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Northwest Hills Planning Region hurricane guide

Connecticut has no county government. The Census Bureau uses planning regions instead, and Northwest Hills Planning Region is run by the Northwest Hills Council of Governments, with 21 towns and cities. Each town or city runs its own local emergency management, so your local emergency management office and alerts come first. It spans more than one DEMHS region (DEMHS Region 3, DEMHS Region 5), so check which region your town is in. Connecticut's hurricane risk here is mostly wind, heavy rain, and river and stream flooding after a storm. The State of Connecticut says to take shelter right away or evacuate if emergency officials tell you to, and to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

Checked on October 5, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Local emergency management in each town or city, with the Northwest Hills Council of Governments. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

What to know in Northwest Hills Planning Region

  • The Northwest Hills Council of Governments is the regional planning body for the region. It is not the emergency management agency. Its website is https://www.nhcogct.gov/

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
DEMHS Region 3 office 860-529-6893 State emergency management regional office. Not for emergencies. Towns are the first point of contact in a storm.
DEMHS Region 5 office 203-591-3509 State emergency management regional office. Not for emergencies. Towns are the first point of contact in a storm.

Official alerts and information

  • CTAlert: Connecticut's statewide emergency alert system, run by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Sign up before a storm. Also check your town's own alerts. Website.
  • Hurricanes (CT Prepares): The State of Connecticut's hurricane safety page. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Shelters in Connecticut are opened by towns and the state only when officials announce them. The State of Connecticut says that if you cannot return home and need to stay in a shelter, contact your local emergency management office to find out about shelter locations near you. Do not go to a site until your town announces it.

Cities and towns

Each city has its own services and some have their own alerts. The county's evacuation zones, evacuation centers, and emergency alerts cover everyone, in every city and in unincorporated areas.

Sources

Checked on October 5, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.