Dozens Of Roads Reopened But More To Go In Greenwich: Police

GREENWICH, CT — As of Friday morning, 60 of the 134 blocked roads in town had been reopened following Tropical Storm Isaias' path through Greenwich earlier this week, according to police.

In an update, police said several power company crews will be working throughout town Friday, as well as "storm teams" comprised of town power and tree personnel. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"Their priority is to open any roadway from trees and wires," police said on Facebook. "There are still many 100 percent blockages."

Police said high priority blockages, such as ones on cul-de-sacs, will be attended to first.

The following major roadways are still obstructed as of 11 a.m. Friday, according to police:

• Lake Avenue is one lane in area of North Maple Avenue.
• Taconic Road is one lane in area of Farms Rd
• Upper Cross Road in area of 74
• Pecksland Road in area of 75
• Old Mill Road in area of 142
• Porchuck Road in the area 69

A complete list of roads closed can be found here.

Police said tree damage in Greenwich is "extensive" following the storm, and the scale of the damage to public utilities in town is "widespread, complex and requires a highly coordinated and technical response."

Town departments are currently working with utility crews provided by Eversource on restoration efforts, according to police. According to the company's outage map, over 7,500 Greenwich residents are still without power as of 1:30 p.m. Friday.

"The town has no control over the number of assets supplied by the public utility companies, or how long they will be available to Greenwich," police said in a statement. "The town's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is in contact with Eversource and the other public utilities providing input on priorities and status updates. The town of Greenwich will continue to operate with all its critical departments and divisions fully engaged in restoring the community to a sense of normalcy."

The damage caused by the storm was deemed significant enough that First Selectman Fred Camillo declared a local state of emergency Tuesday evening as the town worked to clear hazards from the town's roads.

Police said Wednesday all outages should be reported directly to Eversource at eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000. If a traffic signal is out, residents are asked to treat them as stop signs and proceed with caution, and service will be restored to them as quickly as possible, according to police.

Blocked roads can also be reported to the town's public safety general dispatch number at 203-622-8004.

Department of Public Works

Storm Debris- Please remember the town will clean up downed town trees in the right of way. Please do not put your own private property trees/branches or other debris out in the street or right of way – it will not be picked up and may endanger recovery efforts.

If your private refuse hauler cannot get to your residence for your debris; organic material - like spoiled food – should first be transported to the town transfer station on Holly Hill Road. You may need to hang on to your other storm debris on your parcel for some time until your hauler can come remove it. The town's transfer station does have a limit on what it can handle.

Town DPW priorities are oriented to health and safety, as well as focus on Greenwich Hospital, the Nathaniel Witherell nursing home, police and fire facilities, residences for the elderly and the wastewater collection system infrastructure (i.e. pump stations, low pressure sewer neighborhoods and the treatment plant).

From a traffic standpoint, the town focuses on opening major north/south and east/west arteries to facilitate both emergency and repair/cleanup response. Road opening is often a fluid process – the road may be cleared and open but may then be closed later for a time to reset utility poles or allow additional cleanup.

Greenwich Fire Department

Non-potable water will be available at the following town fire stations for residents who need it to flush toilets:

• Round Hill Fire House at 166 Old Mill Road, Greenwich – Hose is located on the parking lot side of the building.
• Banksville Fire House at 33 Bedford- Banksville Road, Banksville- Hose is located in the rear by the back door.
• North Street Fire House at 669 north street, Greenwich- Hose in front of the building.
• Glenville Fire House at 266 Glenville Road, Greenwich- Hose is located on the front ramp.
• Cos Cob Fire House at 200 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich- Hose is located to the rear.

The water is self-service, and residents will need to bring your own containers.

Fire Hydrants- Fire hydrants are essential to fire suppression active fires. Fire Hydrants need to be cleared in a 3-foot radius. Please do not place debris near these hydrants.

Generators- Improperly installed electrical generators can create a hazard. A licensed electrician should perform all work on your home's electrical system. Generator back-feeding can result in death or injury to yourself or utility work. Back-feeding is the tying of a portable generator directly to your home's electrical panel/ outlet instead of using a transfer switch.

Fire Alarms- If your home or business has a hard-wired fire alarm, the battery backup needs to be checked. A prolonged power outage can drain the battery.

Town of Greenwich Department of Health

During power outages, the department recommends:

• Unplug your appliances
• Generators should be used with caution. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and NEVER operate a generator indoors. DO NOT supply generator power to your home's mainline as you may injure a utility employee. Be aware of the cords used with the generator and the location of pooled water at all times.
• Conserve fuel and water. A few large containers can be filled with warm water for an emergency supply.
• Observe health precautions when issued.
• Do not use charcoal grills indoors or gas stoves as a source of heat. Either one can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Fireplaces may be used as long as they are properly vented.
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. With the door closed, fully stacked freezers will keep for two days, while half-full freezers will keep food for one day. Dry ice can be used safely in freezers; however, gloves must be worn in handling and proceed as recommended.
• All thawed food may be cooked if maintained below 45o; otherwise, it should be discarded. It is not recommended to refreeze any food once it has thawed.
• Refrigerated food, especially perishable items such as eggs, milk, fish, meat, and poultry, should be maintained at 45 degrees or below. Foods should be cooked or discarded after three hours of not being maintained at proper temperatures. All stuffed meats and poultry should be discarded. Any doubt concerning food items, discard or contact the Division of Environmental Health at 203-987-1001, to discuss certain situations.

Greenwich Police Department

The police department continues to deploy extra officers to help in the recovery response. The standard operating level of officers has remained the same and will answer all calls for service without an issue. The added officers are assigned to the utility and public works crews to provide a safe work zone to open the road and restore power.

Further information can be found on the department's Facebook page. Patch's live updates of Tuesday's storm can be found here.