WVTK Local & State News October 7, 2013

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for our area until 8 o’clock tonight.  We could see gusts as high as 50 miles per hour.  The Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is encouraging people to do the following: 

-          If you have time, remove anything from your lawn that could cause injury or damage if blown around by high winds. 

-          Drive cautiously in case a wind gust hits your car.

-          If you lose power and run a generator, make sure it is always run outside and that exhaust is NOT entering the home.

-          If a tree or tree limb is blown down do not touch it unless you are 100% CERTAIN it is not in contact with power lines. 

-          Make sure your family emergency supply kit is stocked with fresh water, batteries, flashlights, and other basic necessities.

Burglary victims across Addison County are being encouraged to stop by the state police barracks in New Haven today to possibly reclaim their stolen goods.  Police say there are still a lot of stolen items that haven't been returned to their proper owners.  If you have reported a robbery in the last 3 years, head to the State Police barracks in New Haven between 5 p.m. and 7:00 p.m this evening.

Vermont residents can now sign up to receive emergency alerts through text messages, e-mail, phone calls or even their game consoles.  The Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security today launched Vermont Alert, a website where the public can sign up to receive notifications ranging from weather advisories to alerts from fire, police and other emergency responders.  The system is modeled after New York Alert, which was designed by the state of New York and has been running since 2006.  You can check it out for yourself by going to VTAlert.gov.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says it’s time for Congress to stop hampering Vermont’s fragile economic recovery and find a responsible solution to what he calls a manufactured crisis.  Shumlin was joined by Vermont National Guard officials and others today to outline how the federal government shutdown is affecting state.  They say an estimated 5,000 federal workers who live in Vermont are seeing reduced hours or furloughs.  The processing of Small Business Administration loans also has been affected, and officials say if the shutdown continues into November, delays in rental subsidies could affect nearly 14,000 low-income residents.