Hurricane Sandy Updates From The First Selectman: Wednesday October 31

First, I want to thank you for all the kind words and support online. It is very much appreciated. I apologize I was not able to give more frequent updates today as it was extremely busy.

I want to give you the latest update as of 9 p.m. on Hurricane Sandy.  As you know, I expressed my frustration and displeasure to CL&P President Bill Quinlan, Southeast Connecticut Operations Manager, Lt. Governor Wyman, Congressman Courtney and the media yesterday regarding the amount of CL&P Tree/Utility personnel that was sent to towns.

My comments made the national news and were discussed in the Governor’s morning  press conference. I then personally received a call this morning from CL&P President Bill Quinlan and was visited by .

This was an opportunity to discuss the specific troubles with the CL&P response to this storm. As a result, we received four more CL&P Tree/Utility Crews and several more circuit crews. This helped in opening a number of more blocked roads. To put in perspective, it takes one to three hours to get a road totally open with tree, grounding and cut aways.

In the afternoon conference call I again reiterated with the CL&P President & Governor the importance to relocate more crews in the state to the coast where the need is greatest and to continue to bring more outside crews as we enter restoration phase.

Our second critical issue was our Mystic Sewer Plant. Our generator failed last night and today had to hold back up material. We got to a point almost with toilet back up but our temporary generator did hold on. The sewer plant then came on the grid in the afternoon which allowed us not to have the National Guard get a generator for us. The new plant construction will alleviate this

For Thursday

Ÿ  Stonington Schools closed, (Thursday & Friday)              

Ÿ  Town Hall will be open but NO Internet access. Phone is available.              

Ÿ  Emergency Operations Center will continue to be open and EOC Help Desk is available.

Ÿ  Landfill will be open extended hours till 5pm weekdays and 3pm weekends.

Ÿ  Fees for storm related items will continue to be waived.

Ÿ  Garbage pickup will also occur on a normal schedule

Ÿ  Showers are available at the Westerly/Pawcatuck YMCA and Mystic YMCA for Residents (No membership needed, just show ID) during their normal operating hours.

Ÿ  The shelter is closed.

Ÿ  Human Services has bottled water for well water residents

Ÿ  We will look at opening SHS as a warming shelter if full power is not restored as colder night are approaching after Saturday

Roads that are blocked due to utility issues:

 Pawcatuck

Ÿ  33 Liberty

Ÿ  153 River Rd.  (Between Mary Hall & Rivercrest)

Ÿ  56 River Rd. (By Huntington)

Ÿ  Palmer St. (West of Courtland)

Ÿ  Upper Al Harvey Rd.

Tree Debris Blocking Roads (No wires)

Ÿ  Lords Hill

Ÿ  Al Harvey (North of Horse Farm)

Ÿ  Spellman Dr. (To East Pavilion)

Hanging Branches (No Wires)

Ÿ  Sommers Lane

Ÿ  Green Ave.

Branches on Wires

Ÿ  Mayflower Ave (@ CT Ave)

Ÿ  Intersection of Burdick & Johnson

Ÿ  Hickory

Ÿ  S. Anguilla (3 Areas)

Ÿ  Prentice Williams

Ÿ  1259 Pequot Trail

Ÿ  392 Wheeler Rd.

Ÿ  68 Wolcott

Ÿ  Lantern Hill (North of Wolf Neck)

Ÿ  Greenhaven Rd. (@Rt1)

Ÿ  79 & 128 Hewitt Rd

Ÿ  40 Gold St.

Ÿ  Quarry Rd.

Ÿ  Broadway (@Jerome)

Ÿ  34 Golden

Circuit/Substation Update

The circuits & substations are the other key to power restoration and we have six crews working on our 12 circuits & substations . Four circuits & substations have backbone fixed, 6 circuits & substations are currently getting backbone fixed and 2 including Liberty St one are working. We will get latest update in the morning.   

HALLOWEEN-

I had the pleasure tonight of working at the Mystic Aquarium Halloween event which was great! I am also working on November 16^th 2012 be declared Halloween in Stonington Day. North Stonington and Ledyard are looking to also join us. To explain did this to provide a safe, disruption free and enjoyable environment for our children. I thought a date after all the disruptions in restoration and recovery was subsided so the town could celebrate and help the local businesses too. With no power & lights, distressed families and difficult lighted roads; I feel this would be an enjoyable alternative date. Please join me in this exciting day of fun. I am even dressing up

For questions, information and specific road issues tomorrow please call 860-599-4411 press #1 or 0 to be connected from 8:30AM - 4PM. My town staff will assist you.

I will keep residents informed also through Facebook (Edward Haberek Jr.), Twitter (@First Selectman), my Blog  http://ehaberek.wordpress.com/ and Stonington Patch Blog

Thank you for your patience and I look forward to another productive day tomorrow. I’m off to put up another barricade……