Six Homes In New Canaan Remain Without Power[Update]

Update Monday 5:58am

It's down to the final six. CL&P reports there are six homes in New Canaan without power. The town should have 100 percent power restoration sometime today.

Others towns in the the area are completely off the CL&P outage map. Darien and Stamford have 100 percent restoration. Norwalk is four homes away from gettting there. Wilton and Wesport need just one home each to get back on-line. Ridgefield had more than 2,400 homes without power on Sunday afternoon, but that number has dropped to 318.

Update 3:57pm

CL&P and the Town of New Canaan are having a productive day in their efforts to achieve 100 percent power restoration. Despite having a setback this morning when a pole snapped on the east side of town, causing many residents in that area to lose power for the first time since the storm hit last Saturday, the utility company has made significant progress.

As of 3:55pm, there were 44 homes or less than one percent of CL&P's customers in New Canaan without power. New Canaan is one of several towns in the area nearing 100 percent power restoration. Others included: Norwalk (28 Homes without power), Darien (five homes), Stamford (five homes), Westport (one home without power), Wilton (30 homes).

CL&P is having a lot of trouble making progress in Ridgefield. There are still 2,435 homes or 22 percent of CL&P customers who are still in the dark.

Update 10:23am

It has been nine days since the snow storm hit the area and caused 50 percent of New Canaan to lose power. CL&P made significant progress in the first few days of the recovery process, but restoring power over the last 72 hours has been slow.

On Sunday morning, a pole came down on the east side of town causing many homes on Brushy Ridge, Devonwood, Deacon's Way, and Sturbridge Road to lose power for the first time since last Saturday.

Mike Handler, Director on New Canaan's Office of Emergency Management says his department and CL&P are continuing to work around the clock to get 100 percent power restoration for the town.

"We know that we are not out of the woods, by any means," Handler told Patch. "We're not going to stop until everybody in New Canaan has power again. Nobody has stopped working for even a minute."

Handler said the high winds most likely contibuted to the pole coming down this morning and that CL&P is working diligently on single outages with hopes of getting everybody back on-line by Sunday night.

Update Sunday 7:59am

New Canaan's Office of Emergency Management reports that there are homes on the east side of town that have lost power for the first time since the storm hit the area last Saturday.

Many homes on Brushy Ridge, Devonwood, Deacon's Way, and Sturbridge Road are currently without power. The EOC is asking that you please call 800 286-2000 and report your power outage to CL&P immediately.

Update 6:05pm

From New Canaan's Office of Emergency Management:

Workers continue to try restore power to the remaining 1% of homes of homes in New Canaaan still without it. Five tree crews, seven bucket trucks, two patrollers, and three electricians will remain in New Canaan until 100% power restoration is achieved.

If you do not have power please call CL&P at (800) 286-2000 immediately, even if you have previously reported the outage. The EOC remains staffed and can be reached at (203) 594-4100. I personally promised several children that tonight’s Halloween trick-or-treating would be a special one and I know I can count on everyone to hand out plenty of candy. Please be safe tonight. Thank you. Mike Handler.

Update 1:25pm

The office of emergency management requests that if you don't have power, call CL&P immediately. The number for CL&P is (800) 286-2000. Even if you have previously reported your residence is without power, you need to do so again.

There are under 200 CL&P customers in New Canaan who are still without power.

Update Saturday 8:13am

CL&P is reporting that just 2% (238) of its customers in New Canaan remain without power. The utility company is hoping to finish the job here by the end of the day.

Update 7:19pm

New Canaan's office of emergency management reports that New Canaan Public Schools willl return to normal hours on Monday morning.

A couple of hundred homes still remain without power and the goal is to have full restoration Saturday.

Focus for this evening and tomorrow includes:

•  South central area including Sturbridge Hill. 
•  Charter Oak Road.
•  Southeast including Buttery and Cedar.
•  Northeast corner including Thayer Pond, Turner Hill and Knollwood.

Town-wide trick-or-treating will take place Saturday, November 5th. Town officials recommend staying in areas with power and exercise caution.

Showers are available at the YMCA and is open until 10 PM this evening. Water and Meals-Ready-to-Eat are available until 10 pm at the Fire Department

Update: 1:37pm

From New Canaan's Office of Emergency Management:

FEMA teams need to assess damage to houses or personal property. If you sustained any damage from the storm, please send a photo to us at storm.photos@newcanaanfire.com . Please include your name and address.   

Please keep in mind safety is our utmost concern and that is why we have delayed the opening of the schools. It is important that the bus drivers can see any obstacles and those who live out of town and work at our schools arrive safely.

Don't forget that Daylight Savings Time goes into effect this weekend. Please turn your clocks back one hour Sunday morning.

Update 11:10am

There are still 350 homes or 4% in New Canaan without power. The office of emergency management says line crews and tree crews continue to set poles, hang wires and replace transformers. Electricians are working throughout the town on single outages.

Focus for today includes three major Areas:

• Northwest Corner that includes Myanos, Brookwood, Dunning and other roads.
• South central area including Sturbridge Hill, Old Stamford, Wiffletree and Charter Oak.
• Southeast including Buttery and Cedar.

Accoring to the OEM, these are major target areas for line crews for today. But the work in these areas is extensive, requiring more time to restore than in past storms. As a general rule, single service restoration takes longer to complete because the same amount of work restores power to only one or two homes. 

Regarding the , a decision regarding Monday will be mae later today.

 Update Friday 6:50am

CL&P restored power to 75 homes overnight, bringing the number without power in New Canaan to 350, or 4% of its customers in town. The utility company originally estimated that New Canaan would have 100 percent power restoration by Friday at 6pm.

