Good afternoon, this is First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons with an urgent emergency update on Hurricane Henri. Today the Board of Selectmen issued a Declaration of Emergency in preparation for Hurricane Henri, which is currently expected to arrive in our area by 4 a.m. Sunday and make landfall near Madison at 8 p.m. Sunday evening.  All residents should be preparing for a significant storm event for our Town and taking all actions necessary to protect life and property. This includes having enough food, water, fuel, cash and medications to shelter in place for at least 3 days. We are expecting significant power outages throughout Madison similar to those experienced last summer from Tropical Storm Isaias, and major coastal flooding in our beach communities similar to Hurricane Sandy. 

The Town of Madison recently issued a Mandatory Emergency Evacuation Order for all residents south of the Boston Post Road in Madison. Localized messages were sent to residents in the evacuation zone. If you reside in the evacuation zone, you must evacuate your home no later than 9 p.m. this evening due to the likelihood of significant storm surge and coastal flooding. If you live outside the evacuation zone but in an area that has experienced flooding during previous storms, we highly recommend you make preparations for a possible evacuation if storm predictions change this afternoon.

Any residents who do not leave the evacuation zone by 9 p.m. tonight are putting their lives at risk and public safety crews will not be able to respond to you once winds exceed 50 MPH. For those evacuees who need a shelter, the Town will be opening the Emergency Shelter at 5 p.m. today located at the Town Campus Gym at 8 Campus Drive.  The Town Shelter does have accommodations for pets if absolutely necessary.  For more information on the evacuation zone and local resources available please visit the Town website at www.madisonct.org.

Stay Safe Madison.

Peggy Lyons
First Selectwoman