The Town of Greenwich remains in a state of emergency. The sheltering facility at Eastern Middle School will continue to operate around the clock. For more information on sheltering or the reception center, call the non-emergency hotline at 203-622-8000.

Here is the latest update from the Town of Greenwich concerning the continued state of emergency and Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts:

Residents in Greenwich who suffered damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy must register with FEMA by phone or online to access this aid. To register by phone, residents can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY line for people with speech or hearing impairments is 1-800-462-7585. The line is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days per week.

Temperatures tonight are predicted to be in the 20's and 30's across the region. Residents without power should prepare for below freezing temperatures and should consider taking refuge in the sheltering facility, especially those with health conditions or those who are frail or elderly.

The SBA, through its Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA), is responsible for providing affordable, timely, and accessible financial assistance to homeowners, renters, and businesses following a disaster. Financial assistance is available in the form of low-interest, long-term loans.

For more information about SBA's disaster assistance programs, visit www.sba.gov/disaster or call their disaster assistance center at 800-659-2955.

Connecticut Light & Power:

Connecticut Light & Power is not able at this time to estimate when power will be restored to specific streets or neighborhoods. Currently, CL&P estimates that 9% of the Town is without power as of noontime. Residents are advised to keep their distance from all downed wires, as they must be considered live and dangerous.

CL&P has assigned 201 Line Crews, 80 Tree Crews, 8 Service Crews, and 35 Pole-Set Crews to our Town. All of these crews are operational and are currently aiding in the power restoration effort.

Connecticut Natural Gas Company:

For gas service to be resumed, residents must:

1) get their gas clearance from the Town, via the green certificate, by calling Public Works at 203-629-6999,

2) have power restored to their home, and

3) call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) Company at 203-869-6900 to open the gas line.

Weather Update:

A coastal storm is expected to impact our area on Wednesday and Thursday. This storm has the possibility of producing sustained winds of 20-35 mph and gusts of 45-60 mph especially along the coast. A surge of 3 to 5 feet above normal is possible resulting in minor to moderate flooding. Fortunately, astronomical tides are low this week. Highest tidal impacts will be felt in western Long Island Sound due to piling of water in northeast fetch. High tide on Wednesday is expected at 5:10 p.m. It is predicted that the Nor'easter could potentially be severe.

Holly Hill:

Holly Hill is operating with extended hours to accommodate disposal needs. Residents are reminded that storm-related organic materials may be disposed of at Holly Hill for no cost. This free service is for residents disposing of their own debris. Commercial landscapers and haulers are still required to pay the usual fee. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the extended hours and open dates at Holly Hill to clean up their property.

Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility will remain open until 4:00 p.m. to the public for the entire week. Reminder – enter via Muskrat Pond Road, as the main entrance is blocked by trees and wires. Your cooperation and patience are appreciated while we work to return the facility to normal operations as soon as possible.

Department of Public Works:

Sandbags: with the upcoming storm, residents may want to hang on to their sandbags and use them if needed. Also, as winter is coming, put the sand in large pails (old spackle buckets, big cat litter tubs, etc.), or return the bags to the Fire Station where you picked them up and put the material back on the pile.

Leaves: to help the Town's leaf collection program this year, put leaves in bags. Bagging helps to keep leaves corralled and out of storm drains during Fall rains, and bagging makes it easier to collect leaves should Greenwich experience inclement weather. As the Department of Public Works cleans debris from Town trees (remember not to put private debris in the right of way), it is important not to mix leaves with brush, branches, or logs.

The Building Inspection Division has a staff member who is coordinating inspections at the Sound Beach Fire House on the second floor. He will have trade permit applications available and will accept those applications. These are applications for mechanical work such as replacing a hot water heater or an electrical panel (not for replacing a home or for more major work requiring a building permit). In addition, the Building Inspection Division hours have been extended this week to 4:00 p.m. to handle storm related permits. Your contractor can come in between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to begin the process. The Town building inspection number is 203-629-6999.

Social Services:

Individuals experiencing mental health symptoms such as anxiety or depression may seek support at Red Cross shelters or by calling United Way's 211 Infoline.

The Town appreciates the collaboration between the Department of Social Services and the Department of Health for recruiting the Salvation Army to assist with food service at the Red Cross Shelter. The Town also extends its sincere thanks to the Salvation Army for all of the good work that it has provided to the Greenwich Community in this time of need.

Armstrong Court:

Power restoration to Armstrong Court proved to be especially difficult due to extensive damage to the power systems there, leaving many residents without power heat or lights. While the Town was attempting to do everything to restore power, a decision was made by the First Selectman to provide special meals and water on-site at Armstrong Court. A taskforce made of up GEMS, Police, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army responded there last evening.

Approximately 60 residents were provided with a hot meal, courtesy of the Salvation Army, while GEMS, Police, and the Greenwich Council, Boy Scouts of America distributed heater meals and bottled water. To lift the spirits of the children there, the Red Cross distributed soft, new stuffed animals.

The Reverse 911 system was used to notify residents of the event at Armstrong Court in both English and Spanish.

Fraud after the Storm:

The Greenwich Police Department has not received any fraud related complaints in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. However, we want to remind our residents that there are always opportunistic criminals willing to victimize our citizens through some sort of scam.

Charity Scams: Many scammers will pose as legitimate charities and convince you during this time of high desire to donate toward those in need and divert money and goods to their illegitimate organization. We would suggest donating to established national charity organizations or a local charity group which you may already be affiliated with

Contractor Scams: Do not fall for the telephone solicitors who may be very convincing when they tell you they work for some far off contracting company that is affiliated with a federal or state agency. It's best to stay with the many local reputable contractors in the area. Check your local yellow pages or the Better Business Bureau or work directly with your insurance company. A few things to remember regarding contractors in the State of Connecticut:

Always ask contractors for their Connecticut Home Improvement Registration number, ask where they are located and their phone number, and ask for references.

