Police Investigating Reports Of Looting In Middle Beach Area

Madison Police are investigating unconfirmed reports that there may have been looting, or attempts at looting, in the area of Middle Beach.

The neighborhood, which includes some of Madison's most impressive beach front homes, was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Irene and some homes were damaged. During the day Sunday, as people heard about the damage, many drove down to check it out, town officials and police say, leading to crowds of people wandering around, taking pictures, and looking at the damage.

Madison Police Captain Jon Pardo said Sunday that members of the police department, in addition to working around the clock along with the public works department, fire departments, and town residents to clear fallen trees and other debris from town roads, did shut down the Middle Beach area to all but residents, after the unconfirmed reports of looting.

"We are investigating"

"There have been reports, we are not sure how valid they are. We are investigating. We did shut the area down to all but residents. There have been no arrests," he said.

One reader reports that it appears that itself, at the town's East Wharf Beach, may have collapsed, and that a number of houses to the east of East Wharf Beach, which is off Middle Beach Road, are "essentially destroyed" with the ocean side ripped off completely. Other homes appear to be perfectly fine.

First Selectman Fillmore McPherson issued another statement to Madison residents late Sunday, providing an update on efforts at recovery after the hurricane.

"This is First Selectman Fillmore McPherson with an update on the recovery from Hurricane Irene. We have sustained significant damage from both flooding along the water and from trees which have fallen on houses or on roads."

"Do not touch or handle downed wires"

"Many of these fallen trees have taken utility lines down with them. Even though the electric power is currently off throughout the town, these wires could still be dangerous due to backfeed from houses with emergency generators. For your own safety, please do not, repeat not, touch or handle downed wires.

Regarding electric service, CL&P has already started clearing some of the fallen trees from their wires. Their priority will be first on working to open major roads, then to restore
the main feeder circuits and then working on the local lines to get the most people back on line the quickest. That said, it is possible that it could take up to 7 to 10 days for 100% of their customers to be restored.

Access to water

"That brings up the next topic. Those of you on wells and without generators will not have access to water. The best advice I can give is for you to contact a friend in the southern part of town who is on town water, and make arrangements to obtain water from them. If this is not an option, you can come to town hall and obtain water. Just remember to bring your own containers.

Finally, a number of roads, especially in areas along the water, are closed to all but local traffic. Please avoid these areas.

We will continue to provide updates as we have new information. Thank you. "