Groton Respite Center Wants Region To Take Showers

A regional Respite Center at the is offering southeastern Connecticut residents without power the ability to take a hot shower. The center is able to offer a dozen showers at that same time.

"We already have one," said Groton Director of Emergency Management Joe Sastre. "And we'll have a second portable shower unit operating to serve a larger number of people than we could easily move through the few shower stalls at the center."

The Groton Office of Emergency Management secured two portable shower units that have six individual stalls each and they welcome all residents, from Groton and beyond, who don't have electricity or water.

In addition the Noank Fire Department is open for the public to take a shower between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily, Sastre said.

The portable units, which were designed for mass decontamination, came from fire departments at the University of Connecticut in Storrs and Norwich. There are approximately 30 in the state, said Lieutenant Scott McDonald of the University of Connecticut Fire Department.

The Westerly, Mystic and Arcadia branches of the YMCA are also offering showers to residents without power or water.