CL&P says its crews in the field have been hampered by snow clogged roads.
The company said 35,000 customers were still without power heading into Sunday.
As crews are dispatched to make specific repairs, the estimated restoration times for those repairs will be updated under the “My Outage Status” link at www.cl-p.com and at 800-286-2000. When those specific restoration estimates become available, CL&P will also be making periodic calls to update customers.
Archive for February 9th, 2013
CL&P says 35,000 still without power
Fairfield ‘Code Red:’ Snow-clearing progress
Following is the text of the 6 p.m. Saturday “Code Red” message sent to Fairfield residents by First Selectman Michael Tetreau:
This is First Selectman Mike Tetreau with a report from Fairfield’s Emergency Management team as of 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
It is now reported that Fairfield received 30 inches of snow causing drifts as high as 4-5 feet.
UI is now reporting some outages. In most cases, DPW has to clear the roads for the UI crews to get access to repair the lines. We are working very closely with UI to get power back to these residents as soon as possible.
The Governor has recently opened roads. However we are still asking residents to stay off the roads to allow our DPW crews to continue with clean up. If anyone does venture out, please realize that snow banks limit visibility especially at intersections. Keep an eye out for pedestrians walking in the roads also.
DPW is reporting that almost all of our main roads are clear. They are also reporting that approximately 75 percent of our side streets are clear. The road clearing progress is going slower than anticipated due to the large amounts of snow and the need for pay loaders to assist with clearing. We have 380 cul-de-sacs that will most likely not be fully cleared until Monday. We will provide updates on our progress tomorrow.
With temperatures dropping into single digits and wind chills reaching minus degrees, we are asking everyone one to stay home, stay warm and stay safe. We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and patience as we continue the road clearing activities.
Also, we are expecting rain and possibly more snow on Monday. This rain may cause excessive weight load on roofs especially flat roofs. Please take appropriate precautions if your roofs are heavily weighted with snow.
Please check in on your neighbors especially the elderly and those with special needs.
If you get out to shovel it would be a big help if you would clear snow away from any fire hydrants.
Please call 203-254-4899 for non emergencies and 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
And if you get a chance be sure to thank our DPW crews out on the road!
Thanks for your help and stay safe.
Forecast: Bitter cold tonight
Here’s the last details from the National Weather Service:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -5. North wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 31. Wind chill values as low as -2. North wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A slight chance of snow and freezing rain after 3am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 21. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday: Snow likely, possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet before 9am, then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 44. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: A chance of rain before midnight, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Shelton man dies while shoveling snow
From Shelton police:
On February 9, 2013 at approximately 4:00 AM Shelton Police, Shelton Fire and Shelton EMS responded to a residence on Darrin Dr for a medical emergency. Upon arrival a 49 year old male was found to be unconscious and not breathing. The male was pronounced dead on scene.
Preliminary investigation reveals the male was plowing his private driveway and his vehicle became stuck. It appears the male suffered a medical event while shoveling out the vehicle.
The male was located by a neighbor after his wife became alarmed he had not returned to their home. Roadways were nearly impassable and a snowmobile with a sled had to be used to help get the male to the ambulance.
The male will go to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
The name of the male is being withheld pending notification of family.
Travel ban imposed in Bridgeport
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy may have lifted the travel ban at 4 p.m. Saturday.
But Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch imposed a Bridgeport travel plan starting at 4 p.m.
Press release:
As of 4 p.m. today (Saturday) Mayor Bill Finch has ordered a local travel ban into effect for all City streets.
“While the Governor has lifted his travel ban, we are still working hard to clear main arteries and snow emergency streets leading to our hospitals and fire stations. We need drivers to stay off the roads and allow our snow plowing crews to do their work,” said Mayor Finch.
According to Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr., those who do choose to venture out will be subject to fines and towing for attempting to travel on city streets that have not been cleared.
The Snow Emergency Parking Ban remains in effect until further notice. Plow crews are concentrating on clearing major roads and snow emergency streets leading to city hospitals, fire stations and other critical infrastructure areas. As those areas are cleared, crews will move on to secondary roads.
“We are asking everyone to have patience and to stay inside until snow plows can make their way down City streets. Private contractors are supplementing city crews in clearing roads, and towing stranded first responder vehicles and abandoned cars.
Mayor Finch put out a call to private contractors and to leaders in other towns, which were not hit as hard to assist the City with its snow removal efforts by sending heavy equipment and operators. He also asked anyone who would like to volunteer the use of a snowmobile or ATV to assist first responders too call the City’s Emergency Operations Center at 203.579.3829.
The historic blizzard dumped an estimated 30 inches of snow in Bridgeport.
Mayor Finch urged people to stay inside and to help their neighbors. “I’ve already heard stories of city residents bringing stranded people into their homes for shelter at the height of the storm,” he said. “This morning, emergency workers found a man collapsed in the snow and brought him into a nearby house as public works cleared a path for an AMR vehicle to get him to the hospital.”
“People only need to look out their windows to see the magnitude of this storm,” Finch said. “We have a plan in motion with realistic expectations, but digging out will take time. Be patient. Be kind to your neighbors.”
Oxford hit hard by storm
“Nemo has not been kind to Oxford,” First Selectman George Temple said in a robo call sent to residents Saturday afternoon.
The town received one of the highest snowfall totals in the state – 36 inches.
This road in Oxford has more than three feet of snow. It remained unplowed late Saturday afternoon.
Many roads have not been plowed because of deep snow and mechanical breakdowns of trucks. Temple also said one plows became stuck in snow.
Major roadways have been plowed, by most roads remain untouched. In an emergency order, he asked that residents do not drive.
Temple said “all roads will be open by midnight” Saturday.
He said there was some good news: there were no power outages in Oxford.
“And remember, the first day of spring is forty days away.”
I like snow, but …
Since my neighbors and I have yet to see a plow come through our Black Rock neighborhood in Bridgeport, it seems to have inspired less of a get up-and-go and more of a stay in-and-wait attitude when it comes to storm cleanup. I, however, did try to unearth my car from what had to be, in some places, four-and-a-half-foot drifts.
I’m proud, but sore at the moment, and a little bit defeated that my nearly three-hour shoveling effort really didn’t amount to a whole lot when I look at the bigger picture. Still, I gave my car some breathing room, and perhaps have inspired a few others to pick up a shovel and clear their sidewalks. We’ll see.
Here’s the before and after. Take that, Storm Nemo!
