MILFORD, Conn. -- Gov. Jodi Rell met with multiple state, military and utility agencies on Friday to assess a plan for when the tropical storm arrives. Rell said that she and officials in the state's Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security would continue to monitor the storm throughout the weekend.

"We know from past experience that planning ahead for a major weather event is absolutely essential and our state agencies are at the ready," Rell said. "We will continue to monitor the potential for flooding in certain areas and the threat of power outages."

Officials from the Department Environmental Protection said they plan to monitor dams and rivers on Saturday into Sunday. Department of Public Health officials said crews will monitor nursing homes in areas prone to flooding throughout the storm.

All other state agencies will be on standby throughout the storm, Rell said.

In response to the storm, Milford officials announced emergency measures on Thursday.

The town's fire and rescue department began preparing emergency response equipment in advance of the storm.

Milford officials said residents can receive updates from the town in regards to storm preparations by dialing 203-878-6762 or visiting its Web site.

Stonington First Selectman Edward Haberek was urging residents to prepare for the storm on Friday.

He expressed concerns over possible flooding and said residents should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. He said the town's most flood-prone areas are listed on its Web site

Greenwich officials said that the town has hired additional police officers to work beginning with Friday's midnight shift through the storm's end.

Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei said that sand bags were also being strategically placed throughout the town.

Emergency management committees from other towns, including Old Saybrook and Southington, met on Friday morning to enact a plan to cope with the storm.

The Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross said that it plans to have shelters and volunteers on standby in the event that evacuations need to be made.

The governor said that 200 members of the National Guard have been placed on standby as well.

Northeast Utilities said it had workers on standby throughout New England to help handle potential power outages.

Other areas along the eastern coast were preparing for the storm on Saturday.

In Washington, officials prepared for the possibility of flooding in low-lying neighborhoods by removing debris from catch basins, stockpiling sandbags and lining up portable pumps and generators. In New Jersey, 300 dump trucks hauled in sand to fortify a beach in the Strathmere section of Upper Township.

Amtrak canceled some Saturday service in preparation for Hanna. Ten trains, including the Silver Meteor between New York and Miami, and the Auto Train between Lorton, Va., and Sanford, Fla., were halted.