Before ANY contractor works on your home, verify that they have a Connecticut Home Improvement Salesman's Registration at the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Website at www.ct.gov/dcp , or by calling 1-800-842-2649.

Always get three separate WRITTEN estimates. CT Law requires that on any written contract or proposal it must include what is known as a 3-day notice of cancellation. This notice prohibits the work from being conducted and allows the consumer three days in which to cancel the work and obtain a full refund. This time is for your protection and allows you to make informed decision.

NEVER pay cash even if you believe that your insurance company is going to reimburse you soon.

Legitimate operators of contracting companies and charitable organization understand how often scams are perpetrated abusing the reputation that the reputable operator has established. They will always comply with any request to verify their legitimacy. If the contractor or organization makes any excuse as to why some part of their operation can not be verified we, suggest you stay away and make other arrangements.

Who to Call: If you hear about a situation where someone's trying to commit any kind of fraud relating to Hurricane Sandy, please call the National Center for Disaster Fraud, toll-free, at (866) 720-5721, or email the NCDF at disaster@leo.gov. All calls and emails will be treated as confidential.

More Information:

All Greenwich Public Schools will be open tomorrow, November 7, 2012 for a full day.

will be open tomorrow, November 7, 2012 for a full day. Generators and automobiles should not be run indoors, or near a door, including garages (with garage doors open) or near windows or vents. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a real danger.

should not be run indoors, or near a door, including garages (with garage doors open) or near windows or vents. poisoning is a real danger. All Greenwich Parks are now open with the exception of Greenwich Point. Use caution at all locations, as there may still be debris present.

are now open with the exception of Greenwich Point. Use caution at all locations, as there may still be debris present. Power related issues are to be referred to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000.

related issues are to be referred to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000. To report a gas leak, please call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325.

leak, please call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325. Calling 911 is still for emergency purposes only. This includes danger to life, limb, sight, or crime in progress.

For all other non-emergency Police and Fire related issues, dial 203-622-8000.

When driving , be aware that many traffic signals are without power. As per State of Connecticut law, a disabled traffic signal is to be considered a four-way stop. Motorists are required to yield the right of way to vehicles on the right.

, be aware that many traffic signals are without power. As per State of Connecticut law, a disabled traffic signal is to be considered a four-way stop. Motorists are required to yield the right of way to vehicles on the right. For general information, visit our Town website at www.greenwichct.org

Updated, Nov. 6, 3:15 p.m.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bill McKersie has announced that all public schools will re-open on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, and will follow regular schedules.



Dr. McKersie said, "Based on consultation with the Town's Emergency Operations Center and Greenwich Police Chief (James) Heavey, the remaining downed lines are all related to communications, not power, all known pedestrian trouble spots are being addressed today, and tomorrow's storm will bring

some snow at roughly 9:00 am and then turn to rain—none of which will be enough to close schools. Therefore we are pleased to announce that schools will re-open on Wednesday, November 7th. We ask for patience from all concerned over the next couple of days, as the re-opening of school will no doubt have

some rough spots with transportation, phones and internet, if not other items."



As noted, while some downed wires remain, the Town assures us that they are communications related and not power. However, please err on the side of safety and stay away from any downed wires. It is advisable that you take a 'dry-run' of the route your child takes walking to school or the bus stop to

ensure that they have safe passage, to avoid any debris that may still exist, and/or to plan an alternate route if necessary.



BUS ROUTE CHANGES

The Town and the District's Transportaiton Department are conducting final checks on safe passage for buses. Some bus routes may need to change for tomorrow's run. If this becomes necessary, we will notify those impacted later today.



WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY OPENING

While snow, rain and wind is forecast for Wednesday, November 7, 2012, it is not predicted to impact school opening or start time.

VETERANS DAY REMINDER:

All schools will now be open on Monday, Novemebr 12, 2012 (orginally scheduled as closed in observance of Veterans Day).



HALLOWEEN:

The Town of Greenwich has announced that Halloween has been rescheduled for Sunday, November 11, 2012. With the recent Daylight Savings Time change, the Town recommends that children conduct Trick-or-Treating from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.



2012-13 SCHOOL CALENDAR:

Adjustments to the 2012-13 School Calendar will be reviewed by the Board of Education in upcoming meetings. While it is too early to make decisions regarding the last day of school, please note that we have now used the five "snow/storm days" that are built into the school calendar, plus one additional day. Restoring Veterans Day to the calendar for students will bring us back to five missed schools days.



The last day of school is scheduled for June 24th, with five snow/storm days built in. In accordance with the notice on the school calendar, make-up days may be taken from the Spring Recess (4/15-19) and/or added to the end of June (6/25-28). However, all school holidays and vacation days will be considered for making up any further lost instructional time.

Updated, Nov. 6, 9:07 a.m.

The Riverside School PTA will be at Riverside School (90 Hendrie Ave.), on Election Day, November 6 from 9:00am - 5:00pm collecting supplies for Hurricane Sandy Relief.

Here's a list of what they'll be collecting and then driving supplies to affected areas and joining forces with local New York relief organizations to coordinate distribution.

Cleaning supplies Bleach, mops, garbage bags, plastic gloves, batteries, flashlights, large plastic storage bins, Mr. Clean, Fantastic, antiseptic wipes, paper towels, sponges, and etc.

Hygiene supplies Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, deodorant, soap, plastic combs, hand sanitizer, diapers, and etc.

Winter coats and blankets

If you don't have a chance to purchase items and still want to contribute, you can make a check out to Riverside School PTA and they will buy supplies with your donation. Donations are tax deductible.

Updated, Nov. 5, 6:10 p.m.

Greenwich School Superintendent William McKersie said there will be classes held on Veterans Day, Nov. 12, to help make up for the 7 days schools have been closed because of Hurricane Sandy.

