News

Officials: Power in Town To Be ‘Substantially’ Restored by 11 p.m. Sunday

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Update 4:30 p.m. Friday

Emergency Management Director Mike Handler said in a 3 p.m. announcement Friday that through the Emergency Operations Center’s coordinated efforts of the town and Eversource, all of New Canaan now is accessible by vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances. “We still have approximately 100 roadways with known hazards,” Handler said. “Please do not move any barricades or caution tape. Currently 1,338 homes or 16 percent of town are without power. Eversource is now able to estimate that ‘substantially’ all power will be restored by 11 p.m. on Sunday.”

Here’s an interactive map that shows problem areas:

Original Article

New Canaan Public Schools will be closed Friday, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi said, as New Canaan continues to deal with dozens of road closures and downed wires, with no firm timetable for restoration.

Around Town

Power Slowly Returning in New Canaan; What’s Open & Closed

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—Gallery photos by Eden Neleman

Wet, heavy snow fell rapidly on New Canaan starting Wednesday afternoon, knockng down trees and power lines, causing outages and prompting emergency responders to close roads. New Canaan Public Schools will be closed again on Thursday, with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi citing very dangerous road conditions as a reason. New Canaan Library will open at 12 p.m. Metro-North Railroad service is suspended on the New Canaan branch. Emergency Management Director Mike Handler said late Wednesday that some 75 roads in town were blocked with trees and what should be assumed to be “live and dangerous” power lines. According to Eversource, outages in New Canaan jumped up to 35 percent or 2,965 homes as of 7:15 a.m. Thursday.

News

Emergency Management Director on AccuWeather’s False Tsunami Alert: ‘At No Time Was There Any Risk to New Canaan’

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The head of emergency management in New Canaan is decrying a false mobile alert this morning from the AccuWeather app that notified users of a “Tsunami Warning.”

Advances in science mean that severe weather events can be better predicted, and technology has improved communication and preparedness, according to Emergency Management Director Mike Handler. Yet “all of these efforts are undermined when the public loses trust in the chain of communication.”

“This morning’s event involved an 8:28 am AccuWeather Severe Weather Alert that was apparently released in error. After consulting with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, I learned that the National Weather Service conducted a proper test that included the appropriate indications that it was in fact a test. This test message was somehow picked up by Accuweather and pushed out via their notification app. At no time was there any risk to New Canaan and we continue to follow up with the State to fully understand what happened and to ensure that this type of error does not get repeated.

News

Letter: Former NCHS Principal Calls CT Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Handler ‘A Hidden Treasure’

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Dear Editor,

I was thrilled to learn that Mike Handler is running for Governor of Connecticut. Mike is a hidden treasure and a man of courage and vision. My experience in working with Mike is that he is a man who gets things done, and in a time when people trip over one another to receive accolades, Mike is only interested in getting things done. He has served both Democratic and Republican administrations and has demonstrated a unique ability to rise above partisan politics and petty interests. Mike has proven success in both business and government and will bring a sorely needed professional acumen and problem solving ability to the citizens of Connecticut.

Around Town

Power Restored To 1,000 New Canaan Homes [UPDATE]

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Update 9:30 a.m. Friday

Here’s a list, updated as of early Friday, of road hazards and closures in New Canaan, as per the New Canaan Police Department. Just 62 New Canaan homes now are without power, according to Eversource.  

Update 6:39 p.m. Thursday

New Canaan’s director of emergency management, Mike Handler, said that five town roads remain completely blocked with downed trees and electrical wires—Dan’s Highway, Frogtown Road, Weed Street, Indian Waters Drive and Hemlock Hill Road—and that more than 20 are partially blocked (see table below). As of 6:40 p.m. Thursday, 1,123 New Canaan homes—about 13 percent of Eversource customers in town, utility said—were without power. “The substantial increase in reported outages is due to new damage to power lines in the Oenoke Lane and Dunning Road area,” Handler said in a bulletin that also was distributed by robocall.