Agencies prepare for hurricane season

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- The 2012 hurricane season began on June 1st and Connecticut is preparing for the worst.

Last year's brushes with weather disasters prompted major investigations and now major preparations are underway.

What the state and the utilities learned from last years' storms was that they weren't always ready and and everyone wasn't on the same page.

Emergency command trucks from all across the state participated in the first full-scale communications exercise since the troubles following Tropical Storm Irene last August, which strained the shoreline and caused massive power outages, and the Halloween weekend Autumn Nor'easter that caused similar power outages two months later.  

One of the big issues became communication problems.

"The technicians use the equipment they have here today to bridge those different frequency bands widths together so that we can create that common operation picture," said Mike Varney from the Connecticut Emergency Services & Public Protection.

"Cross patching disparate radio networks UHF/VHF radios so first responders can talk with each other," explained Dave Marinkov from FEMA.
"So, in plain language that means that you're able to talk to the locals," said News 8's Mark Davis.
"Yes."
"Like if it was New Haven Fire Department or somebody?"
"Correct," Marinkov said.
      
One of the biggest complaints after those storms came from town leaders that said CL&P wasn't communicating at all.
      
They were at Thursday's exercise and they are also preparing for a major, state-wide drill in late July.

"We actually are here to learn how to communicate better with the towns and to work so the response is more cohesive," said Craig Weske from CL&P.
      
The State Emergency Management is saying they are not the only ones that should be preparing for hurricane season.

"Just as the state is preparing; families and individuals should also be preparing for hurricane season," said Scott DeVico, of the Connecticut Emergency Services & Public Protection.

Officials say after last year everyone should have a plan and some emergency supplies.