Governor Rell: State, Municipalities

Preparing Shelters, Services for Frigid Weather

Governor outlines emergency shelter and fuel plans

During statewide conference call

Governor M. Jodi Rell held a statewide conference call today with top municipal officials and state agency leaders to ensure there will be adequate shelter space and prompt emergency fuel deliveries in advance of the sub-freezing temperatures forecast for the state this week.

“Extreme cold temperatures over an extended period of time – like the ones headed our way over the next few days – can be dangerous and devastating for people in need,” Governor Rell said. “We need to know if shelters are reaching capacity or are at capacity so we can make appropriate accommodations.”

A list of open shelters and heating oil assistance programs are available by calling the free information line 2-1-1.

The Governor said the latest weather projections have a blast of frigid arctic air settling into the state for at least three days with single digit temperatures.

“This lengthy frigid spell is something the state has not experienced in several years,” Governor Rell said. “The wind chills for the next three nights will be below zero in many parts of the state.”

Joining the Governor at today’s briefing were the commissioners of the department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Social Services and Public Safety, Red Cross representatives and Adjutant General Thaddeus J. Martin of the Connecticut National Guard.

Governor Rell directed state emergency management officials to hold daily conference calls with municipalities for at least the next three days to assess shelter needs. The Governor encouraged town and city leaders to open up local shelters as soon as possible and noted that the state has extra cots stored strategically around the state in order to provide them quickly to the local shelters.

“We are asking municipalities to tell us what their shelter capacity is and what contingency plans they have made for shelters that are not open 24 hours a day,” the Governor said.

The Governor also has directed the Connecticut National Guard to have 10 armories ready for use as shelters. Those armories are all certified by the Red Cross for use as shelters and can be opened quickly if the Red Cross requests it.

The shelter-certified armories are:

·        Hartford Armory - 360 Broad Street

·        Camp Rell - 38 Smith Street, East Lyme     

·        New London - 249 Bayonet Street

·        Waterbury - 64 Field Street

·        Manchester - 330 Main Street

·        Stratford - 63 Armory Road

·        Enfield - 1635 King Street

·        Norwalk - 290 New Canaan Avenue

·        Branford - 87 Montowese Street

·        Westbrook - 37 Brookside Avenue

Under the Governor’s direction, the DSS is also reaching out to its 45 state-funded shelters to ensure they have adequately planned for any increase in clients and can refer those they cannot accommodate to shelters that can. The Governor also requested that DSS notify all community action centers to prioritize people for emergency fuel deliveries.

“We are keeping the lines of communication open on every level so that no one is without shelter or heat in the coming days,” Governor Rell said. “This is a public safety issue we all take very seriously.”

(Cold weather safety tips attached)

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Cold Weather Safety

·        Wear several layers of not too tight or too bulky clothing. Always wear a hat and gloves.

·        Consume hot and easily digestible food and beverages with higher calories, like hot milk, soup, noodles and rice.

·        Remain indoors or in places with sunlight. Continue with usual daily activities, but do more exercise to generate heat, improve blood circulation, and maintain flexibility of joints.

·        Exercise care and concern for the elderly. If you happen to know of a single elder living alone or with chronic illnesses, give him/her a call or pay a visit.

Heating Safety

·        Do not burn anything larger than candles inside your home without providing good ventilation to the outside.

·        Any type of heater (except electric) should be vented.

·        Do not use a gas or electric oven or surface units for heating.

·        Do not burn outdoor barbecue materials such as charcoal briquettes inside— even in a fireplace.

·        Do not use bottled gas in natural gas appliances unless appliances have been converted for that use

·        Use battery-operated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors