[Updated] 83 Percent Without Power in Ridgefield, 86 Roads Totally Blocked

• All Ridgefield public schools have been cancelled throughout the week

Update, 10/31 10:20 p.m.: 64 percent of Ridgefield is without power

Update released at 12 PM, from the Office of the First Selectman:

We still have 86 roads completely blocked and approximately 30 partially blocked.  Our Highway Department is working to make those passable.  Currently 83% are still without power.  CL&P has assigned crews to begin restoration in the immediate downtown for senior housing and emergency services.   Here are our updates:

• For all tax-related questions, please call the Tax Collector’s office at 203-431-2779
• A list of closed roads will be available on our web site and we are publicizing it through media and social media. 
• The lower level of Town Hall is open for WiFi and charging.  Enter through the Bailey Avenue side door and use the lower conference room.
• Please do not run portable generators inside your home or your garages.  Follow all manufacturer’s directions and use a carbon monoxide detector in the location of the generator.  
• Many of you are not receiving the Everbridge message.   For those who are getting it, please share it with neighbors.  For those who have not received Everbridge, we are sending our messages out through the Board of Education ConnectED message delivery program. 
• Halloween has been postponed for tonight, Oct. 31, but plans are being made to reschedule.  
• Town Hall is open for limited business including voter registration and tax collection; however other town buildings still are without power.
• Parks and Recreation at 195 Danbury Road is now completely operational as a shelter and charging station.  WiFi is not available at this location.  Shelter users must bring non-perishable food, towels, personal care items including medication, and bedding.
• Schools and school-related activities are cancelled for the remainder of this week.
• The Recycling Center and Transfer Station will be open today and tomorrow from 7:30 to 3 PM with free brush collection for non-commercial residents only.
• Remember, it is still dangerous out there and many of the wires could be live.

• Potable water filling stations are set up at the Ridgefield Playhouse, Parks and Recreation, and Fire Station 2 on Old Stagecoach Road.  Please bring your own containers.

Again, we ask you to take the time to reach out and call your neighbor, check on each other, and please stay safe.  Call center numbers are 203-431-2348, 203-431-2350 or 203-431-2351.  Remember, for emergencies dial 911.                             

10:20 p.m: 90 percent of Ridgefield is without power

Released at 4 p.m. from the town of Ridgefield:

We are currently in the Make Safe phase of our recovery effort which means we assess and address the safety issues of our residents.   Please be patient.  One line and tree crew were working throughout Town today.  Additional CL&P line and tree crews were late in arriving, but thankfully they are here.  We are still in a very dangerous situation because when circuits become energized, it is possible that downed wires will become energized.   Our Town is at 93% without power.  We have 113 completely blocked roads and approximately 27 others compromised.

Here are our updates:

• Parks and Recreation at 195 Danbury Road is now completely operational as a shelter and charging station.
• Many of you are not receiving the Everbridge message or are receiving a busy signal due to heavy call volume.   For those who are getting it, please share it with neighbors.  For those who have not received Everbridge, we are sending our messages out through the Board of Education Blackboard Connect system also.  Again, please share the message.
• Halloween has been postponed for tomorrow night, Oct. 31, but plans are being made to reschedule.  
• Town Hall will be open tomorrow for limited business including voter registration and tax collection; however, other town buildings will still be without  power.
• Schools and school-related activities are cancelled tomorrow and for the balance of this week.
• The Recycling Center and Transfer Station will be open tomorrow from 7:30 to 3 pm with free brush collection for non-commercial residents only.
• Potable water filling stations are set up at the Ridgefield Playhouse, Parks and Recreation, and Fire Station 2 on Old Stagecoach Road.

Again, we ask you to take the time to reach out and call your neighbor, check on each other, and please stay safe.  Call center numbers are 203-431-2348, 431-2350 or 203-431-2351.  Remember, for emergencies dial 911.        

Update, 11:30 a.m, from Rudy Marconi:

A more detailed report will be available this afternoon, but we want to let you know that our Town has sustained incredible damage.  I am sure you have already looked out your window and see what we mean. At 9 pm last night there were trees with wires completely blocking Main Street.  This is a small snapshot of our Town. We urge you to stay at home while we continue to assess the damage.  Please—let the professionals do their work.  Making our Town safe is our very first priority.  It is still very dangerous out there.  

 • CL&P reports that we will have approximately 5 line and tree crews by noon today.  Don’t be surprised if you don’t see them; there is much work to be done all over town.  First priority is make safe and restoration of power to the elderly in nursing homes and to the Route 35 corridor. 

• Per Superintendent Deborah Low, Ridgefield schools and all school activities have been cancelled Wednesday, Thursday & Friday (October 31st through Nov. 2nd). Updates about schools will follow. 

• Parks and Rec remains on emergency power with limited services such as sitting, relaxing and social interaction.  Full power restoration is hopeful in the near future at which time electronic devices will be able to be powered. 

• Currently many people are out walking about town.  Please understand that as we begin to restore power, many of the downed lines can become energized, creating an extremely dangerous situation.  Please remain off the sidewalks and roads and away from all lines.   We have been fortunate not to experience fatalities and we want to keep it that way.  

 • The stock market is closed again today and Metro North has suspended train service.  In addition, the Tappan Zee and George Washington Bridges are closed.  This is a broader perspective of what we are experiencing.

 • The transmission line that came down last night has been restored, so restoring power to Parks & Rec is hopeful. 

• Our 100% power outage in town is completely due to Mother Nature. We ask you to take the time to reach out and call your neighbor, check on each other, and please stay safe.  Call center numbers are 203-431-2348, 431-2350 or 203-431-2351.  Remember, for emergencies dial 911.   

Update, 9:50 p.m: 100 percent of Ridgefield is without power.

Update, 8:30 pm: 94 percent of homes are without power in Ridgefield.

Update, 7:38 pm: 81 percent of homes in Ridgefield are without power

Update, 6:53 pm:

“Winds are expected increase to 65-70 MPH by 9 o’clock,” said First Selectman Rudi Marconi on a press teleconference.

“We called the Western Connecticut Weather Station and reports there said that we’ve seen winds of about 30 mph with gusts up to 52 mph,” said Marconi.

Marconi said that the highest winds are expected to hit by 9 p.m., a “ballpark” time. After 9 p.m. it should taper off, but Marconi warned it will be “an ever-slow diminishment of wind speeds, but it’s a long time coming.”

Emergency personnel are only assisting in life-or-death situations.

Additionally, a fire has broken out on Silver Spring Road. Main Street has gone black, possibly due to a blown transformer. 

“There are multiple outages, transformers blowing—it’s becoming hectic right now, but we’re in control,” said Marconi. 

4:46 p.m:  1143 homes (10 percent) without power

UPDATE, 3:41 p.m: 250 homes (2 percent) are without power in Ridgefield

UPDATE, 1:42 p.m. Notice from Town Hall:

"As the storm gets stronger, residents are urged to stay safe, stay put, and help your neighbors. Ridgefield has been prepared for the storm for several days with all emergency personnel in place.  

The height of the storm will be between 3 pm today and 3 am Tuesday morning with severe winds continuing.  However, this does not minimize any precautions that need to be taken during the 36-hour duration of this storm.  If communication becomes limited, rest assured that we are working around the clock to restore services. 

Residents in low-lying areas should be aware of flooding, particularly the areas from Stonehenge heading south on Route 7 to Branchville. Immediately take all political signs, outdoor furniture and decorations inside. CL&P is working with Fire and Police personnel for all 911 calls.  CL&P will not begin restoration efforts until winds die down below 40 mph which is not expected to occur until the storm passes through.  All residents are being urged to prepare for a worst case scenario.  Emergency preparation information can be found at www.ridgefieldct.org or www.ready.gov.  

All Ridgefield Public Schools are closed for Monday and Tuesday.

The following notices are from Ridgefield Town Hall:

• We ask residents to begin sheltering in place Sunday evening through at least Tuesday evening. For those who are elderly or unable to manage safely alone, the town shelter will be open beginning 5 pm on Sunday October 28. Phone volunteers will be available from 5 pm to 9 pm on Sunday, October 28 for further direction. The numbers to call are (203) 431-2348, (203) 431-2350, and (203) 431-2351.

• CL&P will have a line crew in town tonight to respond with fire and  police personnel for all 911 calls. CL&P will not begin restoration efforts until winds die down below 40 mph which is not expected to occur until the storm passes through. All residents are being urged to prepare for a worst case scenario. Emergency preparation information can be found at www.ridgefieldct.org or www.ready.gov.

• If your electricity should fail, please call CL&P at (800) 286-2000 to report the outage.

• The call center will be manned from 8 am until 8 pm beginning Monday, October 29. Numbers to call are: (203) 431-2348, (203) 431-2350, and (203) 431-2351. Our Everbridge notices will begin Sunday afternoon at approximately 3 pm. Go to www.ctalert.gov to sign up to receive messages or to manage your profile. Directions to update information can also be found on the Town website at www.ridgefieldct.org.

• We are urging all residents to check on neighbors and offer help. As always, call 911 for emergencies.

Other info:

Some Twitter hashtags to look for: #ctsandy, #Frankenstorm, #HurricaneSandy, #Sandy. 

The National Weather Service Hurricane Center page for Sandy includes maps on wind speed probability, precipitation probability, 5-day forecasts, and various other information related to this storm.

Weather forecast for Ridgefield

Tracking Sandy Patch article

Sign up for Connecticut Emergency Alerts for email and phone here

CL&P outage map

Google Crisis Map/Live Hurricane Tracker for Sandy