(Update) Town Streets Open, Shelter Needs Diminish

Update 7:45 a.m. Tuesday 

Connecticut Light and Power's Web site continues to show Canton at 85 percent power Tuesday morning, despite the new deadline estimate of 99 percent restoration by Monday at Midnight. No one needed to stay overnight in the shelter, officials said last evening. 

Update 9:49 p.m. 

The CL&P Web site now estimates 85 percent of the town has power. There's not much time for the company to meet its new estimate of 99 percent power restoration by midnight. 

Update 7 p.m. 

A total of 870 or 17 percent of CL&P's 4,928 Canton customers remained without power as of 7 p.m., according to the company's Web site. CL&P is still estimating it will have 99 percent of power restored in town by 11:59 p.m. 

Original story 

While he knows of one wire remaining on a roadway, all of Canton streets are fully open and passable, First Selectman Richard Barlow said. 

That puts the town well ahead of those surrounding it, Barlow said. 

"Clearly in terms of our ability to get our roads clear and passable and serviceable, we're way ahead of them," 

In part, Barlow attributes the success to the hard work of Public Works crews, contractors and volunteer firefighters. He said some residents even pitched in to clear streets. 

“Amazingly we got tremendous assistance by a number of our residents,” he said.

Canton is also one of few Valley towns that resumed school today. 

Of course, many have much of their own branches and brush to clear. The town’s transfer station remains open free of charge for such disposal.

“We encourage residents who are able to – to bring their debris to the transfer station,” Barlow said.

Barlow added that the town is looking into the requests for curbside pickup of brush.

“We’re evaluating options for possibly having some curbside pickup,” he said.

The town continues to offer other services but the need has greatly diminished.

No one needed to stay at the town's shelter at the Community Center last night and only a handful needed dinner, Barlow said. 

The town will still offer the overnight shelter if needed, however, and anyone who may need a place to stay should call the Social Services Department at 860-693-5811. 

The Community Center and library continue to provide people with a place to charge their electronic devices as well. 

Until power restoration is complete, the town also continues to offer hot showers at Mills Pond Recreation area. 

Barlow has expressed doubts about the accuracy of Connecticut Light and Power's outage numbers but at 1 p.m. the company estimated that 1,018, or 20 percent, of its 4,928 Canton customers remained without power.