Gov. Rell Activates State EOC to Monitor Storm

Governor M. Jodi Rell and Lt. Governor Michael Fedele have ordered the state's Emergency Operations Center to be activated at 4 a.m. Monday to monitor a storm that could drop significant amounts of rain across Connecticut and cause rivers and streams to flood.

"This storm will bring two straight days of heavy rain to Connecticut and could cause widespread urban and small stream flooding beginning Monday,"Rell said in a news release issued Sunday night.  "We will make certain that cities and towns have all the help they need.  Southern and southwestern Connecticut will once again bear the brunt of the storm, and we will be in constant contact will local emergency management officials."

The governor said that the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security held a conference call Sunday night with emergency management officials from 10 Fairfield County towns, where the heaviest rain is expected.

Latest forecasts show Southern New England will receive 3 - 6 inches of rain and as much as 7 inches of rain in some areas.  Spot amounts of up to 8 inches are possible in a few locations.  The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the entire state of Connecticut beginning Monday afternoon and continuing through the day on Tuesday.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials will be in Connecticut on Monday morning to assess the damage brought by the storm from two weeks ago.

"Those towns that wish to delay the FEMA assessments in order to focus on the current storm may do so," Rell said in the release.  "FEMA tours will be rescheduled for later in the week."

Small rivers are forecast to rise quickly late Monday afternoon and are forecast to reach flood stage by late Monday night.