Connecticut
State officials urge readiness during hurricane season
Local and state officials are urging residents to plan ahead for disasters as the calendar reaches the peak of hurricane season.
They warned Connecticut has become more vulnerable to severe weather, sometimes sudden, during the summer months, so hurricanes are no longer the only concern.
“If it can happen to us, it can happen anywhere,” Oxford First Selectman George Temple said during a news conference along the banks of Little River.
Oxford was one of multiple towns that were devastated 11 months ago when unexpectedly high rainfall led to historic flooding.
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnel Higgins urged people to take three steps:
“Be prepared,” Higgins said. “You will hear that early, you will hear that often. We will continue to emphasize that.”
DESPP Deputy Commissioner Brenda Bergeron said only 7% of residents in the state have signed up for alerts.
She also said the agency’s training efforts pick up during the summer months, including an increased emphasis on communication.
As the state gets ready for disasters, they’re also worried about help from the federal government.
President Donald Trump has been cutting resources at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and has said he wants to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA has also drawn criticism for its response to deadly flooding in Texas.
Trump has been reluctant to talk about his plans for FEMA’s future this week.
“FEMA is something we can talk about later, but right now they’re busy working,” he said while departing Air Force One earlier this week.
Gov. Ned Lamont said the state could use the Rainy Day Fund to help cities and towns who are waiting for federal disaster relief aid.
Bergeron also said the state has its own meteorologists and coordinators to help plan for disasters.
But both said the state still relies on the federal government for help. Lamont, in particular, said it’s not possible for Connecticut to handle disaster recovery on its own.
“Some of these disasters are in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said. “Look what’s going on. And there, you really do need the federal government as a backstop”
DANBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — Danbury drivers can expect hours-long closures on Sugar Hollow Road early Monday morning after a “serious” crash, according to local police.
Police said the morning crash has caused closures in both directions at the Ridgefield Line (Bennetts Farm Road) and at Miry Brook Road.
The road is expected to close for approximately three to four hours, police said.
Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes, including George Washington Highway and Route 53.
There are no words on injuries.
Additional information was not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WFSB) – People like Dena Pizzoferrato are changing what they put in their grocery carts after hearing about a cyclosporiasis outbreak.
“I’m kind of a little nervous so I’m looking to see what I buy right now,” Pizzoferrato said. “Today I didn’t buy any lettuce. I said I’m OK for now.”
Doctors say the illness is spread through parasites that make their way onto fresh produce. There have been 23 reported cases in Connecticut since May, but the CDC says the number is likely higher. Across the country, more than 840 cases and 86 hospitalizations have been reported in 31 states.
Symptoms include diarrhea and nausea that can last days to weeks. Doctors have not identified a source for the outbreak.
Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said a range of produce could be contaminated.
“Typical things you would think are vegetables or fruits. In the past, it’s been raspberries, basil, cilantro. You may find it in lettuces, bagged salads. So it’s a variety of things that can be contaminated, but they have not found it at this time,” said Wu.
Wu said residents should take precautions with their produce. “Take precautions with your fruit and your produce. We give the same advice when people go overseas that you should always peel something. You should always boil something,” he said.
Doctors also recommend washing produce thoroughly if boiling is not an option, and washing hands regularly.
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Chip Rubenstein, owner of Chip’s Auto Sales of Milford, says he’s honored to celebrate the dealership’s 50th anniversary alongside America’s 250th birthday.
“I opened Chip’s Auto Sales in 1976, during a chaotic time for our nation in the world,” said Rubenstein, “50 years later, I am so proud of the legacy I’ve created as somebody who always tried his best to do right, and to serve my community proudly.”
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