He said Greenwich Police will travel bus routes on Tuesday morning to determine whether roads are passable for the buses, in preparation for McKersie's decision on whether classes will resume Wednesday, Nov. 7.

First Selectman Peter Tesei said in the Monday afternoon briefing the town will remain under a state of emergency until further notice—until there has been sufficient restoration of power and roads are passable. However, officials are keeping an eye on the powerful nor'Easter that is approaching the Northeast coast and is expected to bring winds and rain on Wednesday and Thursday.

Also, Tesei announced that Halloween will be held on Sunday, Nov. 11 and that it is recommended trick-or-treating for children be held between 4 and 8 p.m.

Here is the latest briefing in full:

The Town of Greenwich remains in a state of emergency. The Department of Health and American Red Cross have consolidated their shelters to one location at Eastern Middle School in Riverside. While the Department of Health has closed the sheltering segment of the operation at the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, the American Red Cross continues to maintain the facility as a reception center during normal civic center hours. Residents are able to recharge their electronic devices, get out of the cold, and enjoy a small snack.

The sheltering facility at Eastern Middle School will continue to operate around the clock. For more information on sheltering or the reception center, call the non-emergency hotline at 203-622-8000.

Temperatures tonight are predicted to be in the 20's and 30's across the region. Residents without power should prepare for below freezing temperatures and should consider taking refuge in the sheltering facility, especially those with health conditions or those who are frail or elderly.

Connecticut Light & Power:

Connecticut Light & Power is not able at this time to estimate when power will be restored to specific streets or neighborhoods. The universal restoration time given is Monday to Tuesday for 95% of its customer base. Currently, CL&P estimates that 21% of the Town is without power as of noontime. Residents are advised to keep their distance from all downed wires, as they must be considered live and dangerous.

CL&P has assigned 170 Line Crews, 80 Tree Crews, and 31 Pole-Set Crews to our Town. All of these crews are operational and are currently aiding in the power restoration effort.

Verizon:

Verizon is actively working on restoring phone lines. Twelve (12) crews arrived in Greenwich on Saturday and 4 more are due today. An additional 10 crews are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, November 7.

Connecticut National Gas Company:

For gas service to be resumed, residents must:

1) get their gas clearance from the Town, via the green certificate, by calling Public Works at 203-629-6999,

2) have power restored to their home, and

3) call Connecticut National Gas (CNG) Company at 203-869-6900 to open the gas line.

Weather Update:

A coastal storm is expected to impact our area on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. This storm has the possibility of producing sustained winds of 20-35 mph and gusts of 45-60 mph especially along the coast. A surge of 3 to 5 ft above normal is possible resulting in minor to moderate flooding. Fortunately, astronomical tides are low this week. Highest tidal impacts will be felt in western Long Island Sound due to piling of water in northeast fetch. High tide on Wednesday is expected at 5:10 p.m. It is still too early to predict with certainty the timing or severity of this storm.

Updated, Nov. 4, 2:45 p.m.

The Greenwich Public Schools will remain closed on Monday because school buses and pedestirans still do not have safe passage on town roads, the school district announced.

"After conducting a dry run of the bus and walking routes to school today, and in consultation with Town officials, it is clear that there is not safe passage for buses and walkers to our schools," school offcials said in an update. "Therefore, the Greenwich Public Schools will remain closed for at least one more day."

Staff professional development day will proceed as scheduled, according to the district.

The district will announce by 2 p.m. Tuesday whether schools will reopen on Wednesday.

"We are optimistic that schools will be open again on Wednesday, however, we must first be assured that buses and walkers have safe passage to school," school officials said in the update.

The decision to keep schools closed for Monday means the district has now used up all of its "snow days" for the 2012-2013 school year. The last day of school is June 24 — should schools be forced to close for snow days in the coming months, officials could decide to take days from the spring recess (4/15-19) and/or add days to the end of the school year in June (6/25-28).

Holly Hill:

Holly Hill is operating with extended hours to accommodate disposal needs. Residents are reminded that storm-related organic materials may be disposed of at Holly Hill for no cost. This free service is for residents disposing of their own debris. Commercial landscapers and haulers are still required to pay the usual fee. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the extended hours and open dates at Holly Hill to clean up their property.

Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility hours on November 6 are from 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Future operating hours will be evaluated based on volume and demand. Reminder – enter via Muskrat Pond Road, as the main entrance is blocked by trees and wires. Your cooperation and patience are appreciated while we work to return the facility to normal operations as soon as possible.

Department of Public Works:

The Town building inspection number is 203-629-6999. It is crucial that our roads and our right-of-ways are kept clear. Do not put debris in the street, as we do not have teams to pick it up at this time. Also, keep the sandbags that you have gathered, as further storm weather is forecast this week and sandbags may be needed again.

Registrar of Voters:

Power has been restored to all Town of Greenwich schools, and voting will take place as planned next week. Polling places, by district, are listed below:

District 1 - Julian Curtiss

District 2 - Town Hall

District 3 - Western Middle School

District 4 - New Lebanon School

District 5 - Riverside School

District 6 - Old Greenwich School

District 7 - Greenwich High School

District 8 - Central Middle School

District 9 - Bendheim W.G.C.C.

District 10 - Glenville School

District 11 - North Street School

District 12 - North Mianus School

If you have additional questions about voting and absentee ballots, call the Registrars of Voters at 203-622-7889. If you have questions about Absentee Ballots, please contact the Town Clerk at 203-622-7897 for a discussion of possible options. Both offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Halloween:

Due to pending inclement weather this week, Halloween has been rescheduled for Sunday, November 11. With the recent Daylight Savings Time change, we recommend that children conduct Trick-or-Treating from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

More Information:

Generators and automobiles should not be run indoors, or near a door, including garages (with garage doors open) or near windows or vents. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a real danger.

should not be run indoors, or near a door, including garages (with garage doors open) or near windows or vents. poisoning is a real danger. Power related issues are to be referred to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000.

related issues are to be referred to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000. To report a gas leak, please call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325.

leak, please call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325. Calling 911 is still for emergency purposes only. This includes danger to life, limb, sight, or crime in progress.

