nothin New Haven Independent | Branford Schools, Businesses Reopening

Branford Schools, Businesses Reopening

Mary Johnson Photo

As public works crews continued to widen snow-laden streets and intersections, Branford’s town center opened for business today and the town’s public schools plan to reopen Thursday, Valentine’s Day, six days after Blizzard Nemo hit Connecticut.

While nerves have become frayed during the massive clean-up, First Selectman Unk DaRos urged residents for perspective and patience as the town digs out from an historic storm. He praised public works crews and outside contractors who have worked round-the-clock, he said. By this morning parking spots were available near the town Green.

They’ve been doing an extraordinary job,” said DaRos. They’ve been giving it their all.”

Mary Johnson Photo

DaRos said pay loaders had not yet reached the Ivy Street area of Main Street, near the Green (pictured). They will tonight,” he said. He said Branford is functioning far better than other towns.” He has heard reports from first selectmen and mayors across the state on a daily conference call, he said

He said most residents have been very understanding, but others have been harassing road crews while they’re trying to work. People have to be patient,” DaRos said. It’s a slow and tedious process.

If you can’t go as fast on the highway, at least have respect for one another. There is no reason for frustration. There is a reason why these events are called disasters,” he said.

Mary Johnson Photo

DaRos said there aren’t any cost estimates yet, but towns will receive some reimbursement from FEMA. It’s going to be a very expensive storm,” he said. Town Hall, pictured today, was open for business.

SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGES?

The decision was made late Tuesday to keep schools closed Wednesday and reopen them Thursday in part because intersections at school bus stops are still steeped in snow and potentially dangerous while attempting to make turns. Workers have been moving to clear school routes all day in order to get buses ready.

Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez posted a letter to parents on the school district Web site. He said as of Tuesday, the district has missed nine days of school due to storms and weather-related issues. He said if many additional days are missed, the make-up days may have to come from the spring vacation scheduled in April. He asked parents for their patience and understanding as the school district grapples with the effects of the blizzard.

The center of town was beginning to hum again. Cars were able to park outside stores across from the town Green.

Mary Johnson Photo

Along the shoreline, pay loaders removed snow at intersections. Every so often they came upon a scene of extraordinary beauty. Here is Limewood Avenue.

MAIL DELIVERIES SLOW

In the aftermath of the blizzard, delivering local mail has become a problem. Postal workers in Branford have had trouble delivering mail because the blizzard dumped mounds of snow around mailboxes.

If the mailboxes are clear of snow and mailmen can reach the box, then mail will be delivered. But getting out of the mail truck and risking a fall is not to be attempted, carriers have been told. In that case, mail will be returned to the main post office for future delivery.

FIREFIGHTERS BUSY

Meanwhile, Branford firefighters were busy Tuesday responding to medical calls, evacuating people whose roofs collapsed, and checking homes for signs of structural damage.

We continue to be busy,” said Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Heffernan, and I think it will continue for a couple more days.” He estimated there have been three or four times as many emergency calls as an ordinary week. He said both the career firefighters and the volunteer firefighters have been working extra shifts since the storm started Friday.

At about noon Tuesday, Branford ambulance crews were on six simultaneous medical calls ranging from cardiac and respiratory problems to slip-and-fall injuries. Heffernan said all six people were being transported to hospitals. He said people with health issues were unable to get to the doctor in recent days and now their problems have escalating to the point that they need to be hospitalized.

Heffernan said residents had to be evacuated from a mobile home on North Ivy Street and from six condo units on Florence Road. He said the mobile home was extensively damaged when the roof collapsed under heavy snow. The Florence Road condos also had roof problems from snow.
No one was injured at either location.

In addition to the medical and emergency calls, fire crews have been trying to dig out hundreds of fire hydrants that are still buried under snow drifts. Heffernan is asking the public to assist if they are able to shovel any hydrants on their property. We need their help,” he said.


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