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STAMFORD, Conn. — The city of Stamford has requested that people stay indoors and off the roads as Hurricane Sandy hits the area.
“It’s not worth going out,” Mayor Michael Pavia said during a Monday evening press conference, adding that stores and gas stations are closed now. He said that Weed Avenue has been closed and the city has received 50 calls for downed trees and limbs.
Using Hurricane Irene as a barometer, the city was able to warn people about dangerous areas and use the police to block access, Stamford Fire & Rescue Department Chief Antonio Conte said. He added that no one was hurt during Irene and hopes that will be true for Hurricane Sandy also.
Connecticut Light & Power has been working to limit power outages, and had been able to reduce the number from about 5,000 to about 2,700 as of 5:30 p.m., Pavia said.
Almost 200 people have moved into the shelters at Stamford High School, 5 Strawberry Hill Ave., Rippowam Middle School, 381 High Ridge Road, and Scofield Magnet Middle School, 641 Scofieldtown Road. People who live in Sea, Lake and Overland Surge from Hurricanes Inundation Map Zones 1 and 2 have been told to evacuate.
The city has not mandated an evacuation from Zones 3 and 4, and feel those areas should remain safe during the high tide period that takes place around midnight Monday. For people in those areas to experience flooding, the storm surge would have to eclipse the Hurricane Barrier (18 feet) and levees at Cummings Park (17 feet), Conte said.
“If they move out they’re moving out on their own,” Conte said, adding that during high tide this afternoon the surge was about nine feet high.
The Stamford Government Center will open Tuesday at noon, and all city employees need to call their supervisors before reporting in.
Garbage collection has also been postponed until after Wednesday.
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