Hurricane Sandy: East Haven Prepares for Storm's Impact

Althought the exact track and potential impact on the shoreline is still as yet unkown, town officials and staff are already hard at work preparing for whatever Hurricane Sandy might bring East Haven's way.

"We have been, of course, monitoring the storm for several days now," Frank Gentilesco, the town's assistant director of administration and management, told East Haven Patch this afternoon.

Gentilesco said East Haven Fire Chief Douglas Jackson — who was named the state's "Emergency Manager of the Year" for his work before, during and after Tropical Storm Irene — has been coordinating the town's early preparation efforts.

Fire Chief Jackson to Spearhead Preparation Efforts

"East Haven is in an enviable position of having Chief Jackson’s expertise and experience to spearhead our efforts of both preparation and response," he said.

Gentilesco noted that Jackson has already been working closely with with Interim East Haven Police Chief Larrabee, as well as the Mayor's Office and other officials and town employees.

"We are being constantly appraised of the progress of the storm and have already began discussing preliminary plans of action that may need to be taken as we get closer to the storm’s affect on our area," he said, adding that the storm is, at this time, expected to impact the shoreline late Monday night into Tuesday time.

Emergency Management Meeting Friday

As part of its preparation for the storm, the Mayor's Office will be holding an emergency management meeting Friday at 3 p.m.

"We will be meeting with our emergency services department heads, our two state legislators — Senator Fasano and Representative Albis — and representatives from the United Illuminating Company," Gentilesco said.

He added that the Mayor's Office may issue a formal press release following tomorrow's late afternoon planning session that would include "more definitive plans and information for our residents."

East Haven Patch will continue to provide updates as the storm's track progresses and more information about it's impact on the area is known.