Bridgeport preps for second storm

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's hard to believe that just over a week after the destruction caused by Sandy, another storm is on its way. This is what officials want you to do to prepare for the upcoming storm.

It's becoming an all too familiar scene in Bridgeport. City leaders are coming together here in the Emergency Operations Center to prepare for a storm. Last week it was for Sandy, this week it's for the nor'easter expected to touch down tomorrow.

"I can't believe it, it's just too much," Pat Roman of Bridgeport said.

"I'm a little worried about that only because it is colder so I'm hoping that we just don't lose power. That we're lucky," Nancy Langston of Bridgeport said.

Too much for residents, many of whom just got their power restored and are now learning they may lose it again in this storm.

"It's scary because I have my 89-year-old mother who lives with me and it gets cold," Martha Santiago of Bridgeport said.

About 100 residents are still in the dark, waiting to have their power restored.

"I'm prepared because of the last storm we had just now so I make sure I have the batteries, the candles," Santiago said.

"Right now we're trying to identify who they are, what their needs are, some of them they may need food, some blankets, some may not want to stay in home. They may want to be evacuated, so we're working with social services to try to identify them and work with UI to try to identify the areas," Scott Appleby, the Director of Emergency Management in Bridgeport, said.

Much of the damage left behind from sandy still remains. There hasn't been any time to clean it up and officials are worried about it getting swept up in the high wind gusts that are expected. If you have any damage on your property take out your phone and take pictures of the damage because it's important for insurance purposes that you separate damage caused by Sandy and this upcoming storm.

Officials say you should take the same precautions you did ahead of Sandy. They say if your property flooded during Sandy, it will likely flood again in this storm. City officials want you to call (203) 579-3829 if you need any assistance preparing your home for the storm or have any storm-related questions. Shelters and buses are on standby in case residents need to be evacuated.

"4,000 feet of seawall that's completely gone, so if they're completely gone, what's that going to do to a 10 to 12 foot storm surge coming in," Appleby asked.

During Sandy officials say there were 16 foot tide surges. They're expecting 12 foot surges in this storm and with the sea wall now lower, they say the surges in this storm could have just as much impact on property and residents as they did in Sandy.