Aftermath - Quiet pg 1 9-1-11
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- Category: Past Issues
captions, pg. 6:
Clockwise from top left:
Putnam: Labossiere Ln.
Woodstock: Fair parking snow fence on Rt. 169.
Putnam: Cargill Falls
Pomfret: Rt. 169 - one of many roads blocked by fallen trees.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
In stoic New England fashion, residents, towns, schools, power companies and more began recovery from "Miss Irene" before the winds stopped blowing.
As of Sunday night, Aug. 28, according to Senior Communications Specialist Frank Poirot from NU, some 671,789 customers were without power. Restoration began immediately, he said, with 800 crews: a combination of CL&P workers and electrical line and tree crews from Canada to Florida and over toward Michigan.
Poirot said that each of the company's 149 service areas in the state saw damage, and he called it an "historic" storm.
"From Woodstock down to the ocean," he said, eastern Connecticut "was particularly hard hit." He added, "It took the brunt of the heavy winds" and that made for thousands of downed electrical lines.
Crews first made downed lines safe and then have been clearing trees and then will be making an assessment of the damage. He believed by late Aug. 30 officials would have a firmer idea of when power might be restored to Putnam, Woodstock, Pomfret and Eastford and surrounding towns. Some early estimates don't see the restoration of power to some areas for more than a week from the end of the storm Sunday, Aug. 28, he added.
In Putnam, as of mid-day Monday, Aug. 29, 53 percent of the town was without power, according to Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler. He added there are 5,074 electric company customers in Putnam and 2,737 were without power as of Aug. 29.
Jerry Beausoleil, director of the Department of Public Works, said the following roads were closed due to utility lines in trees: Hurry Hill Rd. from Rt. 12 to Rt. 21, Aspinock Rd. from Rt. 21 to Killingly town line, Fox Rd. from Rt. 21 to Five Mile River Rd., Five Mile River Rd. from Fox Rd. to East Putnam Rd., Tucker Hill Rd. from Rt. 44 to Five Mile River Rd., Marycrest Dr. from Rt. 21 to Sayles Ave., River Rd. at Quinebaug Ave., River Rd. from Town Farm Rd. to Modock Rd.
School officials in Putnam said that all the town's school buildings are fine and they are shooting for school to begin Wed., Aug. 30. The original start of the school year was Monday, Aug. 29.
In Pomfret, First Selectman Jim Rivers said the town was hard hit. Ninety percent of the town was without power on Aug. 29 and 50 percent of the roads were blocked. "We're starting to get lots more attention (from CL&P) this morning," he said Aug. 29. He added that the town's Public Works Department is assisting CL&P crews with road clearing.
School officials in Pomfret could not be reached for comment.
Woodstock was also hard hit, according to local residents' reports. Numerous roads are closed and power failures are widespread. The Town Hall is closed and town and school officials could not be reached for comment. The school system's website was not not functioning.
Stalwart New Englanders carried on. The lilting sound of chain saws and generators punctuated the air. State snow plow trucks hauled down roads, shoving light debris aside. Leaf debris plastered onto window glass dried and dropped. Flower pots and chimes migrated back to the garden from the safety of garages. Some traffic lights worked, some didn't. Neighbors helped neighbors. Road blocks signs proliferated. Gas stations that still had gas saw long lines reminiscent of the 1970's gas lines stretch down streets --- with residents eager to replenish fuel for chain saws and generators and vehicles.