Let There Be Light! Power is Being Restored in East Lyme, Old Lyme, and Lyme

As of 6 a.m. this morning, Connecticut Light and Power was reporting that 8 percent of East Lyme, 29 percent of Lyme, and 20 percent of Old Lyme remained without power.

That's a huge improvement over yesterday but for those of you who are still sitting in cold, dark houses as the temperatures continue to drop, here's where to go for a hot meal, a hot shower, water, ice, wifi connections and charging facilities. 

In East Lyme

• The Red Cross Regional Emergency Shelter remains open for overnight guests and for daytime respite at the Community Center, 41 Society Road, in East Lyme. You can also connect to wifi and recharge electonics here. 
• East Lyme High School is open for showers to residents who are without heat and hot water from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In Old Lyme

• The Lymes’ Senior Center is open as a respite center from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for Old Lyme and Lyme residents, offering meals to those without power and residents with special needs. Bottled water, ice, and MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) are available for free. Power is available for recharging cell phones and computers and you can connect to the Internet here.
• There are now two shower stalls in a mobile shower truck parked at the Lymes' Senior Center, which are available from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.; showers are also available at Lyme-Old Lyme High School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the Westbrook YMCA is offering showers free of charge from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
• Potable water is available in Old Lyme at all three fire stations and the police department. (Bring your own containers.)
• Five-pound bags of ice are available to both Old Lyme and Lyme residents free of charge at the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and at the Lymes' Senior Center. 

In Lyme

• Lyme residents can shower at the Hadlyme and Hamburg Fire Stations, which are open today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Hours tomorrow have yet to be determined but these facilities will remain open until power has been restored. Residents can pick up water and Meals-Ready-to-Eat here, and plug in to recharge batteries.  
• The Lyme Public Library is extending its hours to accommodate those who are without power after Hurricane Sandy. The Library remained open late on Friday evening, and will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 3 as well and will open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 4. The library is normally closed on Mondays, but the library may open if a significant portion of the town is still without power. Residents who are without power, Internet access, or phone can stay warm, charge portable devices, get coffee, tea or hot chocolate, use the library’s computers, and relax with a good book or magazine.  

Beware Contaminated Water

Old Lyme residents whose wells may have flooded during Hurricane Sandy are advised not to drink the water until the well has been tested. If water is dark, smells, or has anything floating in it, it's not safe to drink. Private wells may be contaminated and should be disinfected before use.

Call the Department of Public Health (860) 509-7296 for assistance with testing. You'll find information on how to disinfect your well here.

Until your well is tested and deemed safe, boil water for one minute before drinking, cooking, making juice or ice, washing fruits and vegetables and brushing teeth. If you have a boil-water notice, shower with care. Avoid getting water in your eyes, mouth, and any wounds and keep an eye on the kids to make sure they don't swallow bath water. 

If the water smells like gasoline or fuel, don't drink it or use it for washing, bathing, or cooking. Use bottled water or water that you know comes from a safe source. 

Unplug for Safety

As the power is coming back on, be sure to check that nothing was left on when the power went out. Make sure all burners and appliances are turned off. Be particularly careful if you're using a generator. Make sure the generator is connected correctly and never cover or run a generator inside a building. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas accumulate quickly if a generator is enclosed.