(Update) Town Digs in For the Long Haul

Update 7:45 p.m. 

The lights are on at the Shoppes and officials say the rest of Route 44 should follow soon. First Selectman Richard Barlow said he hopes it will be up by the morning. No time frame was immediately given for the rest of town. 

In addition the library extended its hours until 9:30 p.m. School was canceled again for Tuesday. 

Monday night residents at the Community Center turned shelter looked to make the best of the situation. Kids watched movies and played Wii during the day and were treated to a mini trick or treat experience in the upstairs hallways.

Volunteers were setting up additional cots for residents. As the last ones were set up it would make a total of 150, said Steve Roberto, who is among those volunteering at the shelter. 

Shirlene Vaughn's home on Bristol Drive was the site of a fire earlier this year and the storm sent a tree on top of the rebuilt home.

Damage was minimal and either way Vaughn said the town is dealing with more than she did.

"This is a lot worse that what we had to deal with," she said. "This is everyone's disaster." 

Tom and Susan Streett came to the center as well. Susan agreed the storm was disastrous but the couple was thankful for a warm place.

"It's nice to be able to come here and get warm," Tom Streett said.

Earlier in the day, the town opened showers at Mills Pond Pool Monday, Oct. 31 and will through the rest of the week from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner said. The water is heated. Residents should bring their own towels and toiletries. 

The transfer station was also open Monday and will be open its regular hours from 7 to 3:30 p.m. starting Tuesday, Skinner said. Through Saturday, residents can bring in debris without a sticker or fee, he said. 

The town also advised against trick or treating.

"We are currently discouraging children and parents from going out due to the dangers (of downed trees and wires)," Skinner said earlier in the day. Officials are discussing the possibility of scheduling an alternative date, he added.

Skinner also went to ShopRite twice Sunday and once Monday and the town is serving meals downstairs in the community center. Residents can stay overnight as well.

Also, earlier in the day, the town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department delivered water and emergency rations. It was a rare call break and some members had been going for nearly 40 hours, Chief Richard Hutchings said. About 30 members worked during and after the storm so far, he added. 

Those members are volunteering despite their own jobs and home situations, he added.

"At the end of this, it will be much longer than the hurricane," he said.

Numerous resident came to the shelter, which served close to 300 for dinner. Many not staying overnight were charging phones, reading, staying warm, enjoying meals and trying to get online. The last has been a challenge for Patch as many residents are overwhelming WiFi signals.

Adam Reader and his family walked over from Thayer Avenue, which was still completely blocked off Monday due to numerous downed trees and wires.

"It's a great thing the community's doing," he said about the shelter.

He also said it could be worse.

"We're lucky it's not February," he said.

Volunteer firefighter Dan Barnhart said the situation really does make people put things in perspective.

"Something like this makes you realize what's really important," he said.

And while police arrested two for allegedly stealing copper, many others said they saw positive actions following the storm.

In Reader's neighborhood, several residents shared a grill-cooked meal Sunday night.

Resident Tom Donato said a neighbor of his was hosting a Halloween party for the kids Monday night.

"It's a special day for the kids," he said.

Jeffrey Gilbert was out with some of his North Street neighbors Monday afternoon as many in the area were helping Ray Day and Center Spirit Shoppe owner Manny Patel pick up the multiple branches of a maple tree that had caused havoc in the area.

"It's nice to see people are going out and helping each other," Gilbert said.

And that tree, which he said predates the house, caused a few close calls. Patel said a customer had just backed out of a parking space when a branch broke.

Day said he brought his daughter to work, came home and parked his car and went inside. Just then a large branch came down on the car. The downed limbs also did some damage to his roof and siding.

"It’s nothing that can't be fixed," he said.

Original story

As day two at the town's emergency shelter began, members of the town's public works crew were among those lined up for fresh toast, eggs and hot coffee. 

The crew had worked for more than 30 hours before finally getting some rest Sunday night and the warm breakfast Monday morning. Then it was back on the road — the goal now getting as many streets passable as possible. 

Also enjoying breakfast at the shelter, located in the town's community center, residents enjoyed a hot breakfast. About 50 stayed overnight, said Adam Libros, the town's fire marshal and director of emergency management.

Many more residents are coming in to keep warm, charge cell phones and enjoy some company. 

There is room at the shelter, Libros said. He does urge those coming to stay overnight to bring their own sleeping bags or air mattresses since the town is running out of cots. 

"There's plenty of room," he said. "Bring your own bedding if you can." 

The town’s library is also open and staff is working on a plan to try and show movies for kids and adults.

Libros said he does not know when power will be restored. Connecticut Light and Power is still trying to clear limbs and assess the situation. 

If someone has a true emergency, such as needing a ride to the shelter, they can call police at 860-693-0221, Libros said.

For information, people can also call the senior center at 960-693-5811 and someone will try to answer.

 The town will not be able to help with other non-emergency situations such as downed limbs. He urges residents to help each other when they can.

Emergency crews continue to be busy. The town of Canton Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to numerous downed limbs and wire fires during the storm, continues to go to help locked-out residents and respond to Carbon Monoxide and business alarms.