10/31/11 GREENWICH FIRST SELECTMAN'S REPORT: Winter Storm Press Release

Please see the attached.

Best,

Dustin Anderson
Town of Greenwich
p: (203) 622 7710
f: (203) 622 3793
www.greenwichct.org

(See attached file: Winter Storm 103111 1730.pdf)

P R E S S R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2011

5:30 p.m.

Peter J. Tesei

First Selectman

Town Hall- 101 Field Point Road - Greenwich, CT 06830

E-Mail: ptesei@greenwichct.org

www.twitter.com/GreenwichFirst

There are currently 3,665 Connecticut Light and Power customers in the Town of Greenwich without electrical service, down from approximate 4,023 at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. There are over 740,619 customers without power throughout the State, down from the 779,561 customers without power yesterday.

There is no current restoration schedule. Connecticut Light and Power are assessing the current scope of damages.

To report outages or check the status of an outage, visit www.cl-p.com or call 800-286-2000. Their automated phone and online systems can process your report and help them speed restoration efforts. For helpful tips and news updates, go to their website at www.cl-p.com, follow them on Twitter @CTLightandPower or visit them on www.Facebook.com. You can also get updates on outages in Town by texting “outage” and your zip code to 24612 (texting fees may apply).

Connecticut Light and Power has deployed 7 line crews and 3 tree crews to address the widespread damage to Greenwich residences. These crews work on 16 hour schedules. Today they worked to restore power to residents throughout Town. Tomorrow these crews will continue the work of power restoration throughout Greenwich.

For those residents who have found Connecticut Light and Power’s response to be insufficient to the task at hand, complaints can be made to the Public Utility Regulatory Agency (PURA) of the State of Connecticut. PURA complaints may be lodged via toll-free phone at 1 800 382 4586 or on-line at...

http://www.ct.gov/dpuc/cwp/view.asp?a=3352&q=404030

There are three (3) impassible roads currently in Town – Dekraft Road, Stag Lane and Cameron Drive.

Deputy Police Chief James Heavey is not advising against trick-or-treat activities within the Town of Greenwich tonight, but is advising that participants exercise additional caution. All participants should be wearing highly visible clothing (i.e. bright colors) with every individual possessing light reflective vests or belts, working flash lights, and/or chemical luminescent lights. Adults should provide close supervision of all children and use flashlights to check all footpaths and overhead areas. While all electrical wires are believed to have been mitigated, there is a remote possibility of downed power lines and therefore all downed wires should be given a wide berth and reported to 9-1-1. As an additional precaution trick-or-treaters should avoid dark houses and dark streets (i.e. areas without power). “Kids should be able to enjoy Halloween tonight as long as parents ensure that their children follow basic safety precautions and they provide close supervision,” Deputy Chief Heavey related. Extra officers will be on patrol during the evening in order to enhance pedestrian safety, he also noted. The Police Department is encouraging trick-or-treat participants, especially younger ones, to begin their activities in the afternoon and conclude before darkness.

Office of First Selectman (203) 622-7710 Fax (203) 622-3793

The Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center at 449 Pemberwick Road will be open for residents from 9:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. tomorrow. Here, residents can charge their electronic communication devices and find water and snacks. Additionally, the Greenwich Main Library will be open today from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the Byram and Cos Cob branches also operating during normally scheduled hours.

Remember that if you are using a vehicle or a generator to charge electronic devices, please use these outside. These devices should not be indoors. Having your garage door open is not sufficiently safe.

Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and deadly.

All down wires should be considered “live” and lethal.

As we all work to clean up in the aftermath of the hurricane, please assist the Town by refraining from placing your yard waste and storm debris in the right of way. The Department of Public Works will not remove debris from private property.

For additional information please contact Dan Warzoha, Emergency Management Director at 622 8003 (emoc@greenwichct.org).