By Matthew Clyburn
Hurricane Irene swept through Connecticut as a tropical storm Sunday, claiming millions of dollars in damage and two lives.
One person died in a house fire caused by fallen power lines in Prospect, while another died during an attempt to canoe on a flooded roadway in Bristol.
Widespread damage was reported along the shoreline due to falling trees, high winds and heavy rains. Forecasters accurately predicted that between two and 12 inches of rain would fall between Saturday evening and Sunday night.
At CCSU, Irene delayed move-ins for returning students and led to the postponement of the first day of classes. Returning students were asked to stay home as the storm passed through Sunday and move in to residences on Monday.
University officials met with President Miller Thursday afternoon to discuss weather forecasts and potential safety measures, according to Media Relations Officer Janice Palmer.
“The University regrets postponing the events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday and the beginning of classes, but the safety of the campus community is our most important concern,” CCSU Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications Mark W. McLaughlin said.
Few students were impacted by the storm, as many chose to stay at home or with friends while Irene passed. Those that stayed on campus were virtually unaffected.
“There were no reports of serious problems on campus,” McLaughlin said. “Electrical outages were being quickly addressed and power was shifted as needed.”
Some students went to the campus bookstore for supplies before Irene passed through the state.
“Students came down Saturday and bought DVDs, rain boots, and snacks to get them through the storm,” Barnes & Noble CCSU Bookstore Director Jack O’Leary said. “Business has been good.”
O’Leary said that the delivery of textbook orders was not affected by the storm and student purchasing had resumed as normal Monday morning.
CCSU student Cody Palmer was driving a friend home to Worcester, Mass. when the hurricane hit. The minivan he was traveling in got stuck on flooded roads and they were forced to abandon the vehicle in waist-deep waters. When Palmer returned to Gallaudet Hall, though, he found that the storm’s affects on campus were less than expected.
“It was overhyped,” Palmer said. “Came back after the storm…[and] it’s a beautiful day.”
Governor Dannel Malloy signed a Declaration of Emergency Thursday evening that granted special powers to the office in light of the storm. Malloy used the emergency powers to order a handful of evacuations and close two highways in southern Connecticut.
“It’s quite clear that the number one issue is power,” Malloy said in a press conference Monday. “We understand it, we’re hearing it…that’s why I can assure you that representatives of these [power] companies are going to make themselves available to you at the appropriate times.”
According to Connecticut Light and Power, more than 750,000 Connecticut residents were without power at the height of the storm Sunday. It may take more than a week for power to be restored to all customers as crews come in from other parts of the United States to assist.
“We’re doing everything we can to have made more crews available to Connecticut,” Malloy said.
The semester officially began on Tuesday when classes commenced as scheduled.