Stevenson: 12 CL&P Crews in Darien; Election Polling Places TBD

Update 3:45 p.m. Thursday (text added 4:52 p.m.)

Darien has 12 two-man Connecticut Light and Power line and tree crews who are working with public works employees to get the town out of the dark, officials say.

According to a press release issued minutes ago by First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, 26 public and more than 22 private roadways remain inaccessible because of downed trees and wires.

“We are now at the point in our recovery when residents tend to get a bit frustrated without power and begin questioning the recovery efforts they are seeing” Stevenson said in the release. “I can assure you that all resources we have available to us are dedicated to making roads passable and safe. Any additional resources we have that do not have a line crew to work with have been tasked with recovery and clean up. I will not be publishing lists of road closures.  At this time, our lists change too frequently to be accurate and up to date. “

According to CL&P, 58 percent of Darien currently is without power — about the same number as at 9:30 a.m. today and down from a high of nearly 100 percent early Tuesday.

Stevenson encouraged residents to drive slowly and allow professionals to handle power and utility lines as well as trees.

“I have notified the CT Department of Emergency Management of this critical safety concern,” Stevenson said in the release. “While we have made significant headway, we continue to receive new reports of critical blockages. These roads remain our highest priority. We have additional tree crews working to clear areas that do not involve utility wires. The backbone of the CL&P system must be repaired before further restorations can begin.”

Here are additional bullet points straight from Stevenson’s update:

• The transfer station is open till 5 p.m. through Saturday and Sunday from 10-5 to residents with non-commercial vehicles.  Commercial vehicles can take debris to City Carting in Stamford. 
• The first municipal leaf pick up is cancelled. 
• Darien Library is open till 11 p.m. today and Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
• The YMCA is open till 10 p.m. tonight for showers and recharging.
• Elections will continue as scheduled. Any changes to polling places will be communicated.
• Information about FEMA claims for Sandy-DR-4087 can be found at 1-800-621-FEMA or www.disasterassistance.gov 

Text of message:

Town of Darien

Post Storm Update #5

Nov. 1, 2012

2:00 p.m.

We are Day 2 post Hurricane Sandy.  Good weather for the next few days will help with our recovery efforts.  Our Emergency Operations Center is in contact with the State and Federal government twice a day relaying our specific recovery needs.

Fifty-eight percent of Darien is still without power, down from over 90 percent.  Power to critical facilities has not been totally restored and remains a priority along with the Post Road between I-95 and the railroad bridge for traffic safety.  Many areas, particularly north Darien, experienced broken and downed utility poles.  Resetting poles takes time. 

We have 12 CL&P line and tree crews here and working in tandem with Department of Public Works personnel to clear roads still inaccessible to emergency vehicles.  At this hour, we have 26 public and over 22 private roadways inaccessible to emergency vehicles due to downed trees with wires in them.  I have notified the CT Department of Emergency Management of this critical safety concern.  While we have made significant headway, we continue to receive new reports of critical blockages.  These roads remain our highest priority.  We have additional tree crews working to clear areas that do not involve utility wires.  The back bone of the CL&P system must be repaired before further restorations can begin.

Please continue to be vigilant regarding your personal safety and the safety of your children.  Drive slowly on all roads and stop at all intersections.  Do not attempt to clear trees from in and around power or other utility lines.  Energized power lines can cross energize phone and cable lines.  Generators must be properly installed and vented. 

• The transfer station is open till 5pm today through Saturday and Sunday from 10-5 to residents with non-commercial vehicles.  Commercial vehicles can take debris to City Carting in Stamford. 
• The first municipal leaf pick up is cancelled. 
• Darien Library is open till 11pm today and Friday, 9 to 9 Saturday and 1-9 Sunday.
• The YMCA is open till 10pm tonight for showers and recharging.
• Elections will continue as scheduled.  Any changes to polling places will be communicated.
• Information about FEMA claims for Sandy-DR-4087 can be found at 1-800-621-FEMA or www.disasterassistance.gov 

We are now at the point in our recovery when residents tend to get a bit frustrated without power and begin questioning the recovery efforts they are seeing.  I can assure you that all resources we have available to us are dedicated to making roads passable and safe.  Any additional resources we have that do not have a line crew to work with have been tasked with recovery and clean up.  I will not be publishing lists of road closures.  At this time, our lists change too frequently to be accurate and up to date. 

I ask you at this time to check on your vulnerable friends and neighbors, particularly elderly residents.  Temperatures are getting colder and we want to be sure everyone is safe and healthy.

Thank you.

Jayme Stevenson

First Selectman

Original Story, 10:29 a.m.:

First Selectman Jayme Stevenson issued this storm update at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday with information on roads closed or now passable, areas of town with or without power, and other information, such as the fact that parks are open, including the Weed Beach playground.

Since Cablevision is out in many places, those who rely on it for telephone service would not have received the Code Red alert. This was also sent as an email at 8:52 p.m., but your Darien Patch editor didn't see it last night (email sometime slows down).

Here is the text of Stevenson's Update No. 4 (see attached document for the original, without subheadings and style changes):

Town of Darien

Post Storm Update No. 4

October 31, 2012

8:30pm

Disaster assessment, recovery and restoration efforts continue around the clock. 

The President has issued a Disaster Declaration for Fairfield County.  Information on filing personal loss claims can be found at FEMA.gov and will be available at Town Hall and publicized in the local media.

Recovery efforts clearing inaccessible roads continue.   Public works and CL&P crews are making steady progress.  CL&P is systematically restoring service to the backbone of their system.  A good portion of power has already been restored to the area south of I-95 between Holly Pond and Gorham’s Pond and just north of I-95 in the Noroton Heights area. 

New dangers now exist—as the power is restored, the chance for fire from exposed wires is extremely high.

Variable message signs have been placed at both ends of the Post Road to alert motorists of important safety concerns.  Please use extreme caution at all intersections.

Street situation

The following roads are passable:

Post Road

Hoyt Street

West Avenue

Noroton Avenue

Ledge Road

Camp Avenue

Leroy Avenue

Middlesex Road from Stamford to Hanson Road

Tokeneke Road

Long Neck Point Road

Nearwater Lane

Old Kings Highway North

Hollow Tree Ridge Road north to Crooked Mile

Goodwives River

Half Mile

Ox Ridge Lane 

Closers persist on:

Mansfield Avenue between Knollwood and Peach Hill

Brookside Road at Overbrook

Old Kings Highway South at Quaker Lane and McCray

West Norwalk Road

Locust Hill at Settler’s Trail

Stephen Mather

Raymond Street

Talmadge Hill Road between Hollow Tree and Mansfield

After we clear all main roads we will begin clearing side streets.  

Open & closed

The Darien Public Library is open until 11:00pm and will be open tomorrow from 9am until 11pm.  The YMCA will open Thursday from 6:30am till 10:00 pm to the public for showers and electronics recharging.  All Darien parks are open but residents must use caution near downed trees.  Weed Beach playground is open but the Jr. Sailing facilities are damaged and dangerous.  There are now 30 local food establishments open.  The downtown area between I-95 and the railroad bridge are still without power.  The transfer station will be open until 5pm Friday and Saturday and on Sunday for debris only from 10-5.

The deadline for voter registration has been extended until Thursday at 8pm. 

Please be sure all generators are properly vented.  Never attempt to clear trees from downed power lines.  Telephone and cable lines are dangerous when touching electric wires. 

I will continue to update you as we make steady progress toward

full restoration.

Thank you.

Editor's note: This article originally was published at 10:29 a.m. Nov. 1. The Time stamp has been changed for layout purposes on the Home page of Darien Patch.