Storm Report: Westport Prepares for Tropical Storm Elsa
Editor’s Take
Tropical Storm Elsa will reach the area during the overnight hours. Heavier bands of rain are forecasted to begin just after midnight and last through noon tomorrow, with chances of rain continuing through midnight Saturday morning. Winds are forecast to be strongest between 5 and 10 tomorrow morning, with gusts of 30 mph or more possible. Elsa has produced tornadoes in most southeastern states as it makes its way north, so tornado activity and water spouts are possible. Lighting is a threat throughout the night and into tomorrow, with several lighting strikes hitting Westport Thursday afternoon.
Click here to expand full storm report.
Residents are urged to stay off of the roadways for the morning hours, keep devices charged with batteries nearby, and to assure that all outdoor furniture and decorations are properly secured. The heat index for tomorrow afternoon will reach 90 degrees, so keeping homes cool and keeping window shades drawn and doors/windows closed may assist in keeping homes cool in the event of power outages.
Boat owners are urged to check that all bimini and fabric tops are closed and secured, all deck items - pillows, PFDs, or other items - are stowed away, and that bilge pumps are working. With forecasts predicting 2”-3” of rain, bilge pumps will be running more than usual, and could cause batteries to die, turning the pumps off and putting boats at risk of flooding. Checking on your vessel before and after the storm will prove important.
Children who have been sent away to summer camps are urged to worry about nothing, as they shouldn’t have much electricity and technology anyways.
Local Closures and Cancellations:
Town of Westport Public School programs, such as Extended School Year and Continuing Education programming.
Town of Westport Parks & Recreation summer camps and activities
Town of Westport Center for Senior Activities programs and activities. Meal deliveries will be on a two hour delay.
All roads passable at 7:00 PM Thursday
Active Weather Warnings, Advisories, and Watches:
Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Effective until 9:00 PM Thursday.
Flood Advisory: Effective until 9:15 PM Thursday.
Flash Flood Watch: Effective until Noon Friday.
From the National Weather Service, NYC: Tropical Storm Elsa will move toward the area this evening passing near or over the Mid Atlantic coast late tonight, and near or over eastern Long Island and southeast New England on Friday morning. The main threats from Elsa are heavy rain capable of producing flash flooding, tropical storm force winds especially along the south shore of Long Island and across southeast Connecticut, and associated marine and coastal hazards, including very rough seas and dangerous rip currents. A widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts is forecast from this evening into Friday. The highest amounts are forecast to be from NYC to the north and west. Dangerous marine conditions should also develop on the ocean waters south of Long Island, as well as on Long Island Sound, and the south shore and eastern bays of Long Island. Tropical storm force winds will be most likely in those areas, near the south shores of Long Island and southeast Connecticut, and in some higher elevations away from the coastline. Dangerous rip currents will likely occur along the ocean beaches of Long Island.
Numbers to Know:
Emergency: 911
Eversource: Report a power outage: text “OUT” to 23129; call 800-286-2000; online www.eversource.com/CustomerCare/ReportOutage.
Westport Police: Non-Emergency: 203-341-6000
Westport Fire Department: Non-Emergency: 203-341-5000
Westport Public Schools: Emergency Line: 203-341-1766
Westport Department of Human Services: Social Services: 203-341-1050
Westport Public Schools ESY and Continuing Education Activities Cancelled for Friday
ReleaseDear Families of Westport Families and Staff,
Tropical Storm Elsa is forecast to bring substantial precipitation to the region tomorrow morning. Westport could potentially receive 4-6 inches of rain in a short span of time. This amount of water, combined with precipitation from this evening’s thunderstorms could cause flash flooding throughout the community. As a result of the storm’s potential impact and out of an abundance of caution, all Westport Public Schools Extended School Year programs and all Westport Continuing Education programs scheduled to take place in our schools on Friday, July 9, 2021, are canceled. Further information will follow as to any possible rescheduling of tomorrow’s activities.
Please stay safe during the storm and avoid travelling through any areas of standing water after the storm’s exit.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
When It Rains, It Pours
After the National Weather Service placed a flood advisory and severe thunderstorm watch on Southern CT at 3:15 pm, the heavy rain came soon after. Photo by Preston Siroka for the WestportLocal.com
Westport Announces Economic Opportunity Website: ChooseWestport.com
Press Release
The Town is pleased to announce the launch of its new economic opportunity website, Choosewestport.com. Choosewestport.com is a public partnership between commercial developers, real estate agents and the Town. It describes the benefits of opening and operating a business in Westport. A planned coordinated digital marketing campaign will attract people to the site where they can learn about Westport’s entrepreneurial attractions and real estate opportunities.
The initial Choosewestport.com marketing campaign targets small businesses, entrepreneurs and other professionals currently operating in the metro region. The campaign will invite interested parties to explore the benefits of locating and/or relocating to Westport and will focus on sustaining and increasing the current interest in Westport’s commercial markets.
First Selectman Jim Marpe stated, “the Choosewestport.com website speaks to the vibrant economy in this community. It will provide a sustainable forum and a gateway to the existing network of successful entrepreneurs and professionals in Westport that is both inspiring and enriching. If you are the leader of a startup, an established business, or are affiliated with a larger organization and need a local satellite office as you transition from work-from-home, we encourage you to look at the opportunities that exist here in Westport.”
In 2019, the Town issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) from qualified marketing firms to advertise the benefits of living and working in Fairfield County. Westport-based branding firm, The Visual Brand, was chosen to create the website, creative content and arrange the digital advertisements. Since that time, videos have been created to document local business success stories in the retail, small business, and financial services sectors. Kitt Shapiro of retail store West, Matt Levey and Tom Donigan, co-founders of Field Trip Snacks, and Justin and Christy Charise of Saugatuck Financial are spokespeople in those videos.
Randy Herbertson, Principal of The Visual Brand and Chair of the Downtown Planning & Implementation Committee noted, “Those of us who live and work in Westport enjoy the vibrancy, amenities and community of Westport. These are all marketable assets, and the timing is ripe for attracting new business and enhancing Westport’s exposure beyond our own lines. Thank you to Leifer Properties and David Adam Realty for contributing to this effort.”
Choosewestport.com also has a platform to support existing businesses in Westport. A separate forthcoming video campaign is directed at attracting the best and most diverse workforce into Westport. This campaign focuses on local business and Town government employees who explain their reasons why they love working in Westport and why they find the Town to be an inclusive community. These videos will be available for use by all local businesses to recruit successful entrepreneurs and to direct interest in Westport.
Westport Operations Director Sara Harris stated, “Westport will be monitoring the metrics of the digital advertisements to ensure the campaign is meeting its goals. It is a very scalable initiative that can be altered or enhanced as new needs arise in the business community in Westport. We continue to invite more private investment into Choosewestport.com. Any commercial entity that wishes to join the collaborative partnership can reach out to me for more information at Sharris@westportct.gov.”