About 10 percent of Hamden homes and businesses are still without power three days after Tropical Storm Irene blew into the state, a number low compared to other communities but far too high for those sill affected.
And for on Dunbar Hill Road, it came close to being a disaster.
The Hamden Chamber of Commerce and several others issued a plea Wednesday for the community to come together to support the farm by buying its fruits and vegetables. After three days without power, the farm's refrigerated inventory was on the verge of spoiling, which could have destroyed its business for the year.
But then, at about 4 p.m., the power came back on, in time to save most of the highly perishable produce.
But others remain powerless, and to help them out, the Federal Emergency Management Administration will be handing out food and water tomorrow beginning at noon at both the and the .
Town officials have expressed frustration with the time it is taking to get power restored to everyone, but United Illuminating is now working with the town to make that happen after a meeting Wednesday with Mayor Scott Jackson.
"UI is now working with the Mayor's Office to coordinate power restoration issues," Chief Administrative Officer Curt Leng posted Wednesday on the town's Facebook page. "We are going to supply a priority list starting with public safety buildings, areas with concentrations of senior citizens and people that have reported health concerns."
Also on Wednesday, Gov. Dannel Malloy announces the creation of a secure website where people can make donations to those hard-hit by the storm, which in some shoreline communities destroyed homes.
Anyone wishing to make donations to help state residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Irene can do so online at the National Donations Management Network.
The website is FEMA-approved and designed to centralize donations, which are then managed and disbursed by a task force leader at the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Financial donations are preferred to allow officials to keep logistical costs low and to more quickly meet demands.
“In the few days since Hurricane Irene swept through Connecticut, we’ve begun to see just how much damage was inflicted upon our state,” Malloy said. “While there are still roads to be cleared and electricity to be restored, people who are looking for ways in which they can help can donate money and goods through a safe, secure website. In turn, the state will coordinate these supplies and get them out to residents and businesses that need them the most.”
