Windsor Prepares to Take Irene's Best Shot

With Hurricane Irene scheduled to produce tropical storm-force winds Sunday, heavy rain and winds are expected to do considerable damage.

While Windsor is safe from the possible 7-foot surge epxected to hit the coast, residents are not taking any chances, stocking up on supplies in case power is lost for an extended period of time.

Over the past few days, town officials, staying up to date with the latest from the State Department of Emergency Management, have taken steps to prepare for the worst that Irene can bring.

Among the worst, Town Manager Peter Souza said, is flooding.

It's unlikely, however, that Irene will threaten river banks, given that they are considerably low.

Instead, Souza said, there will be a considerable amount of "urban flooding" — flooding in neighborhoods due to overflowing storm drains.

Windsor Public Works have worked to clear storm drains and catch basins throughout town, but, if Irene brings as much rain as originally estimated (6-10 inches), it's likely those drains and basins will overflow, causing some streets in town to be closed.

"Storm drains can't handle that much water," Souza said.