Community Corner
Stratford Cleans Up from Hurricane Irene [VIDEO]
Storm surge rips shoreline homes apart at Long Beach; tree topples onto gazebo at Paradise Green.
Beach homes in Lordship’s Long Beach area sustained significant damage from the wind-swept storm surge of Hurricane Irene Sunday.
One cottage was ripped from its pilings and smashed against other homes. Another structure had one end torn off and a sign fixed to the side declaring it unsafe to enter.
Damage was also seen inland. Throughout town, residents emerged Sunday afternoon after the hurricane ended and found fallen limbs and trees everywhere.
Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
At Paradise Green, a large tree was uprooted and fell against the gazebo, causing significant damage. Another tree fell and partially blocked Huntington Street adjacent to the green.
In the north end of town, a tree on the property of Sikorsky Aircraft fell across Route 110 just north of Oronoque Lane and blocked three of the state highway’s four lanes. At 4 p.m., the state DOT still had not reached the blockage.
Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Health Director Andrea Boissevain said the town’s emergency evacuation shelter at Bunnell High School had housed 52 town residents Saturday night and Sunday morning.
On Sunday afternoon many of those residents were leaving the shelter, but Boissevain said they might be forced to return when they arrived home and found they had no power.
"People are going to realize they may not have power for a week or more," she said.
The evacuation shelter would remain open and staffed by Medical Reserve Corps volunteers until Monday morning when Boissevain said she would reassess the situation.
Stratford announced on Sunday that the town schools would be closed on Monday.
Police officers set up a checkpoint on Lordship Boulevard to keep sightseers out of Lordship. Only residents and emergency personnel were allowed into the shoreline neighborhood.
Ed Wetmore of Trumbull got through to check on his beach house. He said he was happy to see that damage wasn’t as bad as he had feared.
Wetmore accompanied firefighters in turnout gear who went door to door checking for gas leaks. Some gas leaks had been reported, according to Police Capt. Joseph McNeil.
Click here to see a photo gallery of the damage in Stratford.
How did Irene affect you? Tell us in the comments section below.
