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05/22/2018 03:25 PMThough power restoration efforts following May 15’s massive storm was nearly complete, North Haven now faces an unprecedented clean-up that may run from weeks into months.
The May 15 storm was part of a system that crossed the state in the early evening and, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), spawned four tornadoes, the largest running a 9 ½ mile path from Beacon Falls to Hamden. At press time, North Haven officials were working with the NWS to determine if the path extended into town.
“Knowing there was a tornado that went through Hamden” and seeing the destruction on the ground in North Haven, First Selectman Mika Freda said, “I believe the tip went through North Haven.”
The storm caused extensive damage to the northeastern section of town, but the worst damage focused on the northwestern section near Sleeping Giant State Park, which was officially in the path of the tornado.
By the end of last week, upwards of 500 homes were without still without power. Restoration was slowed by the extent of the damage, which meant power utility United Illuminating (UI) was often not repairing but replacing infrastructure the storm had “obliterated,” Freda said.
“UI is rebuilding the whole grid system there,” Freda said. “We’re grateful there were no major injuries.”
During the prolonged outage, the town directed residents to the library and senior center to recharge devices. Public Works Department crews also worked to assist UI in clearing trees from powerlines as well as clearing roads.
Freda noted the department responded as quickly as possible when alerted to dangerous situations after the storm, such when a mother was unable to get her child to the hospital or seniors were blocked in by downed trees.
“We take very seriously the individual stories that are part of a much larger storm story,” Freda said,
Those road-clearing efforts are creating what the town expects to be the longest-lasting effect of the May 15 storm: the clean-up.
“The volume of the tree debris is so great that it’s beyond the ability of Public Works” to clear it, Freda said.
At press time, the town was seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to aid the effort, which Freda estimated to cost as much as a half-million dollars.
“If we can...qualify for FEMA funds, we can go out to bid,” he said, which would allow the town to hire outside contractors to speed the effort.
Even with outside help, Freda estimated the clean-up could be multi-month effort.