Update: Emergency Shelter to Close Friday Evening

Update Friday 4:30 p.m.

According to Durham's emergency management director, Francis Willett, as of 4 p.m. Friday, Durham has been 96 percent restored and Middlefield has been 94 percent restored.

It is critical for folks who are still without power to continue to call CL&P at 800-286-2000.

CL&P crews will be working through the weekend to restore power to the remaining homes.

The town's storm line will stay open. Residents in need of assistance should call 860-343-6735 or 860-704-9111.

The Emergency Shelter for the towns of Durham and Middlefield at Coginchaug Regional High School will close today at 8 pm. There will be no dinner served tonight; however, there will be a distribution of water and meals ready to eat for those who need it through the weekend from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Original story

Officials in Durham and Middlefield are confident that nearly all of the customers still without power Friday will have their electricty back by the end of the day Friday.

"We expect to have 95 percent restored tonight," said Francis Willett, Durham's director of emergency management.

As of 12:15 p.m. Friday, slighty more than 500 customers in Durham (202) and Middlefield (317) were still without electricity, six days after a storm knocked out power to more than 800,000 customers across Connecticut.

Willett said officials made the decision Friday morning to close the emergency shelter at Coginchaug High School at the end of the day.

"Based upon our morning briefing with CL&P and the progress of restoration efforts as of noon time both Middlefield and Durham officials have decided that the shelter will close at 8 p.m.," Willett said.

The shelter has served thousands of residents since it opened at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Willett said food (MRE's) and water will be distributed at the shelter between 4-8 p.m. Friday to any residents who might need supplies over the weekend.

Willett said residents who do not have power should contact CL&P (if they have not already) at 800-286-2000. He said residents should be ready to provide the company with important information, including address, nearest cross street, utility poll number, as well as any information about problems with equipment or power lines.

As many as a dozen CL&P crews remained in the two towns Friday to continue restoration efforts according to Willett.

Residents in need of assistance should call the town's storm line at 860-343-6735 or 860-704-9111.

Editor's Note: If you have not received power, it is possible that your connection has been disrupted. Click on what to do.

Correction: Town officials say CL&P expects 95 percent restoration by the end of Friday. Patch previously reported 99 percent restoration was expected.