After a Long Week, Power Returns to Bethwood

Monday Morning Update

For almost all residents of Bethany and Woodbridge, the lights are back on this morning.

Both United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power promised to restore power to 95% by midnight Monday. And as of Sunday night, they have nearly met that goal locally. Just over 5% of Woodbridge and less than 1% of Bethany are without power.

It's been a busy week for volunteers at the Woodbridge Emergency Shelter at the Center Building. One of the central spots for residents displaced by power outages, the shelter put up between 14 and 20 residents on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but have seen fewer since.

"Basically, we maintained this as a respite for those who are not able to stay in their own homes," said volunteer Jeff Axt. "The warmth, the protection -- some people who are elderly are a little fearful about their alarms and their clocks not working, and they can come here as a safe place."

Axt says by town mandate, the shelter will close when power has been fully restored to Woodbridge. As of Sunday night, it was remaining open for now. The shelter has hot meals, snacks, cots, fresh water and a lounge area with computers and chargers. 

All Amity schools will be in session Monday, November 5, and registrars of voters from Bethany and Woodbridge say all polling places have been cleared to go for Tuesday morning's national election. Bethany voters will vote at Town Hall; in Woodbridge, the Center Gymnasium.

But Connecticut is bracing for a possible nor'easter this week, maybe Wednesday. Patch will follow this potential storm and provide updates as we receive them.

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4:30 p.m. Friday

According to a release issued by Woodbridge first selectman Edward Maum Sheehy, UI officials have assured him they will restore power to 95% by midnight Monday.

The release:

I met with representatives of U.I., police and fire chiefs, and the directors of public works and human services this morning, November 2, 2012. At the meeting U.I. informed us that 34% of Woodbridge residents are without power which is down from 48% yesterday.

 U.I. has seven crews working to restore power (in Woodbridge), one worksafe crew, and two tree removal crews. U.I. expects that power restoration for the entire U.I. territory will be at 95% at midnight Monday, November 5th. The Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department has worked with public works, the police, and U.I. continuously since Monday to make our town roads safe and passable, and to assist residents in need.

 The shelter located at the Senior Center, 4 Meetinghouse Lane, will remain open overnight and will stay open as needed. The shelter provides cell phone and computer recharging, water, food, and lodging. Water is also available from outside spigots on the Police Dept. side and library side of the center building for public use.

 Bottled water and bulk water is also available for Woodbridge residents from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. tonight at the Fire House on Center Road. The Woodbridge Recreation Center will be open at beecher road school on Saturday, November 3rd, and Sunday, November 4th from 8:00 a.m. To 6:00 p.m. For showers. The pool will be open – free-of-charge - from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. On both days. On Saturday, the Red Cross will be at Beecher Road School, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon to distribute personal comfort kits. These kits include shampoo, soap, deodorant and toothpaste. Showers are also available at the Jewish Community Center, 360 Amity Road.

The library has extended its hours from 8:00 a.m. To 6:00 p.m. today and Saturday. The transfer station is open and the town has waived brush fees. Anyone needing a free temporary permit for brush is encouraged to stop by the facilities office – located in the Center Building, 4 Meetinghouse Lane – to obtain one. Animal control will continue with normal hours and assist with shelter if needed.

We will have a further update tomorrow on power restoration. Any questions or concerns please contact the Woodbridge Police Department Emergency Operations Center at 203-387-2511 (ext. 27).

11:00 p.m. Thursday

At the end of Wednesday, UI reports 64% of Woodbridge has power. Connecticut Light & Power reports 78% of Bethany has power.

But companies are encountering skepticism from some.

Governor Dannel Malloy has questioned the response by UI and CL&P and said that what he's heard from power companies does not line up with what he's heard from mayors and first selectmen.

“I have communicated to both companies, in blunt fashion, that I want them to do better than that," Malloy said about reports of power being restored Monday or Tuesday.

Bethwood residents have reported they're concerned by power companies' figures and a perceived lack of crews on the ground.

"Many residents are going on 4 days without power. I have yet to see a utility crew," wrote Patch reader Lisa about CL&P's response in an earlier edition of this timeline.

Additionally, power has been restored to Amity High School and the Middle School in Bethany (although power is still out in Orange's Middle School, according to reports from Thursday afternoon.)

9:00 p.m. Tuesday

The Woodbridge Fire Department hosted a packed Trunk or Treat event tonight, starting at 6 p.m., for residents of Woodbridge and surrounding towns. The quickly-organized event had been up in the air last night.

Power is starting to return across Bethany and Woodbridge, according to companies. UI reports a majority of Woodbridge -- 50.8% -- has power for the first time since Monday night. In Bethany, 67% are still without power.

3:00 p.m. Tuesday

Outage numbers are high but stable in Bethwood this afternoon. 67% in Woodbridge, 68% in Bethany.

1:00 p.m. Tuesday

Afternoon updates:

• Trunk-or-Treat will happen after all, at the Woodbridge Firehouse at 6 p.m.! Dinner will be served, hot dogs, hamburgers & more. Children can trick-or-treat from the fire trucks.
• The Woodbridge Town Library is still closed due to lack of power, according to Facebook and Twitter.
• According to a Woodbridge Fire Department post on Facebook: "Amity Rd to town line is open, Peck Hill is open. Just opened Rimmon & Lines. Center should be open later today."
• As of 1 p.m., power is out for 67% of Woodbridge and 68% of Bethany.

