Oxford Emergency Director Gives Storm Update on Tuesday Evening

All four of Oxford's public schools now have power, as do most people on Route 67 from its intersection at Route 42 to the Southbury town line. The other end of Route 67, where most of the town's businesses are, does not have power. 

Oxford Fire Chief Scott Pelletier, the town's emergency management director, hopes he will have good news for residents and business owners tomorrow morning, though he realizes it may be at least a few more days until CL&P has everybody restored. 

"We have a lot of  who are struggling right now," he said. "They've had to deal with Irene and now this. We've tried to convey that message to CL&P and hope they will make it a priority to work on restoring them tonight into tomorrow morning."

Getting power back to businesses will also help residents who need to buy food and fill up their cars and power generators at gas stations, which are currently closed, Pelletier said. He said there are some places open in the lower Valley, but there are long lines at gas stations and there are very few food stores and restaurants that have power, he said. Plus, it's an inconvenience for residents who are already inconvenienced with no power.

Pelletier said CL&P shut down several customers who previously had power on Tuesday because they were making repairs to Captain Wooster Road in the Quaker Farms section, but that work has now been completed. Restoration of Christian Street and neighboring roads near the  was completed on Monday, Pelletier said.

Oxford officials will meet tomorrow to discuss whether school will be reponed on Thursday (schools have already been shut down for tomorrow). Pelletier said the fact that is being used as an emergency management shelter (it is open all day and night for residents without power) makes it difficult to open school, and he was not optimistic that schools would be open on Thursday. But, Pelletier said, the final decision is up to interim Superintendent James Connelly. Pelletier said he will get more information tonight and tomorrow before giving Connelly a recommendation about whether school should open.

On top of dealing with the Quaker Farms School situation, there are "still a lot of low-hanging wires" which make it unsafe and difficult for transportation to school, Pelletier said.