Fairfield Storm Updates

Storm
August 6, 2020
Some of you may be reading this by candlelight Abraham Lincoln style. As of this writing, 47% of the town is still without power. Earlier today, First Selectwoman Kupchick invited members of the state delegation to participate in the Emergency Operation Command meeting.

I appreciated the opportunity to hear directly about Fairfield’s recovery planning and to see our Fire, Police, Public Works, Human Services, Health and Recreation departments working together to keep us all safe and to advance the recovery efforts as quickly and efficiently as possible. These folks are working around the clock to assure the health and safety of our residents. Here are some of the important takeaways.

  • 287 streets in town remain partially blocked, with over 60 still fully blocked. This means there are homes people are unable to leave and first responders are not able to reach. These are priority jobs. Crews were able to clear approximately 30 of those fully blocked streets today.
  • UI has had 7-8 crews in Fairfield today, which means 14 trucks. This is a combination of make-safe and restoration efforts. Additional crews were slated to be redeployed to Fairfield this evening. Critical to the response are the make-safe crews, as the clean-up is necessary before the restoration can begin. Our First Selectwoman has asked UI for an additional designated make-safe crew.
  • DPW and Tree Warden Jeff Minder are working hand in hand with UI. The UI representative noted that the level of detail and data provided by the town is assisting in efforts. Kudos to them for doing everything possible to speed up the work being done by UI.
  • Of the 267 outage events awaiting resolution, 143 are for single customers and another 42 are for 2-10 customers. This means 70%  of these 267 events involve 0-10 customers. Those same 185 events, the 70%, are for approximately 400 customers. These are the folks who are likely to be without power the longest, likely through Monday. The larger scale events take priority and those folks can expect power restoration by Saturday.
  • Speaking of priorities, the Town has designated certain facilities for priority restoration, focusing on some of our vulnerable populations for example. If there is anyone with a medical situation that is critical, please reach out to the police non-emergency 203-254-4800 line and make them aware. Some of you have contacted me, and I have and will continue to pass that information along.
  • Police Chief Lyddy cited concerns about traffic signals remaining out of service. His officers have exhausted every local resource for portable stop signs in CT and are now looking regionally. Remember that any intersection with a signal that is not working needs to be treated as a 4 way stop.
  • Fairfield Police are adding the closed roadways to Waze so that residents have an idea of what to avoid as we await clean-up.
  • The Fairfield Police have set up a Command Post at Old Navy on Black Rock Turnpike with water and charging stations. Additional charging stations are available at all of our Fire Departments, the Police Department lobby, the Bigelow Senior Center and Black Rock Congregational Church
  • Fairfield Parks & Rec is open for showers by appointment from 5:30 am – 9:30pm weekdays and 7-5 this weekend. Call (203) 256-3191 for a warm shower. Showers will be cleaned between each use to comply with COVID guidelines.
  • Altice, which is the parent company for Optimum, told me today that they have opened up all of their wifi spots. I have asked that a map be shared with the town so that people can be aware of where they might get wifi access. The First Selectwoman, myself and other members of the delegation have spoken with Altice today. As explained in this CT Post article, though your power may be back, internet service may still be interrupted until power has been restored to their servicing facilities.
  • Officials are saying that the extent of the damage from Isaias is the second worst on record, topping even Sandy and Irene. Only the 2011 Nor’easter was worse in terms of the number of outages.
  • The Governor has requested that PURA open an investigation into the utilities’ response efforts and my colleagues in the legislature, Rep. Arconti and Sen. Needleman, co-chairs of the Energy Committee, will launch an investigation via hearing by the legislature.

2020 continues to be the most challenging year we have faced together. Nerves are frayed and the extreme frustration of being without power when trying to stay cool, work from home, take care of a sick loved one or just not have one more thing to deal with on top of COVID feels like just too much.

Know that there are many people here in town doing everything possible to help get you back in service. Many thanks to our police, fire, public works, and all of the town employees along with the line workers out on the road. I will share information as I receive it and continue to push for all available resources for our community. Please stay safe and continue to exercise caution on the roadway and around downed wires.