More than half of the residents that sought shelter at Stonington High School during the height of Irene have left.
Red Cross Volunteers, Susan Grufstedt of North Stonington and Ruth Holbrook of Pawcatuck said the had over 70 people Saturday evening but by 3 p.m. Sunday there were only 31.
But while they said people have been leaving all day they did expect some of come back during the night.
Sunday evening shelter volunteers had made a pasta dinner for residents from food donated by the town.
While earlier in the day there were reports about the shelter running out food Grufstedt and Holbrook said those reports were not entirely accurate. The shelter was never equipped to provide meals, rather the plan had been to provide healthy snacks and then meals based on donations.
Over the past two days the Stonington community donated food, including the pasta dinner the town provide, ice cream cakes from and a prepared picnic from one resident.
“Everyone is very nice and appreciative,” Holbrook said of the evacuees who ranged in age from a baby just two-days-old to an adult in their 90s. “Everyone has thanked us.”
First Selectman Ed Haberek Jr., said the shelter would remain open Sunday night and Monday, but beginning tomorrow the town would start working with the Red Cross to find transitional housing for those evacuees who will be unable to return to their homes in their new future and also look into the possibility of a regional shelter.
“The biggest concern is the power being out for awhile,” Haberek said. “It’s probably not going to be days, it’s going to be longer.”
As of 7 p.m., CL&P reported 94 percent of its Stonington customers were without power and 53 percent of the state was without power.
Haberek said the town is in constant communication with the utility companies, but with so many people without power throughout the East Coast it would take awhile.
The town’s Emergency Operations Center will be open to 11 p.m. at 860-535-5050. For questions after 11 p.m., residents should contact the police department at 860-599-4411.
