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“We do not expect Joaquin to have a major impact on Connecticut,” said Dora Schriro, commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. “Although the models take the storm farther east, we cannot let our guard down and that’s why we are going to continue to monitor the storm path, although there is increasing consensus that this is going out to sea and for us in Connecticut, that’s a good thing.”
Schriro said that the only expected impact on the state would likely be possible oceans swells and some rip currents along Long Island Sound facing the southeast coast in the next several days.
Deputy Commissioner William Shea said the National Hurricane Center is forecasting Joaquin to turn north Friday as the storm moves slowly through the eastern Bahamas. It is then forecast to begin accelerating to the north-northeast Saturday and Sunday to a position off the North Carolina coast by 2 a.m. Monday. Shea said that it is then forecast to turn in a northeast direction well to the southeast of New England early Tuesday.
Shea said the department is in contact with state, local and federal partners, as well as Eversource and United Illuminating. The state’s debris removal team is also on standby.
Schriro said that residents should still take preparations should the forecast change. She said residents should include in their basic emergency kit:
- A gallon of water per person per day for at least three days
- A three-day supply of non-perishable foods as well as a non-electric can opener
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a weather radio with extra batteries for each
- Flashlights, with extra batteries
She said that residents can also sign up to receive emergency alerts at www.ctalert.gov.
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