CT Hearing About Irene Press Release

The Connecticut General Assembly

House Democrats

For IMMEDIATE Release Contact: Rose Ryan

September 15, 2011 (860) 240-8527

REP. LESSER SAYS LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS ABOUT IRENE START NEXT WEEK

Twitter, Facebook Accounts Set Up for

Those Unable to Attend Hartford Hearings

State Representative Matt Lesser (D-Durham, Middlefield, and Middletown) said that the legislature will begin holding hearings investigating the quality and effectiveness of Connecticut’s readiness and response to Tropical Storm Irene beginning next week.

Four committees of the General Assembly—Energy & Technology, Public Safety, Labor & Public Employees, and Planning & Development—will hold hearings on September 19^th and 26^th to hear from representatives and workers from electric, phone and internet companies, along with municipal officials and members of the general public.

"Lots of questions need to be answered about our preparedness for a storm," Rep. Lesser said. "While my hat is off to the heroic efforts of utility crews and our local response in Durham, Middletown and Middlefield, we were only hit by a tropical storm. If Irene had hurricane force winds, how bad would things have been? These hearings are a first step in taking a sober look at the utilities and our readiness."

Rep. Lesser, who sits on the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee, said that House Democrats have set up Facebook and Twitter accounts at http://www.facebook.com/pages/After-Irene-CT/262762473747233 and http://twitter.com/#!/AfterIreneCT to accept public comments and suggestions about experiences with the storm and the state’s readiness for and response to it.

“As far as I know, this is the first time the public has had the opportunity to submit official testimony using social media. It's a great way to make sure your voice is heard,” said Rep. Lesser.

On September 19th, the hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. with representatives of CL&P, UI and municipal utilities, followed by municipal representatives and officials from telephone, cable and wireless utility companies. The hearing will conclude at 4:30 p.m.

On September 26th, members of the public will have the opportunity to appear before the committees beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by union representatives and the electric utility companies. Members of the public will have an additional chance for comment before the hearing close that afternoon.

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State Representative Matt Lesser is serving his second term representing the 100th Assembly District of Durham, Middlefield, Rockfall and Middletown. He is Vice Chair of the state legislature’s Government Administration and Elections Committee.

Rose Ryan

Communications Coordinator

House Democrats

Connecticut General Assembly

Legislative Office Building

Room 5000

Hartford, CT 06106

(860) 240-8527

Rose.Ryan@cga.ct.gov

Help to Create an Accurate Power Restoration Map

The New Haven Register is investigating the effectiveness of how electric utility companies are responding to Hurricane Irene across the state. They have created a quick, simple survey, and are enlisting help from residents across the state in plotting a map which illustrates when and where power was restored throughout Connecticut after the storm turned the lights out.

The New Haven Register has asked media partners to publicize this to help get as complete of a response as possible. The Eye is thankful to the New Haven Register for linking us in on their Community Media Lab web page and we're happy to reciprocate by asking readers if they will take a quick minute to answer this survey.

Here is the survey

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/09/02/news/doc4e610caf914a9110888254.txt

To read more about the response thus far, click here for a very entertaining article in the Register about one man's "TWITTER TAKEDOWN" of the utility's storm power outage response.

From the Pencil: Rare Species Spotted in Middletown!

Some get power today. Some do not.

Storm Damage Brush Collection

City of Middletown Public Works Department

245 Dekoven Drive

Middletown, CT 06457

860-344-3407

www.cityofmiddletown.com

NEWS RELEASE

Storm Damage Brush Collection Guidelines

The City of Middletown Public Works crews will collect storm related brush curbside from all residences in Middletown. Brush can be placed neatly at the curb for collection. Crews will be collecting brush for the next couple weeks. Residents do not need to call for collection. Crews will be circulating through the City for automatic pickup.

Questions can be directed to the Public Works Department at 860-344-3407.

