Community Corner

Town Littlered With Fallen Trees, Downed Wires After Heavy October Snow

Mayor: Power could be out for two weeks.

As a major snowstorm pounded the town, residents could just wander around their neighborhoods as the eerie sound of cracking and falling tree branches filled the night.

And when the sun came out Sunday morning, they all awoke to a town that was moving slowly at best and was arguably paralyzed.

Mayor Jason McCoy said that 215 power lines were down, which knocked out most of the power in town. Crews were working feverishly to remove fallen trees. Meanwhile, navigating the town has been a maze, particularly older subdivisions that have mature trees.

One major artery for emergency vehicles - Center Road - had a large tree across it. Four times between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, emergency vehicles had to then around and head to Hartford Turnpike.

Roads were slowly being opened as the day progressed on Sunday.

McCoy said it could take two weeks to restore power fully to the town. More than 800,000 residents were powerless in the state,

"CL&P has been concentrating on safety, which is the right thing to do, but that is holding back on its ability to restore power." McCoy urged residents not go near wires buried under the snow.

The town opened its emergency shelter at Vernon Center Middle School on Saturday and McCoy said anyone just needing a hot meal can show up.

AT&T had several towers out and Internet and photo service was shallow at best and in most cases not working. Verizon was working most of the day.

McCoy said he talked with Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway on Sunday and said school would likely not be in session on Monday.

One scary moment came at about 1:30 p.m. when a crew in an emergency vehicle was stuck on Taylor Street when a live wire fell on their truck. A CL&P crew rushed to the scene as they were trapped in the truck.


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