'We Are Anticipating the Worst Case Scenario'

Editor's Note: I didn't get the names of people talking during the call, so they are referred to as "officials." Just wanted to share the information.

While preparing for Hurricane Sandy, Monroe Police Chief John Salvatore, Capt. Michael Flick, Emergency Management Dir. David York and Lt. Brian McCauley gathered inside the Monroe Police Department training room to listen to a conference call from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security on Friday evening.

State officials said Connecticut is in monitoring mode, followed by state activation mode with a 48 hour check list. "We are anticipating the worst case scenario," one official said.

According to the call, the storm is currently north of the Bahamas and moving over open water, beginning to transform into a hybrid tropical storm. It's expected to make a left turn, before touching down in New Jersey by 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

"It's almost like a blizzard without the snow," municipal officials were told. "It's an all rain event. More powerful than the 1978 blizzard."

Winds are expected to be from 40 to 60 m.p.h. with gusts between 80 to 100 m.p.h. There could be major coastal flooding. Inland, 6 to 10 inches of rain is expected with the worst case scenario being between 8-15 inches.

"We expect a lot of trees to come down, especially in southern Connecticut," officials were told.

A representative from Connecticut Light & Power said that 2,000 additional line workers were requested and that some are already on their way to Connecticut. By 6 a.m. on Saturday, CL&P will go to full staffing and remain that way throughout the event, he said.