'It's Like Deja Vu All Over Again'

The New Canaan Library looks like Grand Central Station at rush hour. Streams of people are hurrying in and out, trying to make a connection with someone, somewhere. Their lives have been disrupted by the power outage and are seeking refuge from the cold and recharging their devices to find out when their lives might return to normal.

"It's like deja vu all over again," said Mike Mastey of Wahackme Road. "Everyone's paradigms are different, but this is real difficult. Without power, everyone's lives are at a standstill.

People are standing and sitting as they wait to get on a computer. Their faces are flush with fatigue and frustration, the affects from another storm have taken their toll.

"This is terrible," said Pat Nivakoff. "I haven't had power, heat, hot water, or phone service since Saturday. I've been through a lot of these, but this is by far, the worst. I'm really disoriented."

It seems like it was just yesterday that the town was recovering from Hurricane Irene, and now this. Knowing what it's like to not have power from the last storm doesn't make things any easier this time around.

"The first and second days were OK," said Bob Levinson of New Norwalk Road. "But the third day was an absolute nightmare. I don't have heat and I fell down the stairs this morning. It's definitely not fun."

Cleaning up the mess that the storm created is no easy task, power has to be restored and trees have to be cut-up and cleared away. Most people feel the town is doing a good job in handling a tough situation.

"It's definitely not easy "said Nivakoff. "The town is doing the best they can. It's almost an impossible situation. Not everyone's going to be happy."

Added Levinson. "The highway department is doing a great job. It's not easy. They are doing a good jbb under extraordinary circumstances."

After a second major power outage in less than three months, there are some who feel it's time to re-evaluate the situation.

"You'd think after Hurricane Irene, the town would've gotten all the bugs out of the system. I'm not familiar with the power grid and the system, but I think it's time we start thinking about putting the power lines underground. They do that over in Europe and they have more storms over there but not as many power outages as we do here."