Community Corner

(UPDATED 10:28 p.m.) Cheshire Down to Five Outages, Many Roads Still Covered

Officials said they are making headway and hope to be able to have most of the town accessible before the end of the day Sunday, but there is still work to be done.

UPDATED: Saturday, 10:28 p.m.
Plow drivers have been working non-stop since a blizzard dropped over 30 inches on Cheshire Friday into Saturday and although the town made good headway to dig out, officials said Saturday that there is still a lot of work left to be done.

The town has uncovered main roads and town staff are currently working to provide accessibility to side roads and non-arteries in order to allow for emergency officials access to all roads. As for a timetable to when plowing may be could be complete? Well that might take days.

Cheshire police dispatchers said Saturday night that they "couldn't fathom" seeing the town complete work by the end of the day Sunday and are more concerned with the safety of residents. To help expedite the clean-up process, officials are asking residents to remain off the roads as much as possible unless absolutely necessary.

It's a sentiment that was echoed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who despite lifting a no travel ban at 4 p.m. Saturday, also spoke directly in requesting that residents limit their travel as much as possible over the next several days.

"Crews are out clearing roadways as we speak, but the fact is we are going to feel the impact of this storm for some time," Malloy said. "The longer we can keep traffic out of town centers and off of our highways, the more effective our recovery effort will be."

It should be expected with the storm that hit Cheshire and the state of Connecticut, according to nearby Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback.

"I am encouraging everyone I talk to to keep this storm in perspective," Brumback said. "It is the worst storm to hit this area in over 35 years with almost 30 inches of snow and four to five-foot drifts."

There is a silver lining, however. Although the town started the day with over 170 power outages, that number had dwindled to just five by 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Officials said those without power were made a priority as roads were cleared on Saturday.

Across the state, 27,207 Connecticut Light & Power customers were still without electricity as of 10:30 p.m.

As for schools, there is no word yet on whether classes will be able to resume Monday or will have to wait until later in the week, but a decision is likely to be made during a conference with area Superintendents at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

"I have coordinated a regional call with superintendents for 5:30 p.m. tomorrow evening," said nearby Southington School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. "Shortly thereafter I will be able to update all on the status of school on Monday."

UPDATED: Saturday, 6:26 p.m.

Officials said the town is making good progress towards digging out or at least providing a clear path of travel for emergency vehicles, but there's still more work to be done.

Plow drivers have been going virtually non-stop since the start of the storm and have placed a priority on main roads and in getting to homes without power.

According to CL&P, 33 customers remain in the dark and it will be difficult to work deep into the night, but crews are going to keep going as long as possible. Across the state 35,673 customers are still without electricity, down over 4,000 from the peak of the storm.

Towns suffering the biggest outages include Old Lyme (86 percent), East Lyme (81 percent), Lyme (78 percent), North Stonington (75 percent) and Waterford (66 percent). Stonington is also reporting a 52 percent outage rate at this time.

Roads are open and many passable, but although Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has lifted a statewide travel ban, he and his staff continue to remind residents that the safest thing to do right now is to remain at home unless there is an emergency.

"Crews are out clearing roadways as we speak, but the fact is we are going to feel the impact of this storm for some time," Malloy said. "The longer we can keep traffic out of town centers and off of our highways, the more effective our recovery effort will be."

Cheshire schools have not yet made a decision on whether they will open Monday and that decision will be based heavily on clean-up efforts Sunday. Stay tuned with Cheshire Patch for updates.

UPDATED: Saturday, 3:47 p.m.

There's some good news to report on the clean-up and recovery front. According to Connecticut Light & Power, electricity has been restored to all but 48 customers in the community as of 3:40 p.m.

Furthermore, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced this afternoon that the ban will be lifted at 4 p.m. Residents are, however, cautioned to use the roads in a limited way as many stores remain closed and work is still being done.

"While we are lifting the ban on travel this afternoon at 4 p.m., I still want to urge residents to stay off the roads if at all possible," said Malloy said. "Crews are out clearing roadways as we speak, but the fact is we are going to feel the impact of this storm for some time. The longer we can keep traffic out of town centers and off of our highways, the more effective our recovery effort will be."

ORIGINAL STORY
The town was battered with more than 26 inches of snow Friday into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, with snow drifts measuring greater than four feet in some places, and roughly one percent of the community is without power, according to the latest from Connecticut Light & Power.

According to CL&P data, Cheshire has 179 customers without power, representing just over one percent of the community. The company is attempting to restore power as quickly as possible, but some areas may not be accesible to crews during the next 24 hours.

Officials said Saturday morning that staff with the Cheshire Public Works Department are continuing to clear main roads and address emergency needs, and it could be 24 hours before some parts of town are able to see their roads cleared.

The good news - there are no serious injuries to report related to the storm. Emergency responders have been busy handling spin-outs, minor accidents, disabled vehicles and carbon monoxide calls since the storm began, however, dispatchers with the Cheshire Police Department said.

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The most important thing residents can do is to clear their heating vents of snow to make sure there is no issue involving carbon monoxide. In both Cheshire and nearby Southington, carbon monoxide issues have made up the majority of emergency calls, officials said.

"The largest number of calls we've received, and the biggest safety hazard, is related to homes affected by carbon monoxide hazards," said Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback. "We are asking all residents to please address their heating vents first to prevent issues."

Residents should also exercise caution and avoid going out unless there is an immediate emergency. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Saturday issued a travel ban statewide as officials look to dig towns out from the record-setting snowfall. Traveling will only serve to cause danger and impede clean-up efforts, he said.

While Cheshire has faired well given the accumulation, some others in the state are struggling with the impact of the storm.

CL&P is reporting that across the state, 37,493 customers are without power this morning, with the southwest corner suffering the most damage. Old Lyme, Lyme and North Stonington each have more than 70 percent outages and both Waterford and Stonington are reporting outages in excess of 50 percent.

Multiple residents this morning have reported damages to their property as a result of the blanket of snow that came Friday into this morning.

Some town property, such as the Cheshire pool bubble, have also suffered damage, local officials said. Residents reported the bubble has fully collapsed - a tip confirmed with police.

Other notes...
Snow removal can be extremely difficult, especially for those without snowblowers. Take a look at our tips to avoid problems and injuries as you dig out...

Have an emergency? Call 911 to get help. That's what the Cheshire Police Department is there for, but for all non-emergency calls, contact the department at (203) 271-5500.

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