For all other non-emergency Police and Fire related issues, dial 203-622-8000.

When driving , be aware that many traffic signals are without power. As per State of Connecticut law, a disabled traffic signal is to be considered a four-way stop. Motorists are required to yield the right of way to vehicles on the right.

, be aware that many traffic signals are without power. As per State of Connecticut law, a disabled traffic signal is to be considered a four-way stop. Motorists are required to yield the right of way to vehicles on the right. For general information, visit our Town website at www.greenwichct.org

Updated, Nov. 4, 12:15 p.m.

As of 12 noon Sunday — nearly a week after Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast — 8,485 of 27,918 CL&P customers in Greenwich, or about 30% of the town, were still without power, according to the utility's Outage Map.

The Greenwich Public Schools are expected to announce later this afternoon whether there will be school on Monday. Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to Election Day. The Town announced yesterday that all polling locations will be open.



Updated, Nov. 4, 9:15 a.m.

As of 9 a.m. Sunday morning, 32 percent of Greenwich customers are currently without power, according to CL&P.

Updated, Nov. 3, 9:30 p.m.

All the Greenwich Public Schools now have power restored and all election polling places will be open for Tuesday's election, Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei reported during a late afternoon press briefing Saturday at the Public Safety Complex.

Tesei said the school district will decide on Sunday whether schools will reopen on Monday — and Police Chief James Heavey said the Greenwich Police Department would be undertaking "reconnaissance runs" of all the school bus routes on Sunday to see if they are clear and safe for passage by school buses. Heavey said low hanging wires are the main threat to the buses.

Heavey said although there are currently about 90 people using Eastern Middle School as the town's official, Red Cross-run shelter, it can remain open and operational even if school resumes on Monday.

Meanwhile long lines of cars persist at most of the gas stations that are open in town — in particular those located on East/West Putnam Avenue.

Chief Heavey said the eight state troopers assisting the town with traffic at the gas stations have been assigned to the busiest locations. He said on Saturday the lines did result in some traffic delays, but not much more than a normal Saturday.

"Because we're losing a lane [in some locations on Route 1] it's going to be like that," he said, adding that police have made some modifications to the line patterns to help ease traffic. "It's been pretty orderly."

Heavey said the situation with the gas lines will persist until the gas stations in New York and New Jersey come back online, as power is restored, or, altternatively, until the gas stations in Greenwich "run out of gas."

Heavey said "about one third of the [Greenwich] department has been on duty continuously" since Sandy hit "and it's been taxing on the organization." He said in addition to directing traffic, officers are being used at the transfer station, assisting the building department, assisting the gas company with restoration, and for security in Old Greenwich.

Meanwhile Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha warned there exists the possibility for a significant Nor'easter that could bring heavy rains and/or snow to the area by Wednesday.

"The problem is that it is too early to begin tracking [the storm]," Warzoha said. "However the intitial modeling shows that it is a classic Nor'easter pattern... and the potential for heavy and rain and snow in the big cities exists..."

Updated, Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m.

Although they are unable to provide precise power restoration estimates for specific streets or neighborhoods at this time, officials with Connecticut Light & Power estimate that power will be 95 percent restored in Greenwich by Monday or Tuesday, according to a town press release. Currently, CL&P estimates that 43% of the town is without power.

Residents are advised to keep their distance from all downed wires, as they must be considered live and dangerous.

CL&P currently has about 100 line crews, 50 tree crews, and 20 pole-set crews working to restore power in Greenwich, according to town officials.

Meanwhile the Department of Health and American Red Cross have consolidated their shelters to one location at Eastern Middle School in Riverside.

Although the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center is no longer officially operating as a shelter, the American Red Cross continues to maintain the facility as a reception center during normal civic center hours, according to the town's press release. Residents are able to recharge their electronic devices, get out of the cold, and enjoy a small snack.

The Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., today, Saturday, Nov. 3, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 4.

The sheltering facility at Eastern Middle School will continue to operate around the clock. For more information on sheltering or the reception center, call the non-emergency hotline at 203-622-8000.

Updated, Nov. 3, 1:00 p.m.

Bottled water, MREs and non-potable water for flushing toilets, will be available Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich.

Bottled water and hot ready-meals will be available at the Banksville fire station on Saturday, 11/3 from 4pm to 6pm. Water is also available at any time at the spigot located behind the fire station, 33 Bedford-Banksville Rd., Bedford, NY.

Updated, Nov. 3 11:25 a.m.

As of 11:09 a.m., 44 percent of customers in Greenwich are currently without power, according to CL&P.

Updated, Nov. 2, 9:55 p.m.

Too little, too late?

Even though CL&P now says it has 127 crews on the ground in Greenwich, 50 percent of the town remains dark and First Selectman Peter Tesei said Friday night, "That is unsatisfactory."

The reason it's unsatisfactory, Tesei said, "is that based on my field assessment is that the resource was delivered too late. … it's the old adage, 'a day late and a dollar short.' "

During a tour of the Hurricane Sandy damage to Greenwich Point, Tesei said, town parks and recreation personnel were setting up a portion of the parking lots as a staging area for the utility crews. However, there weren't any utility crews there, Tesei said. (Please see video.)

Gas line gridlock

Tesei said he's concerned the influx of New York and New Jersey drivers crossing the Greenwich borders in search of gasoline will impact restoration efforts.

On Friday, Greenwich Police enlisted the aid of at least 5 Connecticut State Police troopers to help direct traffic at stations that were periodically open and closed, depending upon their gas deliveries.

"While we're not saying don't come here for fuel, what we are saying is that we need assistance … and the state of Connecticut has offered assistance with traffic control on Route 1 …," Tesei said. (Please see video.)

Updated, 9:45 a.m.

