Storm Shuts Power, Roads, and Schools

"It's really in CL&P's hands at this point," New Canaan Emergency Management Director David Jonker said Sunday evening.

While the Tree Warden and the Highway Department had been working to clear downed trees, Jonker said the "vast majority" involve power lines and Connecticut Light & Power has to do the untangling.

Jonker said CL&P crews had been working in New Canaan all day, but with the scope of the damage not only here but in surrounding towns too, the utility was still shorthanded.

"They're calling crews in from as far away as Ohio to deal with this," he said.

About 150 streets, Jonker estimated, have been impeded by trees or dangling wires. As long as roads are impassible the school buses won't be running.

"It will be hard to open the schools until the roads are cleared."

Both public and private schools will be closed Monday. Depending on the pace of the clean-up, town officials may decide to keep them closed Tuesday.

And, of course, the downed wires mean that much of the town is without power—as of 9:05 p.m. Sunday CL&P still listed 4,463 local customers, more than half of New Canaan, with interrupted service on its outage report. With 35 utility poles needing to be replaced, the power company has told town officials that the lights won't be on to most of New Canaan until Tuesday evening. Some may be in the dark until Wednesday or Thursday. If you are without power, and haven't done so already, town officials are asking that you notify CL&P at 1-800-286-2000.

If you were looking for a hot shower at the YMCA you're out of luck—it's closed due to the lack of power there. The Lapham Center is off-limits with trees down all around it.

The library has power, and will be open Monday; it was mobbed Sunday afternoon as residents looked for a warm place to hangout and something to do. The Red Cross set up shop at Town Hall, which was slated to be open as a warming center until 10 p.m. Sunday night. Residents needing shelter should contact the Police Department at 203-594-3500. 

Town officials are reminding residents to proceed with caution if you go out, and to refrain from using your cell phones to save the charge for 911 calls in case of an emergency.

Fire Chief Ed Karl said while the reports of wires down and transformer fires waned, Sunday firefighters were chasing fire and carbon monoxide alarms as power outages activate alarm systems and fire places and generators set off CO detectors.

Karl reminded residents to keep generators away from their houses, "We've had several calls where we've got [elevated] CO readings from the generators."

And he suggested homeowners call plumbers and septic companies for help with flooded basements. "There's not much we can do about water calls because our equipment doesn't pump down below eight or nine inches," he said.

For other non-emergency, storm-related questions call the police at 203-594-3500.

Send storm stories and pictures of your candlelight dinners to amy@patch.com or add them here.