School, What's Open, Water, Showers, Gas, Alarm Systems, Stop Lights

After having been dealt a stunning blow by Hurricane Irene, the town rallied quickly late Sunday and early Monday, providing information, water, showers, and even cell phone charging stations to town residents.

The response to the storm began even before the storm itself did, when town officials decided to put a town-owned generator at the Sunoco station on Boston Post Road in the center of downtown, to make sure gas was available if the power went out. The police department, fire departments, and emergency operation center went on full alert, fully staffed. The town's volunteer firefighters brought their own personal equipment from home, from chain saws to trucks.

As the storm built to a raging crescendo, the town's volunteer firefighters and emergency responders answered 75 calls for help, having to pull back only twice due to dangerously high winds, and only then for brief periods of time. From a gas leak on Bradley Road that prompted a scary evacuation to a nearby church at the height of the storm, to people suffering from chest pains and needing transport to a medical facility, the calls were answered.

"Foolish, foolish people"

The police went out many times, asking people who live in susceptible areas to evacuate. Some of those requests were heeded, others were not. As the rain pummelled the town, close to the shoreline that was about to start flooding, some chose to go out and, incredibly, play or go for a run.

"The police were out here at 7 a.m. with a bullhorn, saying, 'go home! Live wires!'" said one resident of Neck Road. "Foolish, foolish people, including parents with little children and people on bicycles. Wires were down on both sides of the road."

Immediately after the storm passed, the police, public works, fire department volunteers, and helpful civilians hit the streets to remove trees blocking Route 79, Horsepond Road, Duckhole Road, and Route 80 so that traffic could get by on the town's major thoroughfares.

Five houses hit directly by trees

That work continues. With more than 198 trees and wires down, it will take weeks and maybe months to clear everything. According to the Madison Police Department, five houses were hit directly by trees. "We have also had medical calls for service, but nothing severe," said Captain John Pardo in a prepared statement. "Two cottages on the water in the Neck Road area have been demolished. Middle Beach Road has been severely damaged, and is closed to all vehicle traffic. The majority of residents in the town are without power which is expected to be out for approximately 10 days."

And the work is not over yet. Madison Police Chief Jack Drumm said the town realized that a quick response is the only response for this kind of emergency. First Selectman Fillmore McPherson provided the town with update number 5 at 5:30 p.m. on Monday reviewing several important pieces of information. Residents received the alerts via text message, email, and cell phone messages, among other means. The message was as follows:

• Electric power. We believe that by tonight there will be no neighborhoods in total isolation. This was our first priority, so that emergency vehicles can respond to needs. The next objective is to have CL&P restore the main circuit routes so that service to homes can be restored. As we have previously communicated, it could take another 6 to 9 days before everyone is back on line. In the meantime, please stay away from any downed lines.

• Schools. Supt. Klein has announced that school is cancelled for this week. The first day of school will be next Tuesday, Sept. 6.

• Water. The town has set up several locations where you can fill up your containers: Outside the south door of the Town Hall off of the Hammonasset Connector; in front of Madison Hose Fire Dept in the center of town; and by the Family and Youth Services building near Memorial Town Hall. Also, some bottled water is available at the North Madison Fire House and at the Police Station.

• Gasoline. The town has set up an emergency generator at the Sunoco station at the corner of Rt. 79 and the Post Road. They do have gasoline available.

• Showers. The town gym at town campus has limited shower availability. Bring your own soap and towels.

• Cell phones. You can charge your cell phone and other portable electronic device here at town hall.

• Portable generators. Do not, repeat not, run your portable generator inside your house, garage, basement, etc. There is a real danger of Carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Alarm systems. If you have an alarm system, the backup batteries will be failing shortly. Please disconnect the backup battery now. Otherwise a false alarm will be sent when it goes dead, thus creating a huge overload for our already stretched emergency response crews.

• Stoplights. When you come to an inoperable stoplight, don’t go racing through. Treat it as a 4 way stop and proceed with caution.

Residents with more questions should call the Madison emergency management center info line at 203-245-5632.

Guilford Savings Bank Window Open

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, all of GSB's branch offices are currently without power. In an effort to help customers in our shoreline communities, Guilford Savings Bank will open its Drive-Thru lanes from 8 AM to 12 Noon on Tuesday, August 30. The North Madison office will remain closed.

Should power be restored at any time, our office(s) with power will resume normal operating hours.

Customers are reminded that if they have online banking they can securely view their account balances, transfer funds, and pay bills from their mobile device by visiting gsb-yourbank.com. 

Stop & Shop open, lights on at CVS

Stop & Shop is open, at least in most departments. The lights at the CVS were on early evening Monday.

And Madison Police Chief Drumm said most, if not all, roads where people were blocked in by large trees and fallen power lines were cleared as of late Monday. Roads where trees had to be cleared before residents could get out included:Beechwood, Podunk, Maple Avenue, Nortontown, Durham Road, Twin Bridges, East Wharf Road, and Colonial Drive.

Facilities Director Bill McMinn said the town's schools appear to have emerged from the storm relatively unscathed. "They really are in awesome shape," he said yesterday, while at the town's emergency operations center.

Town officials said crews are hard at work trying to restore power. They said a particular focus is being put on the Green Hill substation, which is a significant source of power for all or parts of Madison, Killingworth, and Guilford.