Worst Is Over, Dangerous Conditions Remain

The worst of the Hurricane Irene has passed us by and we can expect diminishing winds and rain for the rest of the day but dangerous conditions are still underfoot or just above. 

"It's a huge mess," said Director of Emergency Management Joseph Sastre, after a short tour of the town interrupted by felled trees and wires and whipping branches. 

Sastre said his office has taken many calls from people who need trees and branches removed from on top of their cars. 

"It's been called and called and called – one after the other," he said. "Calls stacked since 9:00 last night, we're not even counting anymore."  

"Connecticut Light and Power is handling life-threatening emergencies at this point." Sastre said that people should not go out sight seeing because there are power wires all over the place and some of them might be live. 

"The whole idea here is everybody please stay home, he said. "You don't know when something's going to fall on top of you, it's just plain dangerous." 

Sastre said that the list of closed roads due to flooding, downed trees and wires is too long to list. 

The City of Groton reported no additional issues with trees or flooding. Emergency officials said there are "a couple outstanding problems " like a street lamp on Mitchell Street that snapped in half and is dangling by wires. Otherwise, the city's Public Works Department has been able to take care of things as they happen.