As our communities all continue to assess the damage and clean up from the violent storms this week, the Candlewood Lake Authority and FirstLight wanted to pass along some important information that might be valuable to you and your family.
SAFETY
Electricity can energize the lake water. Falling branches and uprooted trees can become tangled with electrical wires and become energized. Please stay clear of and report any fallen trees or wires immediately to Eversource. Tree removal is extremely dangerous, make sure your contractor is insured and qualified for this type of work. Damaged structures should be inspected for safety before entry. Docks, debris and vessels should be secured to the shoreline where possible.
Trees and other debris have blown into the water and there could be new unknown submerged hazards.
Additionally, several hazard buoys have broken free or have moved, so please exercise extreme caution when navigating your vessel on the lake. The Candlewood Lake Authority is working to locate and replace the buoys and remove or secure the floating debris.
Call Eversource at 1-800-286-2000 to report an electric outage, or go online at www.eversource.com. Follow Eversource on Twitter (@EversourceCT) and Facebook (facebook.com/EversourceCT). Sign up to receive storm outage updates via text, email, phone call at www.eversource.com. For gas leaks, call 877-944-5325.
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
If you need additional assistance, call Connecticut's toll-free Infoline, 211, for information, referrals and other services.
FirstLight has prepared a notification form for storm related tree or debris removal which is available via our website www.firstlightpower.com.