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James Bairaktaris 12/23/22 James Bairaktaris 12/23/22

Westport Office of Emergency Management Officers Tips for Dangerously Cold Weather

Press Release

The Westport Office of Emergency Management issues the following message in preparation of the second half of the first winter storm of the season.

Temperatures will be quickly dropping below freezing and are expected to remain below freezing until Tuesday. In the event of flash freezing, Fire Chief Michael Kronick said, “If you must travel, keep a flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Allow extra time as some roads may be icy and dangerous if untreated. Please do not drive around barricades or through waters of unknown depth.”

If you lose power to your home during freezing temperatures, follow these steps:

Notify Eversource of an outage at https://www.eversource.com/cg/customer/reportoutage

Now is the time to check your generators and charge your devices in the event of a power outage. Have a battery powered radio on hand.

Stay Safe! – Never go near downed power lines including cable TV feeds. They may be live with deadly voltage.

Stay Warm! – On top of dressing in layers and huddling under extra blankets, hang your darker ones on the windows to draw in heat. Keep doors and windows closed and use towels to block drafts around them. If necessary, move to your basement, which may be more insulated by the ground.

Never use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. Deaths have occurred when consumers burned charcoal or used camp stoves in enclosed spaces, which produced lethal levels of carbon monoxide.

Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage, even if doors and windows are open. Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors, and vents. Read and follow instructions on the generator label and in the owner’s manual. Any electrical cables you use with the generator should be free of damage and suitable for outdoor use.

Use caution with candles. If possible, use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when you leave the room.

Listen for updates. If you’re using a cellphone, choose texting over calling to keep phone lines free, or use your landline. Save 911 for emergencies.

Or sign up now at www.nixle.com

Stay alert, by monitoring NWS New York, NY forecasts

James Bairaktaris 12/23/22 James Bairaktaris 12/23/22

15 Vertical Feet of Water as Waves Crash near Schlaet’s Point

Waves crashed over the seawall along Hills Point Road this morning as the storm continued over Westport. WestportLocal.com photo

James Bairaktaris 12/23/22 James Bairaktaris 12/23/22

Waterfront Living at its Finest

One casualty of today’s storm was a white Mercedes-Benz E63, which remained under several inches of Long Island Sound water as waves lapped against its undercarriage at its Old Mill Beach parking spot. WestportLocal.com photo

James Bairaktaris 12/23/22 James Bairaktaris 12/23/22

Fire Department High Water Rescue Unit on Tour of Compo Neighborhoods

The Westport Fire Department’s High Water Rescue truck was on tour this morning during the high tide that brought heavy surf and flooded streets throughout the Compo neighborhood. WestportLocal.com photo

James Bairaktaris 12/23/22 James Bairaktaris 12/23/22

Heavy Surf for Owenoke Park

A winter storm created heavy surf that battered the shoreline this morning as high tide hit the community at 10:42. Flood waters receded soon thereafter, though the waves continued to spray over the coastal sections of the roadways. WestportLocal.com photo

James Bairaktaris 12/23/22 James Bairaktaris 12/23/22

Morning Weather Report

Today

Rain showers before 4pm, then a slight chance of snow showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature falling to around 25 by 5pm. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Breezy, with a south wind 18 to 24 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 20. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tomorrow Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 11. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

James Bairaktaris 12/21/22 James Bairaktaris 12/21/22

Morning Weather Report

Today

Sunny, with a high near 40. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Tonight

Increasing clouds, with a low around 26. Light and variable wind.

Tomorrow

A slight chance of showers before 1pm, then rain likely after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 48. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. East wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tomorrow Night

Rain. Temperature rising to around 50 by 4am. Breezy, with an east wind 13 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

James Bairaktaris 12/20/22 James Bairaktaris 12/20/22

Westport Superintendent: “ students became ill after ingesting what appeared to be candy”

Press Release

Dear Westport Families,

Last week, there was a school-related incident in which students became ill after ingesting what appeared to be candy. This is a terrifying sign of the times and a traumatic experience for the students and families involved. Last night at the Board of Education meeting, I made a statement on this matter.

I am not at liberty to share additional information and details about this specific incident due to federal laws that protect student privacy. Additionally, I cannot compromise the outcomes of ongoing investigations regarding this issue. However, I can take this as an opportunity to advance parent education on this topic, and to implore those who care for children to be vigilant about candy, chocolate, and other foods that could contain substances that may pose a health and safety risk to our children.

On January 10, 2023, retail cannabis sales will become legal in Connecticut. As a result, we expect cannabis to be more accessible in the community, making the necessity of our awareness and vigilance even more important.

As members of the Westport Prevention Coalition, the Westport Public Schools is collaborating with community agencies to raise awareness about the risks associated with the legalization of cannabis and its potential impact on children and adolescents.

In light of this recent incident, I want to emphasize to families that it is especially important for those caring for our youngest students to remind their children not to consume candy, chocolate, or other food from unknown sources. Children could become very ill, sometimes with fatal consequences, from consuming foods containing drugs or other potentially harmful substances.

In addition, all families should remind their children of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and that there can be serious school-related and criminal consequences for possessing, selling, or distributing drugs and alcohol on school grounds or at school-sponsored events. To be sure, the school district strictly prohibits the possession, sale, distribution, use, and consumption of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, and certain other substances on school grounds, on school buses, at school-sponsored activities, and at certain times outside of school. However, the reality is that these substances still exist in our community, and we must continue to educate our children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

This education must now include ensuring that our youngest children understand the importance of avoiding candy, chocolate, and other foods that they find at school, on a school bus, or somewhere else in the community, or that is offered to them by someone they do not know or do not know well.

Please click this link for additional information on this topic from the Westport Prevention Coalition and WPS Supervisor of Health Services, Sue Levasseur.

I encourage you to discuss this important topic with your children. To assist you in these conversations, I am attaching factsheets prepared by the Westport Prevention Coalition (www.westporttogether.org/prevention-coalition). More information on this important topic can be found at https://beintheknowct.org/parents/.

If you have any questions or would like support from school staff around this issue, please reach out to your child’s building principal who can share appropriate school resources.

Sincerely,

Thomas Scarice
Superintendent
Westport Public Schools