capitol Friday morning. “This is not a 12-hour storm. This could be a 36-hour storm with 40-plus mile an hour winds.” Residents should also plan for a minimum of seven inches of rain, he said.