7:08 p.m. Tuesday

Classes have been cancelled at all Amity schools tomorrow, according to reports. Two major blockages caused by downed trees / wires have been cleared -- at Center Road at Amity, and on Amity Road. Some roads are still blocked, according to the Woodbridge Police Department, and drivers should use caution if travelling tonight.

Power is still out for a majority of Bethany and Woodbridge residents, according to power companies. United Illuminating reports 62% of Woodbridge without power as of 7:03. In Bethany, Connecticut Light & Power reports 71%, or more than 1,600 meters, are still in the dark.

1:40 p.m. Tuesday

Bethany officials decided to leave the planned emergency shelter at the Community School closed due to a lack of demand. MREs (meals ready to eat) are being distributed at Town Hall. For more information call 203-393-2799.

12:50 p.m. Tuesday

Amity Road is closed north of Seymour  Road. Also closed is Center Road in the area of Amity Road. 

Power outages remain widespread in Bethany (66 percent out) and Woodbridge (65 percent out)

8:30 a.m. Tuesday

Roads have been reopened, but nearly 2/3 of Woodbridge and over 90% of Bethany are without power this morning, according to power companies.

The travel bans Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered in the state yesterday are now lifted, effective immediately, according to a press release from the governor's office.

In Woodbridge, 2,230 -- or 61% of the town -- has no power. In Bethany, 2,153 customers -- 93% of the town -- has no power.

11:30 p.m.

Sandy may have been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, but that's little consolation for over half of Bethany and Woodbridge residents, still without power as the first day of the storm comes to a close.

As of 11:30 p.m., United Illuminating is reporting 2,215 Woodbridge customers -- or 60.5% -- without power. Connecticut Light & Power is reporting 1,569 customers in Bethany -- or 67% -- without power.

Heavy winds and and widespread outages are expected to persist throughout the night.

6:45 p.m. Monday

After 90% of Bethany and over 50% of Woodbridge lost power, lights are comibng back on now, but massive swaths of the region are still affected and more outages are not out of the question as Sandy rolls on.

According to UI, 37% are still without power in Woodbridge -- more than 1,300 customers. In Bethany, after Connecticut Light & Power reported 90% failures just half an hour ago, power has been restored (as of 6:45 p.m.) to all but 563 customers.

6:15 p.m. Monday

Connecticut Light & Power is reporting 90% of customers in Bethany are without power.

Here at Bethwood Patch, we'll keep updates coming as frequently as we are able to throughout the night.

Stay safe.

6:00 p.m. Monday

UI is reporting 54% of Woodbridge -- nearly 2,000 customers -- without power.

According to their web site, 1,988 customers have lost power. However, the number has fluctuated throughout the day.

Bethwood Patch will continue to update as new information becomes available.

4:22 p.m. Monday

UI has restored power to nearly 600 in Woodbridge, but 800 are still without power.

3:56 p.m. Monday

According to UI's web site, more than 1,000 in Woodbridge are without power.

UI is reporting 1,396 outages, or 38.14% of Woodbridge in the dark.

Additionall, CL&P is reporting 619 outages in Bethany.

1:25 p.m. Monday

As of now, all state highways in Bethany and Woodbridge are closed to non-emergency traffic.

The shelter in Woodbridge at the senior center is open and displaced residents are welcome.

Connecticut Light & Power is reporting 713 outages in Bethany. United Illuminating is reporting one outage in Woodbridge.

8:00 p.m. Sunday

Bethany Community School on Peck Road will serve as a shelter for Bethany. The shelter is planned to open Tuesday, according to the Bethany State Police Barracks.

2:41 p.m. Sunday

In preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, the Woodbridge Emergency Operations Centerlocated at the Woodbridge Police Department will open Monday morning, Oct. 29, 2012 at 7:00 a.m.  Police, Fire and Public Works will be monitoring the storm.  Questions or concerns will be addressed by the Woodbridge Police Department at (203) 387-2512 (ext. 27).

The Town of Woodbridge Emergency Shelter, located at the Woodbridge Senior Center, 4 Meetinghouse Lane, will be opening on Monday morning, Oct. 29, 2012 at 7:00 a.m.  Residents utilizing the emergency shelter are reminded to bring all medications that they may need during their stay. Refrigeration will be available at the shelter for those having medications requiring refrigeration.

Woodbridge Municipal Animal Control will be operating out of the old firehouse (at the corner of Newton Road and Center Road) beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, October 29, 2012.  Residents are asked NOT to use the Animal Shelter location at 135 Bradley Road.  Anyone with questions or needing additional information can contact the Woodbridge Police Department at 203-387-2511.

1:51 p.m. Sunday

according to Superintendent John Brady. He asked parents to stay tuned for further announcements on Tuesday as the school obtains damage and power outage information.

In case classes are cancelled beyond Tuesday, Patch will provide updates.

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Interested in Bethwood's news, events, community bulletins, blogs and businesses? Sign up for the free Bethwood Patch daily newsletter, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.