Malloy Declares State of Emergency as Sandy Approaches

Gov. Dannel Malloy has declared a state of emergency and coastal communities in Connecticut are bracing for strong winds and severe flooding and as Hurricane Sandy churns north across the Atlantic toward New England.

“The forecast path of Hurricane Sandy has convinced me that the signing of this declaration is necessary, and will help us react more quickly and effectively in the event of a serious weather event,” said Governor Malloy. “This storm needs to be taken seriously and just as the state is taking preparatory actions, I encourage the public and all of the state’s utility companies to do the same.

According to the National Weather Service the storm, currently packing winds of up to 80 miles per hour, is predicted to make landfall somewhere around New Jersey or Delaware around 8 a.m. Tuesday, impacting a wide swath of the eastern seaboard from Cape Hatteras NC to Bangor Maine. The "Frankenstorm," as it has been dubbed, will then merge with a cooler system coming from the north, producing up to a foot of rain and possibly snow in inland areas.

The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Watch for Fairfield County effective today until 6 p.m. Wednesday as a result of the tidal surge. A full moon nearly coinciding with Sandy's arrival could mean even stronger tidal surge from the storm.

Patch will be providing updates on the storm as it progresses.