With Power Down Until Midnight Wednesday, Westport Shelter Opens

Connecticut Light & Power Company now estimates 99 percent of Westport will have power restored by midnight Wednesday, First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff said in a news release today.

"This estimate is for service along our roadways," he said. "If you have a line down between the street and your home, the likelihood is that individual house services will not be repaired until the weekend."

Joseloff said the Westport Center for Senior Activities will remain open through the night tonight to accommodate those needing shelter. The Westport Weston Family Y has offered its showers to those who need them,.

CL&P informed Joseloff during a morning meeting at the Emergency Operations Center at Fire Headquarters that 49 line crews are now dedicated to Westport clean up and restoration as well as 16 tree crews over a 24-hour period.

"We are still clearing a couple of major roadways," Joseloff said. "And we are beginning to clear some of the secondary roads as well. People need to be reminded that our tree crews, both Westport's and those brought in by CL&P, cannot clear trees until the lines have been declared safe."

Joseloff said the utility crews are prioritizing schools and major roadways so classes can be resumed as soon as possible. He said a decision on school opening for Wednesday will be made by the Schools Superintendent later today.

"Clearly our talks with Governor Rell and state emergency management officials has resulted in a ramped up CL&P effort in Westport," Joseloff said in the release.

"We continue to ask for the patience of residents. They need to know that we are doing everything possible to get power back."

Homeowners who have suffered damage need to start compiling dollar estimates of the damage and preferably documenting them with photographs, the first selectman said.  Instructions on how and where to submit the estimates will be announced later.

Editor's Note: Thanks to Darien Patch Editor Cecelia Smith for the video from a CL&P press conference in Darien today.