In the wake of widespread power outages following storms in August and October, the State of Connecticut is developing an emergency response plan for better communication between state, local and utility officials.
The Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection released its plan to update and improve the storm response “Master Plan” on how to handle events such as hurricanes, snowstorms and power outages.
Following Tropical Storm Irene in August and the Oct. 29 snowstorm, nearly 1 million Connecticut residents were without power, some for more than a week. A large amount of the criticism has been placed on Berlin electric utility Connecticut Light & Power, although reviews of the storm response also blamed the failures on state, local and utility officials to communicate.
Following the snowstorm, there was confusion over who would clear trees from roads so utility restoration crews could fix damaged power lines. The utilities have their own separate road crews, but the state and municipalities also have public works and emergency response crews capable of the same tasks.
The “Master Plan” will develop comprehensive planning to identify in detail multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional response and coordination actions, roles and responsibilities.
The reworking of the “Master Plan” is part of the state’s multi-prong response to Irene and the snowstorm. The response also included a review by independent Washington, D.C. consultant Witt Associates, which blamed both CL&P for its response and state and local communication.
Gov. Dannel Malloy formed his Two Storm Panel to make recommendations on better emergency response. Those recommendations are expected Jan. 9.
