A 2 pm meeting on Thursday of Newtown officials involved in emergency operations and storm recovery revealed that there were still more than 50 local roads partially or fully blocked, but a complement of more than 26 Eversource crews including ten or more tree clearing teams were on the ground and making progress in some of the hardest hit neighborhoods. The cleanup efforts continued nearly 48 hours after a fierce storm that brought heavy rain and winds as strong as 110 miles per hour through town, and the region, shortly before 5 pm Tuesday, May 15.

At the same time, those workers were encountering some issues with residents, apparently fatigued or testy over the protracted period without power, who were in a few cases disrupting the clearing and restoration efforts. Utility crews reportedly encountered some issues in the process of replacing ten or more snapped electrical poles on Mohawk Trail, as well as while they were clearing parts of Lakeview Terrace, officials said.

Progress was concurrently being made by crews working in the area of Butterfield and Parmalee Hill Roads, and other crews had worked their way down to the water's edge at the end of Algonquin Trail in the Cedarhurst community.

An Eversource spokesperson said that between 10 am and 2 pm Thursday, 588 local electric customers came back online. She also said some crews were working to restore two major circuits that could re-energize more than 2,300 more homes once that work was completed. By 5:30 pm Thursday, 6,311 Newtown customers were still without power.

Sunday at noon, with many being restored before that.

A late Thursday release from the utility said customers without power in the hardest hit towns of Brookfield, Danbury, Monroe and Newtown are expected to be back online by 

"We recognize how difficult it is for our customers to be without power and we greatly appreciate their patience," said Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations in Connecticut Michael Hayhurst. "The damage from this storm can't be overstated, with approximately 700 utility poles broken, 91 miles of electric lines down and more than 250 blocked roads. We're always working to better serve our customers, especially in extreme conditions like we're currently facing. Our crews and support staff will stay on the job until all customers are safely restored."

Emergency Management Director William Halstead said he was receiving information that more small remote cottages along the Housatonic and Lake Zoar were "flattened" by falling trees that snapped during the brief but powerful macroburst that pushed100-110 mph winds downward ahead of a line of severe thunderstorms late in the afternoon on Tuesday, May 15.

Building inspector John Poeltl said he would likely be using either a Parks andamp; Recreation boat or watercraft from Newtown Underwater Search andamp; Rescue (NUSAR) on Friday to reach some of the most remote cottages and seasonal homes from the water to check for occupants and to better assess the collapsed or damaged structures.

He said while newer structures were able to withstand tree strikes, older homes and small cottages simply "pancaked" under the weight and force of falling trees.

Officials are also compiling the necessary information to file for storm aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), once clearance to apply has been provided. FEMA damage assessment teams are expected to arrive in the area in the next couple of days to initiate that process.

Police Chief James Viadero and Mr Halstead, who is also the chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire andamp; Rescue, were both aware that construction projects on South Main Street and Church Hill Road were complicating travel through town. Chief Viadero said he planned to speak with state DOT representatives to try and determine how those traffic choke points might be alleviated in coming days.

He also mentioned that northern access to Pecks Lane at South Main Street would be closing Sunday evening so road work could be done at that intersection.

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Water Supplies, Dumpsters Available

In the meantime, Town Parks andamp; Rec crews were going house to house in the most affected neighborhoods distributing bottles of drinking water donated by the Nestle company. Limited supplies of drinking water would be made available at each of the town's five fire stations, and the Parks andamp; Rec maintenance facility adjacent to the Reed School on Wasserman Way. Potable water remains available for all residents at all six of the town's fire stations as well as at Newtown High School.

School was again canceled for Friday, and State Rep Mitch Bolinsky said he was working with school and state Department of Education officials to get a waiver to ensure students were not forced to attend class much further into the school year.

Dumpsters for storm spoiled food will be installed by Friday morning at the Dodgingtown and Hawleyville fire stations (55 Dodgingtown Road and 34 Hawleyville Road, respectively), and at Newtown High School to make it easier for residents to dispose of household food that spoiled after power went out to most areas in town on May 15.

Chief Halstead warned residents to avoid using candles for light if at all possible to minimize the risk of fire.

Dozens of residents were utilizing Newtown Municipal Center Thursday afternoon for wifi access and to recharge electronic devices.

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Governor Malloy Update

At 4 pm Thursday Governor Dannel Malloy held a brief press conference during which he recognized Newtown as being among the hardest hit communities in the state. He said the Red Cross had opened three shelters, including one in Southbury for residents forced out of their homes by storm damage.

The governor said he was weighing the possibility of activating the National Guard Friday specifically for assistance in road clearing with the Guard unit's heavy machinery and manpower, and he "celebrated" communities that were not hard hit, that were reaching out to those that were offering additional assistance.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal mentioned that several neighboring town leaders had reached out to him in the event Newtown required additional personnel or equipment, primarily to relieve local public works and parks personnel, many who have been working extended shifts since the storm.

"In some towns virtually every electrical delivery line is affected," Gov Malloy said, adding that more than 1,000 Eversource teams and contractors were on the ground now with more coming. "This is big stuff, very very difficult, I'm amazed at the level of devastation."

The governor said he visited neighboring Brookfield Wednesday, which was arguably the hardest hit town in the state, and did flyovers of other communities observing the scope of damage from the air.

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