The Seymour emergency shelter at Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Road, has become a refuge from the cold as the town heads into another night without electricity.
About 30 people stayed the first night, Sunday (Oct. 30), and about 20 — including First Selectman Paul Roy — showed up to take showers Monday morning.
Residents are invited to sleep at the middle school again tonight (Oct. 31), but they must bring their own bedding and snacks, according to a CodeRED alert message sent out at 3:15 p.m.
Residents can also charge electrical devices at the shelter.
On Monday morning, many of the residents at the shelter were there for the heat — something their homes are without.
“I came to warm up,” said Mary Bachhuber, who spent the morning at the school’s media center knitting and reading a book.
She had spent the night at home because she could burn wood in her fireplace.
Fadden did not have that luxury. She spent the night in the shelter, laying across a couple of cushioned chairs.
“I had no heat, no hot water,” said Fadden, who sat near a window in the media center warming herself in the sun.
She spoke highly of the volunteers at the shelter the night before.
“The young girls that work here were so nice,” Fadden said. “They had snacks and coffee for us.”
Facing a night of cold is one problem. Facing a night without needed medical equipment that runs on electricity is another.
One of the guests at the shelter from Sunday night said he had lung disease and needed his oxygen generator, so he went to the shelter Sunday afternoon. The genetleman declined to give his name.
Fadden said she lost electricity at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
That is when a transmission line and an electrical substation in Beacon Falls failed, according to CL&P officials. CL&P crews were working on the problem Monday, but there was no estimate of when they’ll be finished.
The substation problems doubled the number of Seymour residents without power Sunday.
“The whole east side of Seymour is affected by that substation,” said Seymour Community Police Officer Sergio Desiderato, who was at the shelter Monday setting up a television and DVD player for residents to keep themselves entertained with.
Desiderator had helped to coordinate the Trick or Trunk Halloween event that was to be held at the Seymour Middle School Monday night. The even was cancelled for safety reasons.
Town officials also urged residents to forgo regular door to door trick or treating, because of the danger involved.
The guests at the shelter ate snacks and sipped hot coffee.
Resident Bob Lang was bundled up in a winter coat, sitting at a table catching up with some of his league paperwork.
“I’m just trying to stay warm,” Lang said.
For a ride to the shelter, call (203) 888-1909.
Residents who need water can get it at the Great Hill Hose Company, 140 Botsford Road, and at the Citizens Engine Co. at 1 First Street downtown.