HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -Tropical Storm Hanna rolled into Connecticut late Saturday with oppressive humidity, heavy rain and wind gusts that were forecast to continue into early Sunday.

The storm, which came ashore in the Carolinas, reached Connecticut with heavy rain shortly before sunset. A flash-flood warning was issued for Fairfield County and for people in low-lying areas and near flood-prone rivers statewide.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service's office in Taunton, Mass., said rain was falling at the rate of up to 1 inch per hour Saturday evening, and final amounts could reach up to 6 inches by Sunday morning.

Officials in several shoreline communities and those close to swollen rivers spent much of Friday and Saturday stocking sand bags, cleaning storm drains and blocking off flood-prone intersections.

They also encouraged residents to have flashlights and easy-to-prepare meals ready in case they lose electricity.

"I don't think in these cases you can be over-prepared," said Joan Irish, head of the Greenwich chapter of the American Red Cross.

Flooding is something with which Vince DiMarco is all too familiar.

He spent much of Friday moving his belongs off the floor of his Greenwich office, which was partially flooded and suffered mold damage during a storm about 18 months ago.

"If you're not prepared and you're caught with your pants down, boy, you're in trouble," DiMarco said.

Several festivals, sporting events and other community activities throughout Connecticut were postponed to Sunday or rescheduled to conclude Saturday before the storm's arrival.

Utility companies also put their workers on notice that they would likely be needed to fan out and restore electricity after the storm passes.

"One hundred percent of available crews are on call all weekend," Connecticut Light & Power spokesman Mitch Gross said. "We're ready. We've been watching this storm very closely."

The state's homeland security and emergency management departments also were monitoring the storm Saturday, and state transportation workers and extra state police troopers were on standby in case of flooding and other road problems.