FEMA may help pay for storm cleanup

NORTH CANAAN — Cleanup and assessment of damage from the Oct. 28 snowstorm continued with a visit from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).The selectmen reported at their Dec. 5 board meeting that two FEMA representatives were in town recently taking photographs of an enormous pile of tree cuttings taken by the town to Tallon Lumber, and an equally enormous pile of wood chips at the transfer station.While little information was offered by the FEMA representatives, the selectmen are presuming the size of the piles is being used as an indicator of the amount of damage. They are hoping those piles will be compelling enough to earn the town a check for disaster aid.The storm dumped about 18 inches of wet snow here and took down countless branches and trees. Most still had at least some of their leaves, making the damage even more extensive than it would have been later in the winter. Power was out to most of the town for stretches of time that ranged from several hours to several days. For the first time, people came to a town-run emergency shelter to stay warm.As for meeting the immediate needs of town residents after the storm, First Selectman Douglas Humes had words of praise for Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P).“Everyone was critical of CL&P,” Humes said. “But we did get our power back in a timely manner.”He gave credit for the fairly smooth recovery to a solid emergency plan and collaboration with CL&P. The effort included Canaan Fire Company volunteers conducting an assessment and giving CL&P a report of damaged utility poles.“Our plan worked, and [CL&P] worked with us,” Humes said.As for remaining limbs, Tree Warden Corey Bush is addressing the issue.

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