First Selectman's Report - 09/12/2011

FIRST SELECTMAN’S REPORT

Monday, September 12, 2011

SIMSBURY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY LEADS OBSERVANCE OF 9/11

THIS WEEKEND – WHICH MARKED THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 – GAVE ALL OF US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY AND, IN PARTICULAR, ON THE COUNTLESS ACTS OF HEROISM ATTRIBUTABLE TO LOCAL FIRE AND POLICE PERSONNEL.  IT IS PARTICULARLY FITTING THAT OUR OWN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT LED THE REMEMBRANCE OF 9/11 HERE IN SIMSBURY WITH A CEREMONY IN FRONT OF THE FIRE HOUSE ON SUNDAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHIEF JIM BALDIS AND THE ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR A REMARKABLY MOVING CEREMONY WHICH INCLUDED MUSIC, READINGS AND PRAYERS AND INVOLVED OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TOWN PERSONNEL AND VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR OWN SAFETY PERSONNEL AND TO REFLECT UPON JUST HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO BE IN THEIR HANDS.  9/11 REMINDS US THAT SACRIFICES ARE STILL BEING MADE EVERY DAY TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM AND TO KEEP US SAFE.

 

SIMSBURY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PERSONNEL HELP TOWN RESIDENTS THROUGH HURRICANE IRENE – RESIDENTS URGED TO REGISTER WITH FEMA BEFORE NOVEMBER 3, 2011 DEADLINE

DAYS BEFORE HURRICANE IRENE CAME ASHORE, SIMSBURY’S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PERSONNEL MET TO ENSURE THAT THE TOWN WAS PREPARED TO OPEN BLOCKED ROADS, OPEN SHELTERS, EVACUATE RESIDENTS AND TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING ELSE NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD THE RESIDENTS OF SIMSBURY.

WHEN THE STORM HIT ON AUGUST 28, OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER OPENED AT 6:00 A.M. TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE STORM AND TO RESPOND TO THE STORM IN A COORDINATED AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.  RESIDENTS WHO NEEDED FOOD, SHELTER AND ASSISTANCE OF ALL KINDS RECEIVED THAT ASSISTANCE IN A TIMELY FASHION.  I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORT FOR THEIR EXCELLENT WORK.

WHILE THE STORM CERTAINLY COULD HAVE DONE MORE DAMAGE THAN IT DID, IT STILL LEFT 65% OF US WITHOUT POWER AT ITS WORST, AND POWER WASN’T RESTORED FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS UNTIL THE END OF THE WEEK.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE TOWN’S RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IRENE.  MEETINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HELD WITH TOWN STAFF AND KEVIN KOWALKSI WHO HEADS UP OUR EMERGENCY TEAM.  OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL BE REVIEWING THE RESPONSE AT THEIR MEETING LATER THIS WEEK, AND WE WILL SOON BE MEETING WITH CL&P TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS WE FACED AND TO SEEK SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE PROBLEMS.

HURRICANE IRENE CERTAINLY DID SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE HERE – JUST ASK THE FOLKS ON RIVERSIDE ROAD – AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO EXPERIENCE DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE HURRICANE TO REGISTER WITH FEMA AND TO MAKE A CLAIM.  THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 3, 2011 SO BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE THEN.  ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW TO DO THAT ARE RIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE – OR YOU CAN CALL THE FIRST SELECTMAN’S OFFICE AND WE’LL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.