Fairfield's Chiefs Offer Advice for Irene Prep

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — You can never have too much good advice when it comes to Hurricane Irene preparedness. So if you still have any questions about what you should do to get ready, you can watch this video shot by FairTV.

Fairfield Fire Chief Richard Felner and Police Chief Gary MacNamera joined Interim First Selectman Michael Tetreau at Friday night’s Board of Finance meeting to broadcast tips for dealing with the hurricane. The worst of Irene is set to strike Fairfield by 11 a.m. Sunday. With high tide due at 11:10 a.m. and coming at the same time as a new moon, MacNamera said he expects flooding to reach as far as Veterans Park in the beach area.  

“Clearly all the cards are stacked against us,” MacNamera said. “The only thing we have going for us is good preparation, good planning and good carrying-out of the plans being made.”

Some tips they offer are:

? Do not park your car in the street, especially if you live in a flood-prone area.

? Take all lawn furniture inside.

? If you see downed power lines, do not approach them. Call United Illuminating and wait for utility workers to remove them.

? If you live in an area that has flooded in the past and you have not yet evacuated, Felner and MacNamera strongly suggest leaving for higher ground or for the town’s shelter at Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

? If you stay at home, remain inside and try to avoid windows during the height of the storm.

? Call 911 in emergencies but limit calls to “true emergencies.” Property damage, vehicle issues, downed power lines and other nonessential problems should wait until after the storm has passed.

Share your own tips for hurricane preparedness in the comments below.

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