Gov. Dannel Malloy is touting the state’s four-day statewide emergency drill as excellent preparation for when the real thing comes rolling into the state in the future.
“Most important, the drill focused on fostering better communications amongst the many parties involved,” Malloy said in a press release. “I want to thank everyone who participated for their cooperation and understanding of the importance of doing these drills.”
The drill operated by the state Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security sprung out of last year’s widespread power outages where Tropical Storm Irene in August and the Oct. 29 snowstorm knocked out electricity to the majority of the state for up to 11 days in some cases. Electric utility Connecticut Light & Power was widely criticized, as was the communication between state and local officials with the utilities.
Participants in the drill included CL&P, United Illuminating, AT&T, Comcast, Cablevision, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, Charter, Cox and MetroCast, various state agencies; 165 municipalities and tribal nations; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the Red Cross; United Way 211; and representatives of the private sector. The municipalities and tribal nations were given $1,200 each to participate.
Malloy particularly touted the communication between the parties during the drill, the activation of emergency operations centers, the opening of shelters, and a new streamlined process to deliver supplies to towns.
