Utility workers from throughout the Northeast converge on Berkshire County to repair power lines downed by last week's ice storm. This cluster of trucks rumbles Monday through North Street in Windsor.
Ben Garver / Berkshire Eagle Staff
By Trevor Jones and Kevin Moran, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Updated: 12/16/2008 02:59:57 AM EST
The ice is receding but the damage remains: One of the worst ice storms in decades has left thousands still without power, roads littered with splintered trees and downed power lines throughout the county's higher elevations.
"We've never seen this much damage in an ice storm," said John Tulloch, a Western Mass Electric Co., or WMECO, manager of customer operations for the Pittsfield district. "In some areas, there's more stuff down than there is in the air."
More than 6,700 mostly residential customers were still without power as of Monday, according to Tulloch. The power went out for those customers overnight Thursday when more than an inch of ice covered the hilltowns.
In lower elevations, the ice was a no-show — only rain fell in a swath from North Adams to the south of Great Barrington.
Since then, National Guardsmen have provided assistance clearing roads, residents have worked to assist with the cleanup, and utility crews from as far away as Virginia have arrived to repair power lines.
Tulloch did not have a specific time frame for power to return for most customers, but said the additional crews have helped make "some very good progress."
Tulloch said the clean-up has been particularly difficult because of the widespread damage and the lines needing to be reconnected one street at a time.
Many residents without power are trying to remain positive it will return
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soon.
"You're afraid of what may happen," said Connie Wood of Windsor. "But you make do with what you have."
The only source of heat in Wood's home since Thursday has been a space heater plugged into a generator. Because people in Windsor are connected to wells that require electric pumps, Wood said the most difficult thing has been the lack of running water.
But others are concerned not enough is being done.
Tom Speckert, of Pittsfield Road in Hinsdale, has been staying at his daughters' home in Vermont since a fire from overuse of his fireplace left him unable to stay at his home. While his surrounding roads have regained power, his street remains dark, with power lines strewn across the pavement.
'That's not an act of God'
When a WMECO representative told him it was an "act of God" and his power could not be returned until Friday at the earliest, his response was: "That's not an act of God. That's an act of WMECO deciding not to fix our little side street because there is only 10 houses on it."
Peru Fire Chief Eric Autenrieth is also critical of WMECO, and told of problems he had trying to communicate with company officials about the storm damage to electric power in Peru. He also faulted the company for not responding early enough with adequate crews to cut and clear trees surrounding utility wires in town.
"They have not lived up to any of their agreements in terms of 'cut and clear' or calling us back within time frames," Autenrieth said.
Utility crews from Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware arrived in Peru mid-morning Sunday, and they have been working hard since, Autenrieth said. However, he said a WMECO official finally returned his phone messages Sunday night, and that the official was not aware those crews had even arrived in town.
Praise for local response
"I understand 100 percent that this entire region got hit by the storm — don't get me wrong," Autenrieth said. "But instead of putting five trucks in one town, they could have spread them around."
Autenrieth praised the town's 14 volunteer firefighters, who have logged more than 500 hours since the storm hit, as well as the cooperation of local police and highway departments.
More than 20 utility poles snapped and 20 transformers were damaged throughout the town, he said late Monday afternoon, and that most of the men have used their personal vehicles and chain saws to clear felled trees from the roads.
"Our firefighters for the town of Peru have gone above and beyond what's expected of them," he said. "They are 100 percent volunteer and have been basically the backbone of this town during this whole mess."
All of the towns are working to help with emergency assistance in the form of food and water as well.
As of Monday afternoon, Becket had approximately 30 residents at the emergency shelter set up at Town Hall on Main Street, according to Ray Tarjick, the town's emergency management director.
If more people continue to arrive at the shelter, Becket officials are considering opening the local YMCA camp to accommodate them, Tarjick said.
In Savoy, where power may not be returned for some for another two to three weeks, the fire department and the Red Cross served more than 250 dinners to residents in need of assistance Monday night at the fire station.
"This has been an awesome community effort," said Billie Bushika, a Savoy Fire Department reserve, of the residents continuing effort to help clear debris. She said many at Monday's dinner were just happy to see a different face "It's kind of nice to have communication with the outside world," she said.
To reach Trevor Jones: tjones@berkshireeagle.com, or (413) 528-3660.
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