For the first time in at least 15 years, the need for a large emergency shelter has prompted the town to open Cheshire High School as its 24-hour warming center.

Forty residents came to the Cheshire Senior Center on Sunday seeking warmth and a place to recharge their cell phones. By Monday, the growing demand for warmth, food, and perhaps most important, a hot shower, led the town to consolidate its emergency services at the high school.

The senior center doesn't have shower facilities, nor is it well suited for extended overnight stays.

The town will staff the high school 24 hours a day with a nurse, a police officer and an employee of the Human Services Department. "We're expecting to be open for several days at least," said Ann-Marie Bishop, a town social services counselor.

Shannon Nutting, 31, said she came to the shelter because she has two small children and her home was cold. She wanted to get warm and take a shower -- a luxury after three days with no hot water. "It was great, awesome," she said.

Planning for and opening the consolidated center took hours of preparation. "We were at it all day," said Vincent Masciana, managment services director for the Cheshire School District. He said many town and school departments worked together to get the center up and running. "We're one community, one town," he said.

"It's one thing to be without lights, but when it's cold, especially more than 24 hours," it's difficult, said Bishop.

Masciani said CL&P told the town that electric restoration efforts wouldn't begin in town until Tuesday.