Politics & Government

Berlin Crews Begin Hurricane Preparation

Meeting Friday morning will include all department heads.

 

Berlin Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Services Commander Matt Odishoo laughed a bit when asked what he was doing to prepare for the impending Hurricane Sandy.

Odishoo, the town and the state have been through this before.

Find out what's happening in Berlinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last year, at approximately the same time of year, the town was hit by a freak snowstorm that crippled the state and kept the town in the dark for almost a full week. There was also Hurricane Irene in August.

"It's funny to say but we have been through this before," Odishoo said. "We are looking at all the models and we're hoping it will take the track and hit South Carolina and head to England. But it looks more likely that it will come right at us, more likely to the southwest of us, which puts us on the bad side of the storm. It's going to be a full moon, a high tide, it could be the perfect storm."

Find out what's happening in Berlinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Public Works Director Art Simonian will also be in the meeting Friday morning but he said the town crews are not waiting until then to start preparations for what could be a major storm.

"We are taking a lot of precautions already," Simonian said. "We have lowered a few water sources to try to avoid areas that usually flood. We are packing sand bags to prepare for flooded roads. We are also preparing all of our equipment that we may need for any emergencies."

Odishoo said as in the storms of the past that Berlin Fire Department on the Berlin Turnpike will be the Emergency Command Center and that McGee Middle School is the town's first choice for an emergency shelter.

For all things Hurricane Sandy, stay tuned to Berlin Patch.

 


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