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Hurricane Sandy Heads Toward Fairfield County

DANBURY, Conn. – Hurricane Sandy continues to move toward the East Coast with heavy wind, rain and storm surges.

Hurricane Sandy is predicted to hit land early Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, wind and flooding to Fairfield County.

Hurricane Sandy is predicted to hit land early Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, wind and flooding to Fairfield County.

Photo Credit: AccuWeather.com

Predictions from the National Weather Service show the storm could bring strong winds up to 85 mph, heavy rain and coastal and inland flooding to Fairfield County.

Sandy is currently a Category I hurricane and could grow stronger before it reaches Connecticut. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that the storm will continue to move north for the weekend and then pick up speed and strength off the coast of North Carolina around 2 a.m. Monday and move northeast.

Current forecasts show Sandy could land slightly south of Connecticut near southern New Jersey by Tuesday morning, but forecasters said it’s still too early to pinpoint exactly where the storm will hit or what impact it will have. More information will be made available as Sandy gets closer to the area.

Gov. Dannel Malloy urged residents to take precautions and be prepared in several statements Friday.

“Just as the state is monitoring and preparing, the public should do the same,” Malloy said. “Some models predict that Sandy may move onshore somewhere in New England early next week. Although we are not certain the storm will impact the state, we need to be prepared. That means everyone, especially the state’s utility companies.”

The state Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is working with the National Weather Service, as well as Connecticut Light and Power and United Illuminating, to monitor the storm and mitigate as much damage as possible.

The governor also will partially activate the state Emergency Operations Center Saturday morning to prepare for Sandy.

Officials advise residents to create an emergency supply kit containing water, food, flashlights, batteries and a battery- or hand-powered radio.

For the latest updates on Hurricane Sandy, check back with The Daily Voice.

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