Danbury Mayor Not Confident Eversource Can Restore Power Tuesday

DANBURY, CT — As of 8 p.m. Monday, Danbury still has 5,388 houses, or 14 percent of residences, without power, according to the latest numbers from Eversource. In a report released Saturday, the utility pledged to have the city's lights back on by Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 11:59 p.m.

But Mayor Mark Boughton doesn't think they will make that goal.

"Is Eversource going to have your lights on tomorrow night at midnight? I don't know. I'm not confident of that," Boughton said in a livestreamed news conference Monday evening. "I will tell you most likely 'no.' I will tell you 'maybe by Friday.'"

Boughton joins a growing list of municipal bosses and state legislators who are fuming over Eversource's preparation and response after Tropical Storm Isaias knocked out power to nearly a million of the company's Connecticut customers.

"Eversource is a disaster. I don't know any other way to say it," Boughton said.

The state Legislature is looking to hold a hearing about the power company's preparedness and response to the storm, said Rep. David Arconti, chair of the Energy and Technology Committee.

Boughton said he is now in conversation with U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal about the city procuring disaster funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Roads around the city are reopening as crews continue the removal of trees and downed power cables.

The city is updating the list of passable roads as wires are repaired, and trees removed.
Statewide, outages along the path of Tropical Storm Isaias easily eclipsed those of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and came close to rivaling those of the October snowstorm and Hurricane Irene in 2011.

The city has established a number of resources to benefit residents while they wait for Eversource to restore power.

Charging stations have been made available for the public's use at:

• Fire Headquarters, 19 New Street
• Fire Training School, 21 Plumtrees Road
• Mill Plain Volunteer Fire Station, 54 Mill Plain Road (Drive around to the back of the Fire House)
• Engine 23, 208 Osborne Street (Germantown)
• Engine 24, 36 Eagle Road
• Engine 25/King St. Vol., 185 S King Street
• Engine 26, 71 Kenosia Ave
• Germantown Vol. Fire House, 36 Germantown Road
• Mill Plain Vol. Fire House, 54 Mill Plain Road
• Private businesses offering charging stations (and A/C) to customers:
  • Danbury Fair Mall
  • Danbury Ice Arena

Residents may bring their own containers and fill up on water at:

• Fire Headquarters, 19 New Street
• Fire Training School, 21 Plumtrees Road
• Mill Plain Volunteer Fire Station, 54 Mill Plain Road (Drive around to the back of the Fire House)
• Engine 23, 208 Osborne Street (Germantown)
• Engine 24, 36 Eagle Road
• Engine 25/King St. Vol., 185 S King Street
• Engine 26, 71 Kenosia Ave
• Germantown Vol. Fire House, 36 Germantown Road
• Mill Plain Vol. Fire House, 54 Mill Plain Road
• Miry Brook Vol. Fire House, 57 Miry Brook Road

The mayor's office is recommending these community food resources:

• New Hope Baptist Church Pantry
  • Open on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Daily Bread Food Pantry
  • Mondays: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
  • Fridays: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Hillside Food Outreach
• Grocery Delivery Service in Danbury

Residents whose health services have been impacted by the storm damage are urged to call 311 (203-744-4311) and enter a "general health service request."