Evacuations Monday in New Haven

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- New Haven Mayor John DeStefano speaks with News 8 about Sandy and what the city is doing to prepare in the hours before the storm, including a mandatory evacuation of some areas.

New Haven's evacuation order is effective at 8:30 Monday morning until the noon high-tide on Tuesday. it includes:

• All areas of Morris Cove south of Girard Street
• Front Street and Haven Street in Fair Haven
• The area between South Water Street and the highway in City Point
• A recommended evacuation for low lying areas of Blake Street

City schools will be closed both Monday and Tuesday, and Career High school and Benjamin Jepson School will be used as shelters beginning at 8:30 Monday morning.

The mayor is taking Gov. Dannel Malloy's advice and preparing for the worst.

"The surge is the big deal," DeStefano said. "During Irene that water rushed in and then it rushed out. East Haven got hit hard because of the direction of the wind. So, in our case, Morris Cove didn't but City Point did. So a lot will depend on the wind.

"Again, the gusts are Irene-like. The gusts. The rain isn't as much. But it's the surge and how long it holds out there and that's what'll cause us the problem."

According to the mayor's office the Red Cross will provide food, blankets, pillows and cots at the Career High shelter.