Saying gas stations in Greenwich are being overwhelmed by motorists getting off of the first Connecticut town along Interstate 95 northbound, town officials are calling for New Yorkers to seek fuel just a bit further up the line.

According to Lt. Kraig Gray, public information officer of the Greenwich Police Department, service stations in town have seen a "significant increase in their consumption of fuel and gas lines" as a result of its close proximity to Westchester County.

"Unfortunately, this has significantly increased the traffic and use of service stations, which is making it difficult for everybody," Gray said. "Probably the best thing that would serve the residents from the New York area looking for fuel is to drive a few minutes further up the line, to Stamford, Darien or Norwalk, where they too have fuel and there are no lines."

Con Edison has pegged a Nov. 10-11 restoration date for the area, and by late Thursday had restored power to approximately 55,000 of 210,000 affected homes.

Updated, Nov. 2, 5:30 a.m.

Despite assurances from Connecticut Light & Power that 39 additional crews from Massachusetts and Quebec, Canada would arrive in Greenwich to help in the power restoration effort, town officials remain skeptical the utility would accomplish the job.

First Selectman Peter Tesei led the charge in criticizing the utility following a Thursday afternoon meeting with CL&P President William Herdegen III. Tesei said he and officials who are part of the town's emergency operations committee will be 'vigilant' in keeping tabs on the utility's efforts to repair downed poles and lines to restore power. (As of 5 a.m. Friday, 14,246 customers do not have power, or 51 percent of the 27,918 electric customers in Greenwich.)

Tesei said that while he is "appreciative" of the work crews have been doing repair the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, he believes utility management, based upon the town's outage history during previous weather events dating back to the March 2010 storm, Tropical Storm Irene and the Halloween 2011 snowstorm, the utility should have put more repair crews in Greenwich.

"I expressed my dissatisfaction with CL&P response thus far. And I say that because what we as a town expected was not actually happening. I was told by CEO William Herdegen that starting (Friday) he will deploy a dozen or more crews to Greenwich," Selectman Drew Marzullo said. "This should have been done Sunday not 5 days later. I remain skeptical as to when all town residents will regain power. They tell us Tuesday which in CL&P time means December. You would think after last year's poor performance they would finally get it right."

It is planned that the additional crews will focus their restoration efforts along the King Street corridor where there are two nursing homes; the Eastern Middle School in Riverside which is serving as an emergency shelter; the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center in Glenville, that's also an emergency shelter, and the Milbank Avenue area downtown, a major traffic artery.

To help with clearing roadways, 20 members of the US Forest Service arrived in Greenwich on Thursday and are helping to clear roads. They were in the Butternut Hollow Road area on Thursday, according to Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha. Tesei also provided CL&P a detailed compilation of closed or blocked roads throughout town and the locations of downed wires and poles. To see the latest map of closures, please click here.

Tesei, Marzullo and Selectman David Theis said constituents are understandably getting testy and frustrated with the slow progress of restoration.

Other status updates include:

Meals on Wheels is closed until Monday, Nov. 5. If you need this service prior to its reopening, please contact the Police Department at 203-622-8000, and they will attempt to provide assistance and guidance as available.

The town has requested MRE's rations and water supplies from FEMA for distribution to residents.

The Holly Hill Transfer Station is now open to the public but access is only through the Muskrat Pond Road exit. Friday's hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekend hours to be announced.

Beginning Friday, the Western Greenwich Civic Center will become a warming station for residents; all overnight shelter operations will be combined and located at the Eastern Middle School.

All town libraries including the Perrott Memorial Library in Old Greenwich are open.

The Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA are allowing anyone—including nonmembers—to use their recreational facilities, showers and to recharge electronic devices. The town is offering limited free skating sessions at the Dorothy Hamill Rink.

For a complete update, please see the Town of Greenwich's latest briefing in the attached PDF.

Updated, Nov. 1, 4 p.m.

Connecticut Light & Power has committed 39 additional line crews who are expected to arrive in Greenwich Thursday night and Friday in an effort to ramp up restoration efforts, according to First Selectman Peter Tesei.

Following a meeting with CL&P President William Herdegen III at 2 p.m. Thursday, Tesei told Patch that 14 line crews are to arrive in Greenwich Thursday night and begin work Friday. An additional 25 crews are slated to arrive on Friday, bringing the total to 39, Tesei said.

Asked if he was satisfied with the response, Tesei said, "For me it comes down to seeing is believing. I want to see it. I want to see the results that are proof positive."

CL&P already has 28 two-man tree and line crews in town, according to Tesei. He said those workers likely will use Greenwich Point as a staging area to help repair downed lines, poles and transformers in that area. The additional crews also will focus on Glenville, the Round Hill section and the Old Mill Road substation that was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, Tesei said.

As of 4 p.m., more than 16,718 of the 27,918 customer were without power, according to CL&P — about 59 percent of the utility's customers in town. Greenwich Patch will update these developments following the 4 p.m.

press briefing by Tesei.

Updated, Nov. 1, 2:15 p.m.

First Selectman Peter Tesei said Thursday that "we demanded a meeting" with Connecticut Light & Power senior management because "from our information from our people on the ground, they aren't enough resources" to restore power to the town.

As of 2 p.m., the 58 percent of Greenwich remains in the dark or 16,403 of the 27,918 utility customers in town, according to CL&P's outage reports. And according to Tesei, CL&P officials "is not able at this time to estimate when power will be restored."

"We want to know what they've allocated and put it into laymen's terms," Tesei said Thursday morning's Board of Selectmen meeting. Tesei also hinted that CL&P's liaison "embedded in the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) ... was a new person. The person we had (previously) was there for several (weather) events and was aware of our needs." Based upon previous storm recovery efforts, the utility should have been better equipped to serve Greenwich, Tesei said.

Presently there are 14 line crews and 23 tree crews in service, according to Tesei.

