Sandy Update

There are some important alerts you should be aware of.

• Cold weather alert for this weekend if you are without a generator please consider going to a shelter.
• Warning: carbon monoxide can kill. Do not put generator or grills in garages or houses.
• Sadly, scam artists are taking advantage of residents in hard hit areas. Report any suspicious activity to police.
• Call 9-1-1 for emergency

Power Restoration:

Areas where power crews are working today are as follows:
                                  

• Old Belden Hill Road, Belden Hill Road and Range Road
•  Sturges Ridge Road, Cherry Lane and Hurlbutt Street
•  Route 33 (Westport Road)
• Catalpa Road, Olmstead Hill Road, Hulda Hill Road

• Call CL&P at 800-286-2000 to report your outage or speak to a customer service representative.

 

• Text the word "outage," followed by a space and your zip code to 24612.
• Follow us on Twitter @CTLightandPower
• Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ctlightandpower

The Secretary of the State’s Office is working with utilities to ensure polling places are restored in time for Nov. 6 elections; CL&P has said they will provide generators to election locations if power has not been restored.

Transportation:

Metro-North service on #NewHaven Rail Line from NH to #GrandCentral to resume as normal Friday & train fares waived for the day.

New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branch lines will be returned to service as soon as possible.

Amtrak update –

Amtrak will provide Acela Express and Northeast Regional modified service on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., via New York City, on Friday, November 2

FEMA Aid:

If you suffered damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy, you must register with FEMA by phone or online to access federal assistance.  To register by phone, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

The TTY line for people with speech or hearing impairments is 1-800-462-7585.  The line is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.

To register online, applications may be completed at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Insurance Claims:

The Connecticut Insurance Department has set up a Storm Sandy webpage that offers a number of important resources including, toll-free claims numbers to companies, locations of mobile claims vans, flood insurance claims filing information, and more.

Consumers with additional questions can contact the Insurance Department by phone at 1-800-203-3447 or 860-297-3900, or by utilizing the online contact options.

Town by Town Update:

Wilton:

74% still without power

Efforts to clear roads and power lines are still a major priority due to widespread damage in Wilton. To help us, the Town of Wilton requested and received additional personnel from the US Forest Service to assist Town Department of Public Works crews with tree clearing and road opening operations.

Twenty chain saw workers from Minnesota arrived yesterday and have been working side by side with Department of Public Works crews to cut and clear trees, as approximately 40 Wilton roads still have significant blockages.

Utility crews from Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska and Quebec were also working in Wilton.

The Wilton Transfer Station will be open Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon for citizens to deliver household waste only.

As the Transfer Station is still without power it is closed to licensed commercial haulers.

Approval of a location for residents to bring tree branches and other storm debris is still in process.

Wilton officials still not sure if school will be open on Monday given side roads remain blocked.  The superintendent will make the call.

Ridgefield:

71% still without power

CL and P continues to clear roads in Ridgefield in some of the more heavily damaged areas. Ridgefield town hall has issued the following information

People must register with FEMA for disaster assistance as soon as possible.
Call 1-800-621-3362 or go to the www.disasterassistance.gov website.

Water and MRE’s are available at Yanity Gym (60 Prospect St.) from 9 AM to 4 PM. Enter from the Governor Street side.

Founders Hall (193 Danbury Road) is open from 8 AM to 6 PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday for all adult residents.

Public Information Posting locations are: Town Hall, Parks & Rec, Founder’s Hall, Ancona’s, Stop & Shop, Ridgebury Fire Station 2 and the Valero Gas Station at the Route 7/Danbury Road intersection.

The Transfer Station is open from 7:30 am-5 pm through Sunday November 4th for free disposal of storm-related brush for non-commercial residents and food waste. The Recycling Center is open its normal hours.

Schools are closed Friday November 2. SAT’S that were scheduled for Saturday, November 3rd have been cancelled and rescheduled for Saturday, November 17th.

Volunteers are needed. Please call 203-431-2348, 203- 431-2350 and 203-431-2351.

New Canaan:

68% still without power

18 CL&P crews are currently working in New Canaan

Crews will work on opening blocked driveways in preparation for the restoration phase.

Restoration is expected to begin in earnest this weekend.

The New Canaan YMCA (564 South Ave), Lapham Community Center (677 South Ave),

The New Canaan Library (151 Main Street), and Waveny House all remain open and available to residents.

Westport:

58% still without power

The Westport Senior Center will be open as a warming/charging center:

Thursday, 11/1 — 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 11/2 —  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 11/3 — 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hours on Saturday may be extended if needed.

The Town of Westport released the following restoration guidelines

Tree on Wires

If the electrical service at your home was damaged by a fallen tree on your own property, you should call your own Connecticut licensed electrician and have any damage from the weather head down the side of the house inspected and repaired if necessary. The electrician should then contact the Westport Building Department and we will contact the power company to authorize them to re-energize your service. Do not go near any downed wires assumed to be dead, they may become energized at any moment.

Water Damage

If your home sustained water damage affecting the electrical system including the circuit breaker panel, electric appliances, or outlets you should contact an electrician to evaluate your wiring prior to the power company activating your neighborhood. Sometimes just switching off effected circuits is sufficient, however, in worse cases; the main breaker should be switched off.

Compo Beach & Saugatuck Shores Areas

Homes in the Compo Beach & Saugatuck Shores areas will be visited by the Building Department to assist in evaluating the condition of your home. Please leave a note on your front door indicating either no damage, the service breaker has been turned off or a note from a licensed electrician (E-1) indicating it is ok to energize the grid.

If your meter has been red tagged you must hire and E-1 electrician to make your home safe.

Please direct questions to the Westport Building Department at (203) 341-5025.

Weston:

72% still without power

There are currently 25 CL and P crews working in Weston.

A dedicated customer service supervisor has been established today for Weston residents at 203-454-1161.

There is an emergency center open at Weston High School (115 School Road), and a Comfort Station will be available there this weekend 8am to 4 pm.

 Food will be available at the HS cafeteria for a nominal fee of $2.00 for breakfast and $5.00 for lunch and dinner.

Redding:

59% still without power

CL and P has begun the restoration phase in Redding as crews continue to clear roads in focusing efforts on 13 roads which are completely blocked and a further 20 with low hanging trees and wires that present a hazard to residents.

Halloween will be celebrated from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 in the parking lot of the Redding Community Center. The roads are too dangerous for trick-or-treating.

The following locations remain open for public use:

• Joel Barlow High School is open for showers from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The Redding Community Center is open from 9 to 9 p.m. for electronic charging. Meals-ready-to-eat and water are available from 9 to 5 p.m.
• Paint Draw and More is hosting free art classes at the Georgetown School of Arts. Call 203-544-8551 for reservations.
• Mark Twain Library is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Redding Congregational Church is available from 9:30 to 3 p.m. for heat, wifi and potable water. Please bring your own extension cords.
• St. Patrick’s is open for heat, restrooms and electronic charging Friday and Saturday from 9 to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Bethel:

34% still without power

All Bethel roads have been reopened with the exception of Wolfpit, South and Rector

Bethel Public Schools are now open and will resume their normal schedule