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While weather forecasts are predicting Hurricane Earl will reach our area on Friday, that's not why Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and other town officials toured Long Lots Elementary School, the town's designated emergency shelter, on Monday.
"This had been scheduled some time ago and it's purely coincidental that it came while we are gearing up for possible hurricane-related issues later this week," Joseloff said in a prepared statement.
Currently heading toward Puerto Rico, the category four hurricane is moving West Northwest at 15 miles per hour with winds reaching 135 mph, The Weather Channel reports.
As part of the town's review of emergency preparedness plans, officials toured the school's designated sleeping and eating areas, also checking on the hundreds of cots stored there.
Though Long Lots is the town's designated emergency shelter, the Westport Center for Senior Activities would be available on a short-term basis during emergencies, Joseloff said.
Also present on the tour was Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Christopher Ackley, Deputy Fire Chief Jonathan Gottfried, Human Services Director Barbara Butler, Sgt. Richard Frazier of the Westport police and Ernest Heidleberg of Westport's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
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