CL&P's President and Chief Operating Officer William Herdegen III was to meet with Tesei as well as Selectmen Drew Marzullo and David Theis, and Greenwich Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha.

In the town's daily briefing update released Thursday afternoon, the state of emergency remains in effect until further notice.

Police are asking that if you live on a dead-end street that is blocked, or if your home is on a road that is blocked on both sides, and you cannot get out, call the Police dispatch non-emergency number 203-622-8004. Do not call this number to report power outages or any other issues except the inability to enter or leave your residence due to downed trees, poles, or wires.

For the complete update, please see the attached PDF.

And Greenwich Patch will have updates from the briefing scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday.

Updated, Nov. 1, 9:58 a.m.:

Back up and running and open: The Boys & Girls of Greenwich just sent out this notice, some welcome news for families with children.

ALERT: BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH IS OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS NOVEMBER 1st – NOVEMBER 3rd FROM 8AM - 4PM Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich will be open for all children (including non-members) in the community from 8AM - 4PM Thurs., Nov. 1st , Fri., Nov. 2nd and Sat., Nov.3rd at NO CHARGE. During this time, kids will have access to the swimming pool, rink and other Club recreation facilities. Adults needing to take showers, charge devices, and warm up are also welcome. Contact the Club at 203-869-3224 for more details.

Updated, Oct. 31, 9:26 p.m.

Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei has called for a meeting Thursday with senior management of Connecticut Light & Power to ask "for greater resources for the Town of Greenwich" for power restoration.

In his evening press briefing at the Greenwich Police headquarters, Tesei said of the prolonged outage that still has 63 percent or 17,650 of the 27,918 utility customers in the dark, "we are not overly satisfied with the level of resources we have gotten so far … " CL&P still has not provided the town an estimate of when full power would be restored.

He added, that after four major power outages since the March 2010 storm, "We were assured that for the Town of Greenwich there would be adequate resources."

According to Greenwich Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha, there are 12 crews working during the day and 8 at night. The crews range from 2 to 4 people, Warzoha said. There also are 3 crews assigned to 'make-safe operations,' crews assigned to work with town tree crews removing trees and limbs.

For more of Tesei's comments, please see video.

Both Tesei and Selectman Drew Marzullo said residents are frustrated with the slow return of electrical service.

"There are simply not enough people on the ground to restore power in acceptable time frame," Marzullo said. "One would think after last years poor performance CL&P would make sure towns across Connecticut be provided adequate support. They talked a good game prior to the arrival of Sandy. They assured us crews were being flown in from all parts of country. So where they? I can tell you where they are not. Greenwich."

Despite that frustration and desire to "sight-see" damage, officials urged residents to avoid areas with downed trees, wires and utility poles. Tesei said parents need to be more vigilant with their children, many of whom have been allowed to "wander around unaccompanied."

Tesei also announced that the federal disaster declaration has been approved. Residents in Greenwich who suffered damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy must register with FEMA by phone or online to access this aid. To register by phone, residents can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY line for people with speech or hearing impairments is 1-800-462-7585. The line is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days per week. To register online, applications may be completed at www.disasterassistance.gov. If residents have disaster assistance questions, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

During the briefing Police Chief James Heavey said that the 2 National Guard crews from the 192nd Engineering Battalion moved on to Ridgefield and Easton, after completing their assignment of clearing major north-south and east-west arteries in town. Depending upon cleanup needs around the state, they may return to Greenwich, Heavey said.

As announced earlier Wednesday, Tesei said Greenwich Public Schools will remain closed Thursday and Friday. He said an announcement regarding when schools will reopen next week, will be made at 2 p.m. Sunday. However, he said that schools are closed for Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Other major points from the briefing and the town-wide reverse 911 advistory from this evening that residents should be aware of:

There are 538 partial or full road closures in town because of downed trees, limbs, wires, utility poles. For a map with the latest closures, please click here.

The Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich remains closed. The town's 3 libraries: Greenwich, Cos Cob and Byram Shubert are open for business.

A decision on when Halloween festivities will be rescheduled will be announced "no later than 2 p.m. Sunday."

All town parks and beaches including Greenwich Point and Byram Park remained closed. Chief Heavey commended the "Parks and Recreation crews that did a fantastic job in cleaning up Byram Park" Wednesday. Officials are still conducting damage assessments in all town parks including Island Beach where much of the dock was ripped away, and on Great Captain's Island.

The Shore Road and the Shorelands areas of Old Greenwich are only accessible to residents who have photo IDs proving they live in the area, Heavey said.

Power has been restored to the town-owned Nathaniel Witherell nursing home.

The nursing homes in the King Street corridor continue to operate on generators and that is the next repair target area, Tesei said.

The YWCA and the Boys & Girls Club remain without power. Tesei said, "I have been contacted several times" by YWCA officials "because they are a community resource." YWCA Executive Director Adrienne Singer was seen headed to Tesei's town hall office Wednesday afternoon.

The town has issued an alert to homeowners whose electrical connections has been ripped from their homes. It advises what procedures are necessary before the own and utilities will approve reconnection of service. (Please see attached PDF.)

Updated, Oct. 31, 6:33 p.m.

With temperatures falling into the 40s Wednesday night, Greenwich Health Director Caroline Baisley says there are expectations that more residents will move into the two shelters set up at Eastern Middle School (51 Hendrie Ave., Riverside) and the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center (449 Pemberwick Rd.).

As of 6 p.m., there 50 people at the civic center and 35 at Eastern Middle.

Doctors, nurses and physician's assistants who volunteer as part of the town's Medical Response Corps also are staffing both shelters to offer assistance, Baisley said. For more information on the shelters, please see the accompanying video.

Updated, Oct. 31, 6:05 p.m.

Greenwich Tree Warden Bruce Spaman has warned residents not to take things into their own hands when it comes to clearing trees from local roads.

