GREENWICH: HURRICANE SANDY URGENT UPDATES

Friday, November 2, 2012 2:00PM

The Town of Greenwich remains in a state of emergency.  The Department of Health and American Red Cross have consolidated their shelters to one location at Eastern Middle School in Riverside as of today.  While the Department of Health has closed the sheltering segment of the operation at the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, the American Red Cross continues to maintain the facility as a reception center during normal civic center hours. Residents are able to recharge their electronic devices, get out of the cold, and enjoy a small snack. For the weekend of November 2-4, the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center will be open:
 
Friday, November 2:      7:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Saturday, November 3:   8:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Sunday, November 4:     9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
 
The sheltering facility at Eastern Middle School will continue to operate around the clock.  For more information on sheltering or the reception center, call the non-emergency hotline at 203-622-8000.
 
Connecticut Light & Power:
 
Connecticut Light & Power is not able at this time to estimate when power will be restored.  The universal restoration time given is Monday to Tuesday for 95% of itscustomer base.  Currently, CL&P estimates that 51% of the Town is without power as of this morning.  Residentsare advised to keep their distance from all downed wires, as they must be considered live and dangerous.  
 
At 10:00 am, CL&P assigned 32 line crews to Greenwich.  At 2:00 pm, an additional 50 line crews are arriving in Greenwich.  At 3:00 pm, another 45 line crews are being assigned to our Town, for a total of 127 line crews by this afternoon aiding in the power restoration effort.  

Power has been restored to all voting locations, except for the North Mianus and Julian Curtiss schools, in preparation for the upcoming election.  Those two schools are expected to be up and running by the end of the day today.
 
Connecticut National Gas Company:
 
For gas serviced to be resumes, residents must:
1)get their gas clearance from the Town, via the green certificate,
2)have power restored to their home, and
3)call Connecticut National Gas (CNG) Company at203-869-6900 to open the gas line.
 
Commodities Distribution:
 
Water and meals-ready-to-eat will be available for publicdistribution at Sound Beach Avenue and Banksville Road as of 4:00 p.m. today.
 
Holly Hill:
 
Holly Hill is operating with extended hours to accommodate disposal needs.  Residents are reminded that storm-related organic materials may be disposed of at Holly Hill for no cost.  Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the extended hours and open dates at Holly Hill to clean up their property.  
 
Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility hours:
November 3  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
November 4  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
November 5  7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
November 6  7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
 
Operating hours after these dates will be evaluated based on volume and demand.
 
Parks and Recreation:
 
Eastern Greenwich Civic Center has wifi capabilities and will be open for charging electronic devices, and open gym Saturday, November 3rd from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and Sunday, November 4th From 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm.  
 
The Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center has wifi capabilities and will be open as a warming center and forcharging electronic devices Saturday, November 3rd from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm and Sunday, November 4th 9:00 amto 6:00 pm.  
 
The Open Gym Schedule for the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center is as follows:
 
Friday, November 2, 2012
All Ages: 2pm – 4pm
9th grade and up: 7:30pm – 9pm
 
 
Saturday, November 3, 2012
All Ages: 9am – 10:30am
8th grade and under: 10:30am – 12noon
9th grade and up: 12noon – 2pm
All Ages: 5:30pm – 8pm
 
Sunday, November 4, 2012
All Ages: 9am – 12:15pm
9th grade and up: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
 
Monday, November 5, 2012
All Ages: 8am – 2pm
9th grade and up: 7:30pm – 9pm
 
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
All Ages: 8am – 3:15pm
8th grade and under: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
9th grade and up: 6:30pm – 9pm
 
The Dorothy Hamill Rink will operate on its regular schedule.  Public sessions will be held on Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th from 2:00 p.m.to 4:00 pm.  
 
Greenwich Point will remain closed for the weekend.  Byram Park has limited access.
 
The following fields are closed for the weekend:
 
Teufel, Eastern Middle School, Loughlin Avenue, Upper Havemeyer, Lower Havemeyer, Riverside Elementary School, Upper Byram Picnic, Western Greenwich Civic Center, Christiano, North Street School, Dundee School
 
All open fields are for permitted use only.
Please note: All open fields are in post storm condition.  No Town personnel or resources will be used to prepare or maintain fields for play.  
 
Flood Waters:
 
Flood waters must be assumed to be contaminated with disease bacteria.  Never try to cross a flood area on foot.  Wait until flood waters are below basement level before trying to drain or pump the basement.  After contact with flood waters, always wash your hands with soap and water that has been disinfected before preparing or eating food, after flood clean-up activities, and after handling articles contaminated with flood water. Clean all toys and equipment with a disinfectant or discard them after contamination with flood waters.
 
Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. This includes packaged food items in plastic, paper, cardboard, cloth, and similar containers that may have been water damaged, as well as beverage containers with screw-caps, snap lids, crimped caps (soda bottles), twist caps, flip tops, and home canned foods, as these tops cannot be disinfected appropriately.  All clothing, curtains, bedding, etc. should be washed with hot, soapy water, and bleached if possible. Furniture and floors may be rinsed with clean water after washing with soap and water; disinfect if possible.
 
