News from Suffield's Emergency Operations Center

Emergency management staff were busy in Suffield today, coordinating responses to the recent snowstorm and its effects and trying to manage a town where 97 percent of residents didn't have power Tuesday.

First Selectman Tom Frenaye was frank when asked how working with Connecticut Light & Power was going so far.

"Not well," Frenaye said. "Apparently they've been in town."

CL&P trucks were seen today on Main Street between its intersections with Mountain Road and Mapleton Avenue, trying to repair damage from the storm. Newgate Road is closed, as are roads by the Congamond lakes.

Frenaye said the majority of town may not have power until next week, although no official estimates have been made by CL&P.

He said converting the bottom floor of Town Hall to an emergency operations center went well, despite the presence of the temporary library in that area. Setting up the same equipment during Hurricane Irene, during which Suffield saw relatively minor damage, helped the process.

Frenaye said a major concern for town officials was getting at-risk individuals, especially elderly residents, to safe, warm areas. The shelter at is open and can accomodate more people. Residents should try to bring any medicine or medical devices they need, a sleeping bag and some provisions. Hot showers and food are available

Emergency Management Director John Woods said the Suffield Fire Department station on Mountain Road has potable water for residents who bring their own containers.

Woods also warned people about running generators indoors, noting that it is never safe and two Suffield families were brought to area hospitals due to carbon monoxide inhalation.

Generators should only operated outdoors, never in a garage or partially open part of a house like a porch. Burning candles can also be a danger without proper ventilation.

People with damaged wires in their home need to call a licensed electrician to remove or repair them, Woods said.

The town also distributed meals ready to eat (MRE) today at after receiving a shipment of the packaged meals Tuesday and the process should continue Wednesday.

Selectwoman Joanne Sullivan was on hand at the emergency operations center. She encouraged town residents to sign up for Everbridge alerts, which provide emergency updates from town officials on emergency situations. The town recently changed notification services and only land-line phone numbers in Suffield, besides those added individually by residents, are in the database. Residents can register mobile phones, unlisted numbers, e-mail addresses and more.

The link can be found on the town Web site. You can also follow this link to directly sign up for alerts.