Crime & Safety

Hurricane Sandy Destroys 7 Westport Homes, Floods 260 [UPDATE]

See a tree down in your neighborhood? Notice a road is flooded? Just saw a store clerk unload a pallet of fresh batteries? Please use this story on Westport Patch to help out your neighbors as we brave the storm together.

 

Update: Nov. 8, 10:30 a.m.

The Town of Westport informed FEMA that Hurricane Sandy flooded 260 homes, and destroyed seven homes, while tree damage affected 25 homes, according to the town's website. 

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Ways to Stay Connected to Westport's News 

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Update: Nov. 4, 9:53 a.m.

As of 9 a.m., 32 percent of Westport residents are currently without power, according to CL&P.

Update: Nov. 3, 4:45 p.m.

The number of Westport residents currently without power is down from 48 percent to 43 percent, according to CL&P.

Update: Nov. 3, 11:42 a.m.

The number of Westport residents currently without power is down from 60 percent to 48 percent, according to CL&P.

Update: Nov. 2, 7:00 p.m.

7,495 CL&P customers are still without power in Westport, which translates to about 60 percent of the town, according to CL&P's outage map

Update: Nov. 1, 6:00 p.m.

8,483 CL&P customers are still without power in Westport, which translates to about 68 percent of the town, according to CL&P's outage map

Update: Oct. 31, 12:30 p.m.

10,639 CL&P customers are still without power in Westport, which translates to about 86 percent of the town. 

Update: Oct. 30, 6 a.m.

According to Connecticut Light and Power, 83 percent of Westport is without power Tuesday morning — that's 10,285 homes.

Update: 6:55 p.m:

6,526, Connecticut Light and Power Customers in Westport were out of power as of 6:55 p.m. That represents about 52 percent of the CL&P 12,351 customers in Westport. 

Update: 4 p.m:

As of 4:00 p.m., nearly 1,200 CL&P customers in Westport were out of power. Also, if you're worried about road closures, check out this map of the roads that are closed in Westport.

Original story:

As we hunker down to ride out Hurricane Sandy, we want to make sure that Westport stays connected. For live updates during the storm, be sure to download our App for your smartphone or tablet and 'like' Westport Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

As you send us messages through social media, email (Christopher.Rueli), we’ll make sure the information is added here to this story in the comments and on the map found above. If you notice wires down or a tree across the road, please alert authorities and then let us know so we can spread the word quickly. You can comment right on this story to make sure readers know what’s going on in your neighborhood.

The affects of Irene are hard for us to forget and at times, water and batteries were scarce about town. You can share info about where to find these items and who has gotten the latest delivery by commenting here.

Westport Patch is all about connecting neighbors and helping neighbors so we hope you’ll find this information hub helpful as we brave the storm together. Stay safe Westport!

 

Helpful stories and links and tips:

Hurricane Sandy CT Live Blog

Tracking Sandy's Approach [UPDATED]

 

Connecticut Light and Power

Outage Map

To report an outage Connecticut Light and Power

Sheltering

Westport’s storm shelter is open at Long Lots School, 13 Hyde Lane. It is fully handicapped accessible. If you go to the shelter, you must bring:

  • A change of clothes
  • A sleeping bag or other bedding material, including a pillow
  • Any special medications or special dietary items
  • Reading material, games, playing cards or other diversions
  • A working flashlight with spare batteries
  • Identification papers, checkbooks, cash, credit cards

You can bring your pets to the Long Lots shelter. The shelter will take in pets and hold them in a secure area, but your pets cannot stay alongside you in the shelter. If you bring a pet you must also bring:

  • A secure pet carrier the right size for your animal
  •   A leash
  •   Food and medication you pet requires
  •  Any toys or blankets that will make your pet more comfortable

As I’m talking to you right now, I estimate the roads will remain passable for another hour, maybe, so go to the shelter now if that’s your choice. Only a fool would wait until the flooding and winds are at their peak to decide then to evacuate.

 

Dealing with power outages

Your home should be prepared for a multi-day loss of power. Have flashlights and batteries at the ready. Do not use candles or kerosene lanterns.

Report downed power lines to CL&P at 800-286-2000

If you have a portable generator, please pay attention to the following critical safety rules:

Run all generators outside your dwelling a minimum of 15 feet away.

Do not run them in a garage ever. Use heavy duty extension cords only.

Do not use light duty lamp cord or the cheap green cords we use for holiday lighting.

Plug only one appliance into each extension cord at a time. Check the extension cord for temperature- if it gets warm or hot to the touch disconnect it immediately.

Never refuel your generator while it’s running. Turn it off, gas it up, then re-start it.

Hopefully you’ve moved your car to safe high ground- the new haven bound side of the Westport train station, the commuter lot at exits 17 and 18, and the lot at the former Hillspoint school, 90 Hillspoint Ave. are all open for free parking for the duration of the storm.

 

Dealing with the flooding

As the waters rise, keep a weather eye out to ensure you do get trapped. Go to a high floor to escape; do not attempt to wade through flood waters to safety.

At the first sign of water entering your home, go to the fuse box or breaker panel in your home and turn off all the power- flip all the switches off and turn off the main also. If you have propane tanks, turn the main valve completely off on each tank.

Flood waters are frequently energized with electricity and pose a real electrocution hazard. They are also contaminated with sewage and bacteria. Do not enter floodwaters.

And remember that there are going to be multiple flood events with this storm.

Dealing with wind

Stay indoors away from windows. If a tree hits your house, call 911 and follow the same procedure to kill all the utilities in your home. Wind driven rain entering a home can short out wiring and cause a fire.

Do not go outside to inspect damage until the storm is over. Wind-damaged trees can hide snagged branches that fall without warning – hence their color nickname, ‘widow-makers’.

If falling branches rip the power lines off your home, turn off all the breakers and the main power switch and call CL&P at 800-286-2000.

 

Closures

Westport schools are closed Monday and Tuesday.

Town Hall has a skeleton crew and will close at noon today and be closed all day tomorrow. Those of you with last-minute property tax payments, please sit tight for now. The town is working on an accommodation for that payment deadline.

Access to the entire Westport shoreline has been closed, with police barriers at Hills point and greens farms road, compo road south at greens farms road, and Saugatuck avenue at duck pond road. Access if for emergency personnel only at this time. Residents who have, foolishly in my opinion, not evacuated by now are stuck where they are. If they leave, they may not be allowed back until the flood waters have receded.

Finally, for the most updated information go to the town’s web site: www.westportct.gov. At that site you can also sign up for twitter updates, and also if you have not already done so, sign up for the Code Red alerts.

Code Red alerts are phoned in to you several times during the day. If you haven’t been receiving them already, sign up at the town web site and you will start getting them today.

So, please – stay home, stay off the roads, be cautious and be observant. The entire town public safety and public works teams are ready and working as I speak- but once the winds exceed 50 mph gusts we must take shelter also.

 

Department of Emergency Management

The Westport Fire Department will be the center for emergency management. Residents with questions and non-life threatening emergencies should call the Town Emergency Information Line at 203-341-5000.



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