We Were Fortunate

To the Editor:

Hurricane Irene left her mark on Newtown, even as a tropical storm, but still, we were lucky. We fared better than many other areas. We were also fortunate to have a great deal of support from our town. Thanks go to First Selectman Pat Llodra, and many others in the town (I know Selectman Will Rodgers was putting in many hours), for all the available help. Hot showers were available in several places, plenty of water was available at the firehouses, bottled water was distributed, and the landfill and several dumpsters were available around town for spoiled food. Pat also did an amazing job with communicating and coordinating all these efforts. Information was posted on Newtown’s website, the Newtown Bee online and the Newtown Patch, as well as leaflets available around town. Almost daily phone updates were given through the emergency communication system for those of us lucky enough to have phone service. (My phone was out; I had AT&T forward my calls to my cell.)

Thanks go to Newtown Youth Academy, Masonicare, and Associated Refuse (Pat Caruso) for all the help they provided. Caraluzzi’s and Big Y were terrific and donated thousands of dollars worth of water and ice. Poland Springs showed up with a huge donation of water without even being asked! Dunkin’ Donuts donated coffee and Bagel Delite donated bagels. The school custodial staff at Reed and the high school was wonderful for all their extra work, as was the transportation staff for their emergency preparations. There were many other volunteers. Pat even gave out her cellphone number to make sure she was accessible to everyone. It was a difficult week, to be sure, but I was proud of Newtown’s response and mentally added one more reason that it’s “Nicer in Newtown.”

Barbara Bloom

25 Philo Curtis Road, Sandy Hook                       September 6, 2011