Community Corner
Hurricane Sandy: Guilford Info Center [UPDATE Nov. 1st, 6:00 PM]
What Guilford Residents Need to Know: Critical information and updates for Guilford Residents during Hurricane Sandy
With Hurricane Sandy closing in on us tomorrow in Guilford, this is the place with everything Guilford Residents need to know. The page will have critical information and updates during Hurricane Sandy as I receive them throughout the next few days. Please stay tuned. For updates, don't forget to download our App for your smartphone or tablet. You can also 'like' Guilford Patch's Facebook page, and follow us on twitter.
For more information on Sandy, visit Guilford Patch's Guide to Hurricane Sandy: Guilford Page.
Find out what's happening in Guilfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Guilford still very much feeling the impact from Sandy, but here at the EOC, town departments are working hard to evaluate and assess the situation. The Police Chief and the First Selectman are out now surveying the situation. Here is what we know now:
Update 11/1/12 6:00 PMGuilford Public Schools has released their oficial statement about schools closing tomorrow. Additionally, they share that there will be school Tues. Nov. 6th, which originally was just a professional development day for staff. The notice also stated that A.W. Cox school and Calvin Leete schools are still out of power.
Find out what's happening in Guilfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
We at Guilford Patch are continuing to work on our power outage map to determine areas that have had power restored, and those areas that have not.
Women & Family Life's Fundraiser, Men Who Cook was rescheduled for Sunday November 11th. Peggy Britt provided the following information:
Due to the storm, we are behind on ticket sales and really need the community to come join in a great evening! Women & Family Life is still without power, but folks can purchase tickets or make a donation online. There is info on our facebook page and we have an event page.
East River Energy is Open, and running on generator power!
Bishops Orchards will continue their pumpkin carving fun through the weekend! They posted this message on their website:
While Halloween has been Postponed in many towns due to Hurricane Sandy and the aftermath that she left; We are also left with Hundreds of Carving Pumpkins that have no home and we don't want to see go bad and rot!
So... We have decided that we would give away all Carving Pumpkins, NOW THRU SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, to people who want to come down and take a pumpkin (1 Per Family please!). We just ask that you consider leaving a Free Will Donation in lieu of purchasing the pumpkin!
100% of proceeds will be a donation to the Women and Family Life Center. The donations will supply funds to help clean up efforts and housing needs by needy families on the Shoreline.
Soundview Family YMCA is currently open, and posted this message on their Facebook page:
The Y will open today at 12:00 noon. Pools will open at 2:00 pm.
Showers, swims, smiles available! Charge your electronics while you work out.
On Friday, we'll be open as usual. We can't wait to see you!
Voices From North Guilford is still on Tonight at 7 PM at the Guilford Free Library.
Update 11/1/12 3:00 PM
School is officially closed tomorrow for Guilford Public Schools. Official message coming soon.
The Gables is up and running with power!
Planet Fitness is available for all of those in need of a shower.
7,531, 69% of CL&P customers are currently out of power in Guilford.
Bufalina will be open today. They shared this on their Facebook page:
We are open again tonight with a limited menu - but we have salad and a few more options than last night. Hope everyone is doing well
The Town releases their updated recovery information.
CL&P states that 98% of CT will see their power restored by Monday or Tuesday.
Update 11/1/12 10:00 AMFirst Selectman Joseph Mazza talks to Guilford Patch about recovery efforts in town.
Update 11/1/12 11:00 PMShore Line East Website posted the following message concerning their services:
"Shore Line East train service will resume Thursday morning, November 1st. Please be aware no connections will be available west of New Haven. Some slight delays may be possible. Thank you for your patience during this storm and recovery effort. "
In addition, Amtrak will begin operating some limited service between New Haven and Springfield, and between Boston and Washington DC.
According to a press release, The Governor has also waived all rail fares for Thursday and Friday's Metro-North rail service making rides into Grand Central free for the next two days.
According to CL&P 7,572 households still out of power, 70% of customers.
From word here at the EOC, priorities for restoring power today include The Gables and the remaining schools that do not have power. Guilford Lakes and Adams currently have power, Melissa Jones is being worked on now. As of now, Cox and Leete are still out.
There is power from Rt. 1 to River St.
Branford YMCA is nowopen with power and is offering showers.
One Guilford resident spotted 10 CL&P trucks by the Park & Ride earlier this morning, in what looked like a meeting to plan their day!
Update 10/31/12 5:00 PMUpdated list of road closures, downed trees and wires and other danger zones in Guilford. Please proceed with caution as nightfall approaches.
According to CL&P's outage map, currently, 7,934 households are out of power, 73%.
Update 10/31/12 4:00 PMGuilford Public Schools are closed tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 1st. The Board of Education decided this was best due to the extensive power outages throughout the town, and debris and trees that still block several roads.
Sachem's Head is now open and accessible!
Upddate 10/31/12 12:00 PMEven though Halloween has been cancelled in town, residents are celebrating at Bishops with pumpkin carving and more Halloween fun. Free, indoor trick-or-treating is available at Mystic Aquarium.