Never assume that water-damaged structures or ground are stable. Structural elements that have been submerged or subject to rushing flood waters may be unsound.Assume all stairs, floors and roofs are unsafe until inspected and leave immediately if shifting or unusual noises signal a possible collapse.
 
Water and Food Safety in a Power Failure:
 
Water Safety
A representative from the Town’s water supplier, Aquarion, has verified that the Town’s water supply is safe to drink. If there is any discoloration in your water, boil it for 10 minutes before it is consumed.  Home owners with a well water supply that has been affected by flood waters should consider their well water contaminated.  Until the flood waters recede, all well water must be boiled for a minimum of 10 minutes before it can be consumed. After the flood waters have receded from around the well, the water should be disinfected with a chlorine solution before it is consumed.  For disinfection procedures, go to the following Dept of Health link.
 
While the disinfection can be done by a homeowner, the Department of Health recommends that a well driller provide the service.
 
Foods in the Freezer and Refrigerator

With the door closed, food in most freezers will stay frozen for up to 3 days. When freezers are in good working condition, thawing will depend on the following:

• A full freezer stays cold longer than one partially full. (24 hours for a half full freezer and 48 hours for a full freezer).
• A freezer filled with meat stays cold longer than a freezer filled with baked goods.
• The colder the food, the longer it will stay frozen.
• A well-insulated freezer keeps food frozen longer than one with little insulation.
• The larger the freezer, the longer food stays frozen.

If the refrigerator door has been kept closed during the power outage and an accurate thermometer registers a temperature of 45 degrees F or less, the contents of your refrigerator will be generally safe to eat. However, if food items taste sour or smell bad, they should be immediately discarded.
 
If the temperature of the refrigerator is above 45 degreesF for more than four (4) hours, discard all perishable items or cook and consume them immediately.
 
Most refrigerators will maintain safe temperatures up to twelve (12) hours depending on the fullness. Processed food items as well as uncut fruits and vegetables will last longer. Fish, shellfish, meat and poultry items will spoil quickly so these items should be prepared for consumption immediately. Food items that smell bad or seem to be discolored should be discarded. Judgments should be applied for all foods. If you remain unsure or uncomfortable about the food item, then discard.
 
When Food Has Thawed

Thawing depends on many factors; you may safely refreeze some foods if they still contain ice crystals and if they have been kept at 45 degrees F or less than 2 days.  The best practice is to cook these foods for consumption as soon as possible.  When thawing occurs, the following should be considered:

• Fruits: Refreeze fruits if they taste and smell good. Fruit that is beginning to ferment is safe to eat, but will have an off-flavor. Such fruit could be used in cooking, but it is not recommended.
• Frozen Foods and Frozen Dinners: Do not refreeze frozen foods that have thawed; either cook them for consumption, discard or refreeze after cooking thoroughly.
• Vegetables: Do not refreeze thawed vegetables.Bacteria in these foods multiply rapidly. Spoilage may begin before odors develop. Cook them for consumption, discard or refreeze after cooking thoroughly.
• Meat and Poultry: Examine each package of thawed meat or poultry. If odor is offensive or questionable, or if the meat temperature has exceeded 45 degrees F then discard. Discard all stuffed poultry. Cook thawed but unspoiled meat and poultry immediately. After cooking, meat can be refrozen or refrigerated for consumption.
• Fish and Shellfish. These are extremely perishable.Do not refreeze unless ice crystals remain throughout the package. Seafood may be spoiled, even if it has no offensive odor. Cook thawed seafood for consumption or discard.
• Ice Cream. Do not refreeze melted ice cream. Consume it or discard.

 
If any foods have an offensive or questionable odor, do not consume them, just discard.
 
More Information:
 

• A further update on the status of school openings will be given on Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 p.m.

 

• The Greenwich Main branch will be open for extended hours on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  The Byram Shubert and Cos Cob branches will operate on Saturday, as normal, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The Perrot Library will observe its normal schedule.

   

• Power related issues are to be referred to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000.

 

• To report a gas leak, please call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325.  
• Calling 911 is still for emergency purposes only.  This includes danger to life, limb, sight, or crime in progress.

 

• For all other non-emergency Police and Fire related issues, dial 203-622-8000.  
• All Town Parks are closed and will remain closed until further notice. 

 

• When driving, be aware that many traffic signals are without power.  As per State of Connecticut law, a disabled traffic signal is to be considered a four-way stop.  Motorists are required to yield the right of way to vehicles on the right.
• Meals on Wheels is closed until Monday, November 5.  If you are in need of this service prior to its reopening, please contact the Police Department at 203-622-8000, and we will attempt to provide assistance and guidance as available.
• For general information, visit our Town website at www.greenwichct.org