Bare Shelves, Brace Yourselves

 was the place to be last night. With the threat of Hurricane Irene looming, Shelton residents are wasting no time in stocking up on emergency kit essentials - items such as flashlights, water, bread and batteries.

Forecasts predict that Irene will bring winds up to 95 miles per hour and nearly eight inches of rain to Connecticut and New York, meaning Hurricane Watches have been extended into our area.

The latest projections from the National Hurricane Center are putting Irene just off the Maryland coast by 2 a.m. Sunday with maximum sustained winds projected to still be near 100 miles per hour.

During the day Sunday, Irene is forecast to make a direct hit through central Connecticut. Winds are still forecast to be at Category 1 strength (between 74 and 95 miles per hour) by that time. In addition to the strong winds, new model data is suggesting between six and eight inches of rain by the time Irene passes.

So what should you do to prepare? Connecticut Light & Power is encouraging people to keep a "storm kit" prepare and handy. Items should include:

• Flashlights with spare batteries
• A battery-operated radio or TV
• First-aid kit and medications
• Canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated foods
• A manual can opener
• Bottled water
• Baby or pet supplies (if needed)
• Important phone numbers

Locally, residents are already rushing to stores to scoop up these items. Nicole Osuna, an employee at  on Bridgeport Avenue, said that "people are buying $400 worth of things -- it's almost ridiculous! The plus side for us is that we're getting customers and business, and I guess it's not bad to be overly prepared for this kind of situation."

Walgreens' manager, Charbel Yammine, said that customers have been coming in droves the past few days.

"They wiped us out," Yammine said. "Our water shelves are near empty. And then the batteries too. We're also seeing a lot of people buy tape so they can 'X' their windows to try to protect them from shattering."

Of course, not all purchases are based on panic. One couple was overheard strolling through the candy aisle: "I've got my chocolate and you've got your scotch at home so I think we'll be okay."

Over at Wal-Mart, the joint was probably more packed than the bars downtown. The bread aisle was nearly wiped out by 9 p.m. on Thursday, and there was not one case of water -- much to the frustration of many late-night shoppers.

In addition to having food should we all be under house arrest this weekend, the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau is urging residents to exercise power outage safety during any storms that come our way.

Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention, states that such outages can present fire hazards that many people might not normally think about. The fire prevention bureau recommends planning ahead of time and offers the following important safety tips:

• If you have a portable generator, or other fuel powered appliance, only run and use it outdoors with adequate ventilation. Never use a generator or fuel powered equipment indoors or in attached garages. Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, which can be deadly if inhaled. This is in addition to the hazards associated with fuels involved with this equipment.

• Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.

• Avoid the use of candles. With alternative sources of lighting, candles should not be needed. Instead use battery operated lighting and flashlights or glowsticks that do not require power or flame.

• Finally, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call “911” for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

For more information, the public is encouraged to contact the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau at 924-1555 or on the web under “Public Safety” at www.cityofshelton.org