***Storm Elsa Update***

The Stonington team has been preparing for the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Elsa and want to be sure you are prepared as well.

What should you do to prepare?

• Be sure you have charged all necessary devices such as cell phones.
• Prepare a storm kit with flashlights, batteries, medication and other essential items. Be sure to have some bottled water, canned food, and -if needed- pet food available.
• Secure all outdoor objects that could become airborne by high winds such as umbrellas.
• Plug sensitive computer and electronic equipment into surge protectors.

Elsa is forecast to move off the New Jersey coast around 4:00 AM on Friday morning and cross the tip of Long Island between 9:00 – 10:00 AM. Elsa is then forecast to make its closest approach near Stonington around 10:00 AM Friday morning as a tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 MPH and gusts to 65 MPH. Winds are currently forecast to begin increasing along the coast here in Connecticut at daybreak on Friday. The winds are expected to peak during the mid-morning in southeastern Connecticut and be sustained at 30 – 35 MPH with gusts to 40 - 50 MPH at times. Winds inland are forecast to gust to 20 – 30 MPH at times north of the storm track. Recent rainfall has saturated the soil in Connecticut and heavy rainfall associated with Elsa will likely cause moderate urban flooding and minor river flooding Friday morning. Total rainfall is forecast to range from 3” – 5” with locally higher amounts possible from this evening thru early Friday afternoon. As with any tropical system there is a slight risk (around 2%) for an isolated tornado.

What should you do if there is an outage?

• Contact Eversource directly at 1-800-286-2000. You can also sign up to receive storm outage updates through text, email or phone. Visit: https://www.eversource.com/.../outage-and-storm-status

What should you do if there are downed power lines?

• Please stay clear of downed power lines.
• Contact Stonington PD to report downed lines at 860-599-4411.

In the event of an emergency?

• Dial 911

Please continue to monitor the news/weather announcements. Stay safe.