Schools

(Updated) Power Back on at RHS, Middle School Could be Back on the Grid in the Afternoon

VCMS could be on the grid by 5:30 p.m., officials said.

Updated 4:58 p.m., Oct. 31.

At 4:45 p.m., education and Emergency Management officials ere still hoping to have the remaining two schools back on the power grid before the end of the day.

Vernon Center Middle School was still the matter as the sun was beginning to set on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the town's economic development coordinator has alerted local businesses to a form they can fill out for damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy.

In a briefing on Wednesday morning, Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro offered an update:

• The power was back on at Rockville High School Wednesday morning.

• Tree and line crews were working on a transformer on Hartford turnpike near Meadowlark Road in an effort to restore power to that area of town - particularly Vernon Center Middle School - by Wednesday afternoon.

• The power was back on at Center Road School on Tuesday afternoon, but a wire remained on the sidewalk at the intersection of Center and Robin roads. Purcaro said Connecticut Light & Power was notified and the area, still without power despite it being loaded with students who walk to school, was made a priority. A local Department of Public Works crew secured the area while students were heading to school on Wednesday morning.

• An outage at the Fox Hill nursing facility is being investigated, Purcaro said.

• The Box Mountain communication tower, a hub for emergency and mutual aid messages, has been deemed a top priority. 
 
The damage assessment form for businesses is attached.

Completed forms can be sent to:

Shaun W. Gately
Economic Development Coordinator
Town of Vernon, Memorial Building
55 West Main St.
Vernon, CT. 06066-3291

Find out what's happening in Vernonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In a briefing at 4:45 on Wednesday afternoon, Purcaro said:

• The work on Hartford Turnpike was done, but power needed to be shut off from approximately 5 to 5:30 p.m. to set the system. That shoud take care of Vernon Center Middle School, he said. 

Find out what's happening in Vernonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

• A tree leaning on a wire at the intersection of Robin and Center roads still needed to be removed to clear the way for power in that neighborhood. 

• Crews were headed to the Fox Hill nursing facility.

• Crews were also headed to the Box Mountain communications tower.


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