The Town of West Hartford is notifying residents that there is a ‘severe weather alert’ in place for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020.

Forecast track for Tropical Storm Isaias. Courtesy of John Lyons

Submitted by the Town of West Hartford

Beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, Tropical Storm Isaias is forecast to make landfall in Connecticut.

The heaviest rain from Isaias should stay just west of our area. However, a cumulative 2-4 inches of rain is likely Tuesday night. Some winds gusts up to 60 mph or greater are possible, which can cause down powerlines and trees due to saturated grounds. There is a potential for tornados in some areas.

Isaias will move northward Tuesday night, ending the threat for rain and wind by midnight.

The Town of West Hartford has been monitoring the storm and has been making preparations. Public Works crews are sweeping streets, and clearing tops of catch basins and culverts. Equipment is ready to remove any fallen trees in the roadways.

Residents and businesses are asked to bring in or secure any items that could blow around during the storm and damage property.

Bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, tables, canopies, pop-up tents, and umbrellas should be moved inside or under shelter.

Residents are also advised to charge cellphones and have flashlights that are in working order. Check your sump pump to make sure it is operating with no blockages. Finally, as a reminder, generators must operate outdoors, away from the house, in a well ventilated area.

Please stay home and do not travel if possible. If you must travel, be alert for traffic signals that may lose power. Treat a light out as a stop sign.

Remember to avoid any downed power lines and please watch the news or listen to the radio for other alerts. Call 911 to report any arcing lines, flooding, and stranded vehicles.

When the power goes out, always report it to Eversource by visiting their website, Eversource.com, or by calling 1-800-286-2000. Eversource customers can also report a power outage and get updates on that outage through text messaging.

Customers who want to take advantage of this convenient two-way texting option must first register their mobile device either online at Eversource.com, or directly from their mobile phone by texting “REG” to 23129. Once registered, Eversource recommends customers add the outage text number to their contacts for quick access. Then, when a power outage occurs, text “OUT” to 23129 and “STAT” for updates.

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