Spaman said even though residents are frustrated the road is blocked, they need to let town tree crews and hired contractors do the work. The crews are accompanied with a CL&P worker who can determine whether any live lines are tangled in the trees and can de-energize them. (Please see video.)

Updated, Oct. 31, 5:20 p.m.

The Bruce Museum has announced that it will remain closed all day Thursday, Nov. 1. The evening's lecture, late shopping hours, and trunk show have been cancelled.

The First Sunday Science program at the Seaside Center scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 4, at Greenwich Point Park also has been cancelled.

Updated, Oct. 31, 3:00 p.m.

The regular Greenwich Board of Education Work Session, scheduled to be held on Thursday, Nov. 1, at Julian Curtiss School, has been cancelled.

All items on the Nov. 1 agenda, including the Public Hearing, will be combined with the Nov. 8 Budget Presentation at Cos Cob School. That meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Also, it has not been determined whether Greenwich High School students will be able to take the SAT exams as scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3. In an e-mail to parents, GHS Principal Chris Winters said, "For those scheduled to take SATs this Saturday, we are trying to find out if we can hold them at GHS or if we need to reschedule. We will not know until Friday. If they are canceled (the) College Board will notify you directly. I will communicate more as we know more."

Updated, Oct. 31, 2:00 p.m.

Power outages continue to affect 64 percent of Greenwich customers, according to the latest figures available from Connecticut Light & Power, and the town remains under a state of emergency. (Click here to link to the utility's outage map.)

Greenwich Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha said that CL&P won't give an estimate of when repairs to downed lines, poles, transformers and substations will be done. The restoration estimate may be given on Thursday, Warzoha said.

According to Warzoha, the federal disaster declaration was signed last night and representatives from FEMA and the Small Business Administration will be arriving in Greenwich within 2 weeks to begin assisting residents and local businesses with claims for damage.

To that end, Warzoha advisedd residents to photograph all damage on their property and in their homes.

Other highlights and useful information from the evening press briefing of Oct. 30 and the morning briefing Oct. 31:

Town crews along with 2 11-person teams from the National Guard are working to clear downed trees and debris from roadways so that damage assessments and repairs can be made.

Greenwich Public Schools will announce Sunday whether classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 5.

As residents return to their homes, "if you smell gas, leave immediately and then call 911," said Warzoha.

With many traffic lights not working, "state law is that all intersections with a traffic light is considered a 4-way stop. You must yield to the vehicles on your right," according to Warzoha.

Health Director Caroline Baisley said food kept in unopened freezers may last up to 3 days. Any longer and when it starts to thaw, "either cook it or throw it out. When in doubt, throw it out. It's not worth getting sick," Baisley said. For a complete guide on post-hurricane safety including food safety, click on this link to the town's health department and see attached PDFs at right.

If your house experienced tidal flooding or was damaged by a fallen tree and your gas and/or electrical service was shut off by the utility company, your house is required to be inspected by a Town inspector to determine if your service can be restored. Once Town inspectors have determined that your dwelling is safe for utilities to be restored, the Town inspector will notify the utility company that it is approved for restoration. The inspection notice on your home will have contact information. If you are outside the flood zone and have an emergency inspection need, please contact (203) 622-7755.

Tree warden Bruce Spaman said there have been at least 500 trees have been reported as having fallen during the storm.

Police Chief James Heavey said residents continue to call 911 to report power outages. Only calls involving life safety or a crime, should be made to the emergency dispatch center. Calls regarding utilities should be made to CL&P at at 1-800-286-2000; Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325. For all other non-emergency Police and Fire related issues, dial 203-622-8000.

Regarding Halloween, it's been postponed...a decision on when it will be rescheduled may be made later this week.

Updated, Oct. 31, 12:48 p.m.

The cause of the fire which destroyed three Binney Lane homes in Old Greenwich during the height of Hurricane Sandy remains under investigation. Greenwich Fire Marshal James Macdonald said Wednesday the cause has not been determined and that he continues to interview the families whose homes were destroyed.

An estimate of the damage has not been calculated for the homes located along the shoreline, Macdonald added.

On Wednesday morning, the Greenwich Fire Department released two videos of the conflagration which show the conditions firefighters endured as tides rose and winds reahed between 70 and 80 mph, spewing embers throughout the neighborhood. (Please see at right.)

The fire began at 45 Binney Ln. and then spread to 44 Binney which in turn ignited the home at 36 Binney and a carriage house on that property.

One firefighter was hit on the arm by flying debris but remains on duty, according to Greenwich Fire Chief Peter Siecienski. His was the only one reported from the fire.

Updated, Oct. 30, 4:36 a.m.

According to CL&P, 67 percent of Greenwich is without power — or 18,907 customers. That's down from 22,173 one day earlier.

Updated, Oct. 30, 9:49 p.m.

The Holly Hill Transfer Station will be open at 9 a.m. Wednesday for commercial haulers only who must use the Muskrat Pond Road access. First Selectman Peter Tesei said that the entrance to the station on Holly Hill Lane is blocked by downed trees and wires.



The transfer facility will be open to town residents starting Thursday.

Updated, Oct. 30, 9:43 p.m.

Greenwich, Byram Shubert and Cos Cob libraries will be open for residents to power up their electronic devices.

The following statement was released Tuesday evening by First Selectman Tesei's Office:

The Town of Greenwich remains in a state of emergency. The next high tide will be at 12:37 a.m. Shelters remain open to accommodate those affected by Hurricane Sandy. There are 28 people being sheltered at Western Greenwich Civic Center (449 Pemberwick Road), and 36 people sheltered at Eastern Middle School (51 Hendrie Avenue).

We advise all residents to stay indoors for at least another day, except in the event of emergency. Please stay off the roads to permit our emergency personnel to do their jobs. Four CL&P dedicated line crews are working with Town crews to open roads. Priorities include clearing North-South routes, as well as East-West routes. The Town has 2 Tree Crews consisting of 4 people each, and has 3 outsourced Tree Crews consisting of 3-4 people each. Governor Malloy has assigned National Guard units to assist in opening Town roads.

