Amid Mixed Thoughts on CL&P Response, Area Residents Recharge

The black Duracell Power Relief Station tent next to TD Bank in Avon's Walmart Plaza is unassuming, but inside lies a warm, high-tech facility with charging stations.

"The major thing when there's a storm is that people lose power," Ryan Vaster, Duracell field manager said.

The free relief program started last spring after a tornado devastated Tuscaloosa, AL.

Area residents can charge their phones, computers and other electronics in a locker, leave them as long as they need and take the key while they shop or run errands. There are four flatscreen TVs on the wall showing news and other channels and there are three internet-powered computers. 

Lynne Cole, of Avon, sat on a cushioned bench inside the power relief trailer Thursday, five days in to no power, connected to the free WiFi on her laptop after bouncing between the crowded Starbucks and McDonalds on Route 44.

"I think it's kind of neat," she said.

She and her husband, Thomas spent the previous night in a Rocky Hill hotel.They had booked at Avon Old Farms Hotel online, and the reservation went through, but in reality the online system they used did not track the status of the hotel through the power outage, so in reality there was no vacancy. She said they needed to get their money back.

Regarding Connecticut Light & Power's response to the power outages, she said, "I'd like to see it be quicker.... It could be faster," Cole said. "It hit everyone unexpectedly."

Julie Kurtz, of Bloomfield, wasn't as patient. She sat at one of the computers with her toy poodle, Rose.

"It's really bad. I'm having to stay a couple nights at a friend's house in Westbrook. We have no power or hot water," Kurtz said. "We're very upset about it. We haven't seen one truck in Bloomfield or West Hartford."

Both she and Cole thought it would be helpful for the state to call upon the National Guard to help clear trees, which is exactly what happened on Friday. There were National Guards removing trees from Winding Lane.

Robin Saxe, who lives on Greystone Lane in Avon, has been lucky enough to have a generator, but it ran out of gas on Wednesday. Some other families have been staying with her. She and her family were on a list of 1,200 waiting for propane from Propane Gas Services in Windsor.

"It's warmer outside than inside," Saxe said. "I think CL&P are doing what they can. The president of CL&P is taking a lot of heat. We're all frustrated when we're cooped up and when we don't get [power] past, we get aggravated."

In the meantime, the Duracell station is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Nov. 8. There is also a board on the wall with information about local restaurants, medical centers, places to get insurance and more.