MONROE, CT — Power outages from Tropical Storm Isaias have been whittled down to 59 percent, with 4,700 of Eversource’s Monroe customers still out Friday evening. First Selectman Ken Kellogg says there is a way to go for all of the town’s roads to be reopened and for electricity to be fully restored.
He is not happy with Eversource’s response and with, what he says is a lack of information.
“I understand, and share, the frustration of many residents and business owners regarding the Eversource response and relative lack of information they have provided their customers,” Kellogg said in a storm update issued Friday evening. “This scenario is being experienced by numerous towns throughout Connecticut.”
“I want to be very clear that I, and the entire emergency management team, have been in constant contact with Eversource and state officials,” he continued. “We have been emphatic that Eversource crews are needed urgently to clear the remaining blocked roadways and to fully restore power. The locations of blocked roads and priority restoration areas have been provided to Eversource numerous times, starting Tuesday evening and as recently as early this morning.”
Among the good news Kellogg reported is that about 2,000 Monroe customers had their power restored and an additional Eversource crew just arrived in Monroe to focus on road clearing.
“We have dispatched our town crews to assist and help expedite these efforts once Eversource makes the area safe,” he said.
At 6:25 p.m., the first selectman said power was restored to traffic signals at the intersections of Route 25 and the south end of Pepper Street, Route 25 and Route 59, and Route 25 and Clock Tower Square.
Though Eversource estimates global restoration for Connecticut should be complete by midnight on Tuesday, with many customers’ power being restored before that, Kellogg said there is still no specific time frame for Monroe.
He said town officials were told Eversource will provide town-by-town estimates later tonight.
Storm recovery numbers and resources:
Kellogg reminds residents to use the town dispatch center’s non-emergency number, 203-261-3622, to report storm related concerns, and only use 911 in an emergency.
- All our parks and the pool will remain closed until further notice.
- Water suitable for drinking is available from a hose at the Senior Center, Monroe Police Department in the vehicle bay area near the library, and at the fire stations on upper Main Street, Monroe Turnpike, and Jockey Hollow Road.
- Our charging stations remain available at the Town Hall Gazebo and, weather permitting, outside the library from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Bring your own lawn chair if desired. WiFi access is also available from outside the library building.The town will continue to post updates at www.MonroeCT.org/storm.
