03/31/10 Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei Says No To Accountability

To The Editor,

The last two emergency "responses" I've witnessed in Greenwich have been far from what could be called managed.

The major flooding of April 2007 foreshadowed this event. During both weather events, many people were driving in harm's way as a result of not having timely information on what roads were already known to officials to be impassible. People were left to fend for themselves in sometimes dire circumstances.

If the town claims to be doing its emergency preparedness planning, yet the actual plan is claimed to be exempt from public review, there is no accountability or proof that the public is getting any meaningful results from that planning or the $150,000-plus contractor expense. Nor is there any opportunity for the public responders (who will always be the front line) to find the obvious flaws in the plans, offer suggestions to improve upon them, or know how to do their part to implement them.

A relatively small disaster occurred this month with rain and a hurricane-force windstorm. No organized re-routing of traffic was in effect, not even spray-painted signs indicating which thoroughfares were still open to traffic; no organized shelter was available; and no news hubs were staffed and open in each community.

The blocked-road signage should have been updated with every police shift. No information was made available on where to visit or tune a radio for very local news, including who, or how, to call for food or emergency shelter, not to mention showers and meals for the displaced or elderly and frail. (How many home health nurses were scheduled to visit clients requiring oxygen or electricity and were informed of how to navigate around the backcountry obstacles?) Calls to 911 were going unanswered even for those who still had phone service.

A dangerous 12,000-volt power line was left to lie (and dance) on the Post Road in Cos Cob, arcing and burning bright for several hours Saturday. A falling tree broke one of three conductors. A 5-foot-diameter fireball effectively blinded drivers and necessitated closing the Post Road for hours. Why? Because no one could find a qualified Connecticut Light & Power employee to go a few blocks to the River Road Mianus River dam substation and pull a switch? This cable should also have been one of the first repairs to be made, yet it was left lying in the road for two days.

Old Greenwich roads were not marked as to which detour would actually reach the beach and driftway homes or the park. This resulted in hundreds of cars meandering, trial and error, though the back streets.

Many landed at the beach, where the gates were locked. Much of the Sunday and Monday traffic could have been avoided if a sign at the Old Greenwich Rotary had simply said BEACH CLOSED. Fire trucks were seen heading down unmarked and blocked roads only to discover they, too, could not get through and had to turn around in very tight quarters.

Many of the tree-blocked roads where electric lines were not involved could have been opened relatively easily by a firefighter or a resourceful (and skilled) citizen with a chain saw. Mason Street at Amogerone Crossway is an example.

Again, there was neither coordination nor leadership.

Stephen Whitaker

Greenwich

COMMENT:

Stephen Whitaker is Greenwich computer consultant who has requested a copy of the emergency plan twice, but was unsuccessful.

Town records show that the Greenwich Time requested a copy of the town's emergency operation plan, the town's playbook for dealing with various disasters and emergency scenarios, through the Freedom of Information Act. The town denied the request, citing safety concerns.

The Town Has Argued That The Emergency Management Plan Motions Terrorism And Therefore Should Be Exempt From The Greenwich Time's Freedom Of Information Request.

Any So-called "Sensitive Greenwich Anti-Terrorism Plans" Could Be Redacted And The Storm Plans Could Be Turned Over To Stephen Whitaker And The Greenwich Time.

It Appears That The Only Sensitive Information In The Emergency Operation Plan Is Just How Unprepared Peter Tesei's Administration Is.

What Is Peter Tesei Hiding From The Taxpayers Of Greenwich?

How Are Greenwich Residents Supposed To Know If Peter Tesei Has Prepared Properly For Weather Emergencies?

First Selectman Peter Tesei Promised Greenwich Residents Open And Transparent Government.

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