New Canaan Public Schools once again open on a 90-minute delayed basis.

 Update 7:05pm

The office of emergency management is reporting that there is currently 425 homes or 5% of CL&P customers in New Canaan still without power. Line crews and tree crews continue to work on major trouble spots including setting poles and hanging primary wires and transformers. Electricians are working throughout town on single service restoration. As a general rule, single service restoration takes longer to complete because the same amount of work restores power to only one or two homes. They continue to request additional support from CL&P. The office's At-Risk Task Force contacted over 600 residents are report that all are receiving the appropriate services

Update 12:21 p.m.

New Canaan Public Schools will once again open on a 90-minute delayed basis on Friday.

Following is the announcement on the New Canaan Public Schools website:

New Canaan Public Schools will open Friday, November 4th on a 90-minute delayed basis.  Students attending special education programs outside of New Canaan will be picked up at their regularly scheduled times. Activity buses will follow their usual schedule.  In order to ensure safety, we are asking parents to continue to accompany their students to bus stops or drive them directly to and from school and school activities.  We are aware that despite progress being made, a number of families continue to be impacted in the aftermath of the storm. Rest assured schools will remain sensitive and responsive to individual student and family needs. Updates regarding schedules and specific activities and events will be posted on the district and school websites.

There are 540 homes or 6% still without power in New Canaan. Crews will be working in the following areas:

• The southern sector of Town near the Norwalk and Darien border.
• Whiffletree Lane
• West Road/Weed Street sector
• Gerrish Lane
• Knollwood Lane
• Lakewind
• Upper Ponus
• Old Norwalk
• Myanos
• Deep Valley
• The sector east of Carter St. including Cedar and Buttery Roads

Update 9:12am

From New Canaan's Office of Emergeny Managment:

Please remember that when EOC advisories mention work is being done in the area around a particular street, it is not intended as a restoration estimate for the area. Also, CL&P crews may be conducting operations to the circuit in and around the street mentioned, and not specifically located on the street listed.

Update Thursday 6:40am

According to the latest power outage map from CL&P, there are just 586 (7 percent) of its customers in New Canaan without power.

A reminder that New Canaan Public Schools open on a 90-minute delayed basis.

Update 8:06pm

The final push to get 100 percent power restoration for New Canaan is on. As of 8:00pm on Wednesday, just 700 homes or 8 percent of CL&P's customers remained without power.

Crews continue to work in the following AREAS:

• Valley Road, Upper Valley, Mariomi Rd. 
• Cheesespring Rd. Country Club Road.
• Stonehenge, Colonial Road.
• Wahackme and Ponus Ridge Rd.

The office of emergency management says that some parts of New Canaan are being impacted by power restoration involving circuits linked to neighboring towns. CL&P is coordinating their efforts across town borders to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

There are services available to assist those who remain in freezing homes and everything will be done to make those people as comfortable as possible. 

Please reach out to anyone at risk and let us the office of emergency management know how they can help. If you have any concerns please call (203) 594-4100.

Update 2:48pm

The department of public works will be collecting brush from residents on November 7. Workers will make one pass through each road on this day. The department recommends that brush is placed curbside and asks that you do not include logs greater than 10" in diameter, leaves, or grass clippings.

In addition, please make a windrow (long and thin row) of brush with butt ends facing streets to make pick up and chipping easier for crews. Residents can bring brush to transfer station for disposal, free of charge.

Update 1:30pm

New Canaan Public Schools will open Thursday, November 3rd on a 90-minute  delayed basis. However, students attending special education programs outside of  New Canaan will be picked up at their regularly scheduled times. In order to ensure safety, parents are askedto continue to accompany their students to bus stops or drive them directly to and from school. Activity buses will resume normal service on Thursday, November 3rd.

Update 12:24pm CL&P reports that just 899 or just 10 percent of its customers in New Canaan are without power. The utility company says it expects to have 100 percent power restoration by Friday at 6pm. Mike Handler, Director of New Canaan's Office of Emergency Management feels that "progress has been impressive" despite having fewer crews than for the restoration from Hurricane Irene.

Handler emphasizes that safety and the safety of the children in the community is the number one priority of the office of emergency management,

"We want to make sure that all the kids are safe in getting to school," said Handler. "The safety of the kids is our chief concern along with home safety. It's all that matters. We know people who are at home where the temperatures are in the 20's, 30's, and 40's, can be subject to health issues. We are getting information to them on hypothermia and if they are in need they should call our office and we will get them the help they need."

Jim Cole, Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Management says the town has learned a lot from Hurricane Irene, which has helped in everything from power restoration to communication.

"Mike Collins from CL&P has been with us from day one," said Cole. "He knows the area, the streets, and the circuits, and is now equipped with the tools to make this process more efficient. CL&P has also been working with the highway department when it comes to removing trees and limbs from wires and clearing streets so they can restore power quicker."

Update 1:00pm Handler states that the following areas are the focus of CL&P and highway crews on Wednesday: West Rd. at Oenoke
Ridge, West Hills, Jonathan Rd., Indian Rock, Gerrish Lane, Bald Hill, South
Bald Hill, Briscoe, Valley Rd. , Colonial Rd., Mariomi, Bayberry, Dunning Rd.,Greenley Rd., Richmond Hill, Marshall Ridge Rd. Sunset Hill, and Old Norwalk Rd.  Collectively this work is expected to restore power to roughly 250 homes. As 

The library continues to serve as a warming shelter until 10 pm and the YMCA is open for showers. Water and meals are available 24 hours a day at the Fire Department. If youhave any concerns, please call the EOC at (203) 594-4100. Thank you.