Mayor Michael Pavia is declaring a state of emergency effective at 8:00 a.m. Saturday August 27th, 2011. This state of emergency will be in effect until further notice. The City recommends that residents in low-lying areas evacuate and seek shelter on higher ground. Evacuation should be complete by no later than 7:00 p.m. on Saturday August 27th. To determine if your home will likely be affected please review the maps included in
this briefing.

Residents should make arrangements with family, friends or other accommodations immediately. If none of those options are available, the City is opening a shelter at Stamford High School on 55 Strawberry Hill Avenue at 5:00 PM. We are prepared to open additional shelters if necessary. Emergency workers at Stamford High School will direct evacuees to additional shelters if necessary.

Shelters are pet-friendly, but all animals must be crated. Please bring food and any medicines for your animals to the shelters.

The Mayor has temporarily suspended all parking meter rules beginning at 12:00 p.m.today so that residents in low-lying areas with multiple vehicles can move their vehicles to higher ground. All city parking garages are open and free.

Please routinely check you local news outlets for up to date information. The City will issue further information as it becomes available on its website and via Twitter, WSTC -1400AM and News 12 CT.

For further information on storm preparedness visit the American Red Cross website (www.redcross.org), and the federal government (www.ready.gov) for pointers on personal readiness.

During the emergency the City will use the Reverse 911 system to send a recorded message to each resident that has a published number.

EMERGENCY HELPLINES – UTILITIES

• Aquarion Water Company 1-800-732-9678
• Northeast Utilities (203) 386-2000
• Yankee Gas 1-800989-0900

LOCAL NON-EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

• City of Stamford Citizen Services (203) – 977-4140
• Emergency Hurricane Hotline (203)-977-8840 (Latest updates, recorded messages) City of Stamford Police Department non-emergency (203)-977-4444
• Stamford Hospital (203) – 279-1000
• Connecticut Poison Control 1-800-222-1222