Guilford Savings Bank recently released a statement that their Guilford location is partially open, and they are offering free charging stations, coffee and cookies!
Town officials and the Police and Fire departments are currently doing an assessment of the town and the remaining damage. An updated list of road closures should be available later in the day as information comes in.
According to their sign, Bufalina Restaurant on Rt. 1 will be open at 4 pm today.
Power Outages:
The feeling is that efforts to restore power to Guilford is picking up. The utility crews are still in their assessment phase, determining safety and needs. There are currently no estimations on restoration in town, but some projections may be available tomorrow according to CL&P. Currently 9,070 households are out of power, 84% of the customer base. Rt. 1 is seeing some power come back on, and several stop lights are up and running.
Halloween:
The official word on Halloween from town officials is that it is discouraged for safety reasons. There are plans in the works to set up an alternative Trick or Treating plan for next week. There is Free Pumpkin Carving available today at Bishop's Orchards. In lieu of payment, donations are being accepted for the Women and Family Life Center. There is free indoor trick or treating offered at Mystic Aquarium as well, which is a safe alternative!
Public School Closures:
There is no school today. The Board of Ed is working hard to determine and assess the situation of the town to make further decisions. Decisions will be made on a day to day basis and further information will be available later.
Road Closures:
There are still several road closures and downed trees, and crews are currently working hard to address these issues. Good news for Sachems Head, which as been blocked since the storm: Access to Sachems Head will be available mid afternoon, Wednesday. You will need to go in from Daniel Ave to West Lane Ave. Residents who were evacuated during the storm from Apple Rehab returned to their residence this morning.
Openings/Resources:
There are several more stores and restaurants open today, which is great! Just after cruising through Rt. 1 quickly on my way here, I spotted Dunkin Donuts open, with a line to prove it, Walmart, and several other locations. Word is that several folks on the Green are also up and running, like Page Ins. Here is a list of locations as of yesterday. Guilford Public Library is also opening today!
The Emergency Shelter at the Community Center is open today, and available for meals, showers and other power needs.
There are also several drinking water stations that are available in the area.
Safety Concerns:
The town website posted this information earlier today concerning safety:
The Fire Department has been receiving a substantial amount of calls in regards to Carbon Monoxide alarms. They remind you that safe operation of generators dictate that they be operated a minimum of 20' from your house. In the corner of your garage or by the garage door does not meet this requirement.
Please also continue to use caution around downed trees and power lines.
Sources say that there is currently no estimation as to when there will be power restored here in Guilford. There is one CL&P crew out there securing wires and testing circuits for safety. After that is complete, and there is no time outline for that yet, then the restoration crews can move in to start putting power back on.
There are several restaurants/retailers that are open for business this evening for dinner, or dinner supplies.
The condition of Guilford's public water supply is safe and it was not contaminated by the storm.
Update 10/30/12 2:00 PMGuilford Public Schools closed tomorrow. A message from Lorri Hahn.
Update 10/30/12 12:30 PMRoad Closures:
Please check this updated list on road closures in Guilford. More reports are coming in by the minute.
The town departments are focusing on Sachems Head Road, because access to Shell Beach is not possible yet. They are also working on Granite Road.
Power Outages:
Currently, 9,600 Guilford residents are out of power, 89% of the population served.
Also hearing reports that AT&T is down, so cell phone reception/service is dicey, at best, for many Guilford Residents. Sprint customers are also having some difficulties.
School Closures:
Guilford Public Schools were closed today, Tuesday, Oct. 30th and just announced they will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 31st.
Finding Supplies:
Page's Hardware just received a large shipment this morning of batteries, flashlights, propane etc. If you still need post-storm essentials to handle power outages and recovery.
Bishop's just posted this message on Facebook:
We are open now, with COFFEE, ICE and our regular line of fresh products. FREE drinking WATER, bring your own containers and fill on south side of building. Stay safe and travel only if absolutely needed. We are here for many years... don't fret the hours.
Big Y is also open. They've got water, food, lots of essentials. Their registers are up and running, so you can use credit/debit if you don't have cash.
They have COFFEE, doughnuts, and other breakfast goodies. They are operating on a mega generator, so they should stay up and running til 10 PM tonight. They also have a Pharmacist on staff for prescription medications.
Naples is also open, so if you are in need of lunch, head over.
If you need water, you can come down to Fire Department HQ and get what you need. They are also making arrangements for water to be available at the North Guilford Firehouse and The Guilford Lakes Golf Course as well. As of 12:30 or so, the Water tank to North Guilford has been delivered. Drinking water is available there!
Damage:
This is evident everywhere. The Guilford Green is devastated, about half of it is covered with large uprooted trees and debris. Several retail signs are down from wind gusts.
There are downed trees on the side of roads, debris is everywhere, and flooding continues on many roads.
The town departments are currently doing a sweep on the town to assess the situation and report remaining live wires, flooding, ect.
At The Mooring and the Stone House, it is hard to assess the damage that has been done at this point.
PLEASE BE AWARE: While the brunt of the storm appears to be over, there are still precautions to take. Flooding on several roads is still taking place, there are wires down and trees obstructing countless roads. Please, if you must travel, do so safely.
