Town Crews Have 141 Miles of Roads to Clear of Storm Debris

Town officials have been swamped with calls from residents complaining about downed trees and branches in their neighborhood since heavy snow made a mess of the roads last Saturday. Police Capt. Michael Flick, the town's deputy emergency management director, says public works crews and volunteer firefighters have been on their own since the storm.

"The DPW is working diligently to open roads," Flick said Friday. "Priority one is opening roads for emergency vehicles. We have 141 miles of roads and almost all have been an issue. DPW is doing the best they can with no mutual aid."

The Monroe Police Department has identified potential hazards for the DPW and Connecticut Light & Power crews. At one point, over 90 percent of the town was without power. By Friday morning, the estimate had fallen to 27 percent.

The city of Bridgeport under the director of Mayor Bill Finch and Administrative Officer Andrew Nunn, a former Monroe first selectman, have agreed to send trucks to town for a major clean up effort next week.

Flick said the October snowstorm is worse than Tropical Storm Irene, because there is even more damage from downed trees and wires.

"Unlike Irene, when it took two hours for a crew to restore power at a location, it's now taking eight hours because the damage is that much greater," he said.

The downed wires have also been slowing down Monroe DPW crews' clean up efforts, because they often cannot touch trees that are tangled up with it, according to Flick.

Monroe Emergency Management Dir. David York also warns residents to stay away from downed wires, which may be live.

On Friday, CL&P said there were 13 line crews and 13 tree crews in Monroe.

However, the power company merely assessed Monroe's situation for the first two days of the power outages before sending in crews to make repairs, a decision that has drawn the ire of First Selectman Steve Vavrek and State Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-112).

Flick said there are some Connecticut towns that did not receive power company trucks nor any assistance from the Connecticut Department of Transportation yet, and that some communities still have 90 percent without power.

"Thank God we're not Avon and Farmington who went five days without CL&P or DOT assistance," he said. "That certainly doesn't mean we're backing CL&P in their response. I'm not happy with their initial response and that will be taken up when this crisis is over."

York said CL&P's communications have been overwhelmed, so the town encourages residents who see power nearby but do not have power themselves to report the outages to the Monroe Police Department by calling (203) 261-3622.

Flick said, "Police will contact the town liaison for CL&P to help expedite their power getting turned back on."

A number of residents have complained about not seeing power company crews as they drive through town. Flick said this is because there are 141 miles of roads in town and most of Monroe's primary power lines do not run along main roads. The majority of the work is being done on back roads, according to Flick.

A State of Emergency

First Selectman Steve Vavrek said that both Gov. Dan Malloy and President Barack Obama declared Connecticut to be in a state of emergency.

"I can't ask more for people to be patient and understanding," Vavrek said. "The clean up will begin in earnest next week."

Due to limitations in staffing and machinery, the first selectman said the town is getting help from Bridgeport and is also seeking assistance from other towns.

"The DPW is on top of their game, but full restoration is the goal this week," Vavrek said. "Kudos to our volunteer firefighters and EMS, whose help has gone above and beyond expectations."

Vavrek also praised volunteers, those who made food donations, and police who assessed the storm damage throughout the town to identity priorities.

The Board of Education and the Registrars of Voters worked well together to ensure that schools will be open on Monday and polls will be open for the municipal election on Tuesday. If that did not happen, Vavrek said town registrars had a back-up plan.

Flick said the Monroe Senior Center, which is still being used as an emergency shelter, currently has one volunteer with assistance from Board of Education custodial staff.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency delivered blankets for the shelter this afternoon and it has kept the Monroe Food Pantry and the senior center stocked with MREs, which are meals ready to eat.

Flick said the MREs have high sodium content, but added that regular meals are also being cooked at the senior center and that businesses are either donating food or selling it to the town at significant discounts.

Of the MREs, Flick said, "Anyone who needs them can call the police department."

Bottled drinking water from FEMA is also available at the Monroe Senior Center.

Hazards Still Out There

High winds are expected this weekend, and Flick said this poses a danger of loose trees and limbs coming down.

Vavrek agrees that it will be unsafe to walk outside at night. That is why he discourages children from trick or treating. Rather, he's hoping families come to Trunk or Treat, which will be held in Wolfe Park's main parking lot this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.

People will decorate the trunks of their cars for Halloween and fill the trunks with candy for children wearing costumes. Vavrek said businesses such as McDonald's will participate.

"It will be as good as we make it," he said.