If your house experienced tidal flooding or was damaged by a fallen tree and your gas and/or electrical service was shut off by the utility company, your house is required to be inspected by a Town inspector to determine if your service can be restored. Once Town inspectors have determined that your dwelling is safe for utilities to be restored, the Town inspector will notify the utility company that it is approved for restoration. The inspection notice on your home will have contact information. If you are outside the flood zone and have an emergency inspection need, please contact (203) 622-7755.

A representative from Connecticut Light & Power has informed the Town Emergency Operation Center that there are currently 21,597 CL&P customers without power. CL&P is not able at this time to estimate when power will be restored. Residents should plan for a multi-day outage. CL&P's policy is to make conditions safe for its field workers before the restoration of power can commence. It is advised that residents keep their distance from all downed wires, as they must be considered live and dangerous.

A representative from Aquarion has verified there is no issue with their Greenwich drinking water. However, private wells that have been flooded should be considered contaminated, and water must be disinfected with a chlorine solution or boiled for at least ten minutes prior to consumption. Water should be pumped or allowed to recede around the well before the well is disinfected.

Due to safety concerns, Halloween will be postponed. A new date will be announced later in the week after storm damage has been cleared and power restored.

The Director of Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Chief of Police, has decided to keep Greenwich Point closed until further notice. A specific date for reopening will be announced once an assessment of the damage is made.

The Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility is closed to residents on Wednesday. It will be open at 9:00 a.m. to commercial haulers, who must enter via Muskrat Pond Road, as the main entrance is blocked by trees and wires. We appreciate your cooperation and patience while we are working hard to return the facility to normal operations as soon as possible.

• All Town Parks are closed and will remain closed until further notice.

• All Greenwich schools will be closed on Wednesday, October 31.

• The Greenwich Libraries will be open regular time tomorrow. The Main Branch will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. The Cos Cob Branch will be open from

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Byram Branch will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Extra power cords will be made available for recharging of personal communication devices.

• Power related issues are to be referred to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000.

• To report a gas leak, please call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325.

• Calling 911 is still for emergency purposes only. This includes danger to life, limb, sight, or crime in progress.

• For all other non-emergency Police and Fire related issues, dial 203-622-8000.

• For general information, visit our Town website at www.greenwichct.org

Please be advised that Town Hall will be open for regular business tomorrow, October 31. All employees are expected to report at their regular time. Please exercise caution in coming to work. The Board of Education will also be open tomorrow and custodial staff will report for work at their regular time.

Updated Oct. 30 6:47 p.m.

A video of the fire scene on Binney Lane in Old Greenwich has been added to this article's gallery.

Updated Oct. 30 6:22 p.m.

A video with Greenwich Fire Chief Petr Siecienski discussing the 'heroic' efforts by firefighters battling flames, hurricane-force winds and rising tides, while trying to extinguish a fire that destroyed 3 Old Greenwich homes during Hurricane Sandy, has been added to this article's gallery.

Updated Oct. 30 5:50 p.m.

A video containing Greenwich Police plea for residents to stay home and not 'sightsee' devasation has been added to this article's gallery.

Updated Oct. 30 5:23 p.m.

A video containing interviews with Gov. Malloy and Rep. Himes has been added to this article's gallery.

Updated Oct. 30 4:05 p.m.

During Hurricane Sandy, Greenwich Hospital admitted an additional 20 patients who had to leave their homes, according to the hospital's chief operating officer Dr. Brian Dorian.

"The storm presented some challenges for us but there were no interruptions of service," Dorian said Tuesday morning. The hospital patient count rose from 136 to 156, Dorian said. The hospital also accommodated about 150 additional staff who stayed overnight to ensure the 206-bed facility would be fully staffed.

"The emergency room is getting busier today with EMS calls which had dropped off during the height of the storm," Dorian said. "We expect those visit to increase dramatically during the day" as residents venture outside their homes.

***

Republican US Senate candidate Linda McMahon dropped by the Red Cross shelter at Eastern Middle School in Riverside Tuesday afternoon. She and her staff brought boxes of coffee and doughnut holes from Dunkin' Donuts and coloring books and Crayons for children at the shelter.

McMahon said the Riverside stop was one of several she was making Tuesday. After spending the night in Hartford, she began her trip back into Fairfield County with stops in Trumbull, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford.

"We are so fortunate there were so few casualties—one casualty is too many but thank God there were so few," McMahon said.

***

Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent William McKersie also visited the EMS shelter. He said the school district's infrastructure was not damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

A decision on whether schools will reopen Thursday will be announced Wednesday after consulting with town officials. "The concern is access to the schools and power," McKersie said. As of Tuesday afternoon, Hillside Road remained completely blocked near East Putnam Avenue. A gargantuan pine tree fell across all lanes of the road leading to Greenwich High School.

McKersie also said he is concerned about whether staff who live out of town will be able to travel to Greenwich. Administrative staff at the Board of Ed's Havemeyer Building are to report to work on Wednesday, McKersie said.

Updated Oct. 30 3:03 p.m.

Greenwich remains under a state of emergency as officials continue to assess the ravages of Hurricane Sandy which came ashore Monday with an unrelenting fury of 70 to 80 mph winds and waves towering 20 feet.

From Byram to Old Greenwich, the devastation is evident with homes and cars smashed by towering trees, countless utility lines dangle like strands of spaghetti from poles snapped by winds and fallen trees and limbs. The most devastating destruction is in Old Greenwich on Binney Lane where three homes and a carriage house were destroyed by a fire that began Monday afternoon and continued to smoulder Tuesday afternoon as Gov. Dannel Malloy, US Rep. Jim Himes (D-4), Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei and Fire Chief Peter Siecienski toured the scene.

Tesei said that residents should

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