Please refer to this information for an updated list of road closures.
I-95 Appears to be up and running for the most part
Guilford FD say they are prioritizing Sachems Head currently, since no one has been able to get to Shell Beach. They have also performed several basement pump outs.
So far, no fatalities or injuries have been reported here in Guilford.
Update as of 10/29/12 8:30 PMBIG NEWS!! That last blast from the storm hit Guilford hard. There are around 75 areas of Guilford that are either completely, or partially shut down due to flooding and downed trees. From Downtown Guilford to North Guilford, including major roads; everyone hit in that last blast. The town is working on clearing the areas, started with those with Senior Housing, Nurseries, etc. The tree warden, Kevin Magee, says that all downed wires should be treated as live, and residents should stay away. The winds may be dying down now, but more incidents are being reported as we move into the late evening.
According to CL&P outage map, there are currently 8,610 Guilford Residents without power, 79% of their customer base.
Update as of 10/29/12 5:00 PMJust checked in on the EOC and got this statement from the First Selectman:
"We are concerned because right now, we are at low tide, and the water is still very high in several areas. We have another high tide coming in at 11:46 tonight, which is going to be very bad. There is still time to get to the Emergency Shelter, at the Community Center, and I urge you to do so if you have not already and you are in an evacuation area."
Also, several more road closures due to trees and flooding. This is the update:
Guilford Road Closures due to Water:
East Ave.
Indian Cove
Old Quarry Road
Uncas @ Colonial
Tuttles Point
River St/Water St
500 Whitfield
Jacobs Lane [Update 11:30 AM]
Shell Beach [Update 5:00 PM]
Guilford Road Closures due to Trees:
1400 Great Hill WIRES ALERT
280 Leetes Island PARTIAL BLOCK
700 Long Hill Road FULL BLOCK WIRES
I spotted a tree down on Whitfield Ave. just after the road splits before the bridge, PARTIAL BLOCK
The power appears to be out on Rt. 1, but that is not confirmed. Several of the street lights were not working.
Please note: Route 1 down by the Guilford/Madison town line is flooded. Cars are driving through, but that may not be the case for long. The water is rising very quickly at the bridge right there on the line as well, by Apple Rehab. My guess is that the bridge may soon be flooded as well.
Hearing news of power outages, I will follow up with whatever info I can find. Please write in our comment section if you know of any areas that are out!
This message was just posted by the town website:
In addition the special Board of Selectmen's meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. and the Coastal Resilience Meeting scheduled for tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. have been cancelled.
Update as of 10/29/12 11:30ROAD CLOSURE Update: Jacobs Lane, due to water
ROAD CLOSURES ANNOUNCED:
Guilford Road Closures due to Water:
East Ave., Indian Cove, Old Quarry Road, Uncas @ Colonial, Tuttles Point, River St/Water St, 500 Whitfield
Guilford Road Closures due to Trees:
1400 Great Hill WIRES ALERT
No vital updates at this point. I'm here reporting from the EOC at the Fire Department. It's getting a bit windy out there. Just heard that there is a soft ban on driving on 1-95 in CT, so no tractor trailers, from what I understand, no official confirmation on that yet.
I swung by the Emergency Shelter at the community center earlier, and about 20 people stayed there last night, and two dogs!
Here are some other helpful links as we head into the storm:
Be Patch Prepared for Hurricane Sandy
Update as of 10/28/2012 10 PM.Emergency Center is in partial operation now and will be fully operational at 6am Monday 10/29/2012
Evacuation Plan
After a meeting on Sunday, Mandatory Evacuations have been called for areas South of the Railroad tracks including areas prone to storm flooding, beginning at 2pm on Sunday because of the high tides predicted AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO YOU ONCE WE ARE IN THE STORM SITUATION.
Evacuate to:
- Family and Friends
- Hotels
- Last Resort is the Community Center
If you evacuate to Community Center
- Bring toiletries and medications enough for 3 to 5 days
- Linens,
- Hand written phone numbers of family and friends
- If you bring Animals, they must be in cages. Bring food and medications for animals enough for 3 to 5 days
Breaking News: Mandatory Evacuations Issued for Parts of Guilford
Knowing 'At Risk' Areas in Guilford
Sheltering in Guilford, at home, at a friends, or at the Community Center
Power Service(s)
The Governor has stated we should plan for extended power outages which may range from 7 to 10 days.
Water Availability
We are making provisions for Water to be picked up by residents. We anticipate water will be available at Fire Headquarters (RT 77), Bishops (RT One) Community Center, Library (Park Street) and Town Hall, North Guilford Fire House
Finding Supplies in Guilford 10/28
Sandbags are available at Fire Headquarters
Communications
Monitor Town Website, Facebook, local media and radio
Reverse 911 communications will begin. There is still time to sign up for CT Alert for home and cell phone numbers.
Tracking Hurricane Sandy: Emergency Communications in Guilford
Guilford Public Schools:
Will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Additional information will be available through the school communication vehicles.
Finding Supplies in Guilford 10/27
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