Irene Leaves a Trail of Downed Trees on Long Lane

Some images below of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irene at the Wadsworth-Kerste deBoer Arboretum along Long Lane. One neighbor said she'd counted 29 downed trees. The last four photos are from a property near the intersection of Pine and Wadsworth, about 500 meters east of the Arboretum. Some trees seem to have snapped midway up.

Waiting for Hurricane Irene

Being over prepared is always better than being under prepared. Today at Stop and Shop many shoppers were in a frenzy stocking up on items in preparation. As of 3:00pm today the store was out of propane; it is a good idea to call ahead to see if the store has gotten another delivery. Not to insight panic, but as you can see in the photos of the beverage isle , and the paper products isle, bottled water and paper towels are particularly popular items.

This afternoon I plan to curl up and finish reading "The Great Hurricane of 1938" by Cheri Burns which I have found to be a phenomenal read taking the reader thru an hour by hour account of the hurricane that devastated New England and killed nearly 700 residents on September 20th of 1938.What I really like about this specific book as opposed to the few others arecalling the event, is that Burns includes a bibliography of all the

direct quotes she took from newspaper accounts of the day.

I blogged about my grandfather's recollection of the hurricane last year before Hurricane Earl: http://middletowneyenews.blogspot.com/2010/09/sohow-about-that-hurricane-earl.html.He recalls the jubilation when a chicken truck tipped over on Court Street scattering poultry which found their way to many hungry residents' dinner tables as a result.

Will Irene be a hundred year storm? Let's hope not. Be safe.

Emergency Shelter getting ready to open

From Louis Carta: The Emergency Shelter at Middletown High School, located on LaRosa Lane off of Newfield Street (Route 3), is scheduled to open Saturday night at 8:00 PM. Any questions on the shelter or the city's response to Hurricane Irene can be directed to Louis Carta of the City of Middletown Health Department. Mr. Carta can be reached by telephone at (860) 398-1824.

Storm's A' Comin'

Someone asked me today if I am prepared for the expected hurricane and if I have my emergency kit ready. I was about to say, well, I know right where my wind-up flashlight is and I think there are a few beers in my fridge, how's that for prepared? And my spouse jumped in saying, "We used up all our emergency supplies in the earthquake." His sarcasm highlighted the idea that it just seems so unlikely that any natural disaster could hit us here in Middletown and have us really pulling out those kits. There is sometimes a fine line between confident preparedness and falling for the hype, working yourself up into a ball of anxiety about "what if." I do my best to strike a healthy balance, and feel like I'm not too concerned about it, and will deal with whatever I need to at the time if anything happens.

The City of Middletown does have something official to say about it. Their statement is below:

Contact: Louis Carta

Phone: 860- 344-3482

August 25, 2011

Cell: 860-398-1824

CITY READIES FOR HURRICANE

Planning Underway To Respond To Storm Damage

Middletown — Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said that the city is gearing up to deal with the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene in the next few days.

The Mayor reported that his office has been working with emergency management services, police, fire, health and other departments on ways to respond to any potential problems that may arise from the storm and its remnants. However, Giuliano suggested that residents take the advice of the American Red Cross and begin making their own storm-preparation plans.

The Red Cross recommends the following

• Have a three-day supply of water for every household member (one gallon per person, per day) on-hand along with food which doesn’t require refrigeration, flashlights, a battery-operated radio and a first aid kit.

• Have several days of any prescriptions that you or family members are taking.

• Have extra food and medications for pets.

• Bring items inside which may be carried by the wind.

• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings as the storm approaches so that food will last longer if the power goes out.

• Fill your vehicles gas tank.

• Close windows, doors and shutters during high winds. Consider boarding windows and doors with plywood.

The police and fire departments warned residents to avoid coming in contact with downed power lines.

Residents affected by the storm are asked not to call 911 unless there is a police, fire, or medical emergency or are in eminent danger.

Mayor Giuliano said that additional information, including possible shelter openings, will be forth-coming and available through the media as well as on the city’s website @

www.cityofmiddletown.com