Community Corner

UPDATED 4:30 p.m.: Elementary Schools Have Power; Shelter Closing at 5 p.m.; 11 Percent Without Power

Stick with Patch for your October snow updates and let us know in the comments whether you have power or how you're faring.

Update: 4:30 p.m.

Moments ago NSTAR posted its 4 p.m. update and it shows significant improvement in Wayland. The number of customers without power has dropped to 11 percent or 586 customers, down from 1,132 customers at noon.

Where is the 11 percent? Boston Post Road area? Tell us in the comments.

Find out what's happening in Waylandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Update: 4:10 p.m.

Wayland Police Chief Robert Irving said in his 4 p.m. update that power has been restored to Happy Hollow and Claypit Hill elementary schools. It is anticipated that schools will be open tomorrow, but further information about that situation is forthcoming.

Find out what's happening in Waylandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If schools are open, Irving said, children should not be allowed to walk to school as debris still littlers many streets and sidewalks.

The Community Emergency Response TeamĀ  (CERT) shelter at Wayland Middle School will close at 5 p.m. this evening. Anyone who needs shelter tonight is asked to contact Wayland's dispatch center Dispatch Center at 508-358-4721 for help arranging accommodations. Irving said there are other shelters in the area where Wayland residents are welcome.

NSTAR crews are actively working in Wayland. The most recent numbers from NSTAR are provided below in the 3:50 p.m. update of this article.

Update: 3:50 p.m.

NSTAR offered a less-than-encouraging noon update stating that the number of Wayland customers without power had increased from 17 percent (933 customers) at the 8 a.m. update to 21 percent (1,132 customers) at noon.

The far eastern parts of Boston Post Road remain without power including the restaurant Coach Grill, which lost power for several days following Tropical Storm Irene.

NSTAR's estimate for returning power to the entire town continues to be by tomorrow evening.

Update: 11:25 a.m.

Seventeen percent of NSTAR customers in Wayland were still without power as of the 8 a.m. update. The Wayland Police report that NSTAR crews are actively working in Wayland.

Old Connecticut Path is open, and Stonebridge Road remains the only main road still closed to traffic.

Police Chief Robert Irving reported that eight people took advantage of the shelter at Wayland Middle School last night. The shelter is open today for individuals needing to charge cell phones or use the Internet. Officials will decide later today whether to keep the shelter open tonight.

"Wayland Public Safety Dispatch has received hundreds of calls from residents asking when their power will return," Irving said in his recent announcement. "We simply do not know when the power will return on individual homes and request that residents not tie up public safety phone lines. Residents may call NSTAR at 1-800-592-2000 to request information regarding their outage."

Update: 8:45 a.m. (Nov. 1)

At 4 a.m., there were 923 NSTAR customers in Wayland who still didn't have power after Saturday's snowstorm. Patch has heard that some individuals who have had power the entire time actually lost it this morning. We also know that the area around the Dudley Chateau was still without power at 7:30 a.m.

The 17 percent who do not have power should have it before tomorrow evening, according to NSTAR's estimate. The utility estimates having the entire town powered up again by the evening of Nov. 2.

Update: 9:25 p.m.

NSTAR's 8 p.m. update reported that 23 percent of Wayland customers, 1,231 households, remained without power.

According to Wayland Patch Facebook page user Nick Haddad, however, power is back on along Woodridge Road.

Where is the 23 percent still lacking power?

Update: 6:15 p.m.

Superintendent Paul Stein has canceled classes for Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Wayland Public Schools.

In a message to the email ListServ, Stein said police and fire officials have advised him they "do not feel there will be substantial improvements in road conditions by the morning," and safety is a concern.

At this time, Claypit Hill and Happy Hollow elementary schools remain without power. In addition, Stein writes, "A number of roads throughout town are closed due to debris and downed lines. In other areas, although roads are open, hanging lines and tree branches present a problem for bus passage.

"This is such an extraordinary and unexpected situation that I've decided to alert families this evening so that they may better plan for tomorrow."

Stein asked that parents reach out to other parents and communicate this information as many people remain without power or Internet access.

Update: 5:10 p.m.

The shelter at Wayland Middle School will be open again tonight for individuals who don't have power or heat.

The most recent update from Wayland Police Chief Robert Irving notes that Old Connecticut Path is expected to be open again by 6 p.m. Multiple utility crews are out and working in town though power remains out at Claypit Hill and Happy Hollow schools.

In its 4 p.m. update, NSTAR reported that 23 percent of its Wayland customers remained without power.

Superintendent Paul Stein will make a decision tomorrow morning regarding school opening on Tuesday. The decision is dependent on power being restored to the elementary schools.

Update: 1:25 p.m.

Residents are welcome to drop off tree limbs and branches brought down by the snowstorm at the Wayland Transfer Station regardless of whether they have a sticker.

Town crews WILL NOT pick up debris left at the curb, so please take your branches to the transfer station for disposal. The Wayland Transfer Station is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The shelter at Wayland Middle School remains open for residents to stop by and charge cellphones or other electronic devices and to use the computers. The Wayland Public Library is also open and has wireless Internet for individuals wanting to access the Interent from their laptops.

Officials will make a decision by 4 p.m. regarding whether to keep the shelter at WMS open overnight.

As of its noon update, NSTAR was reporting that 26 percent of Wayland customers remain without power. The estimate for resoring power to the town is by Wednesday evening.

Update: 10:45 a.m.

Gov. Deval Patrick and representatives from his office spoke with media via a conference call this morning. Patrick said he plans to request a disaster declaration for the state from President Barack Obama.

According to individuals on the call, 519,000 people across the state remain without power, which is down from a high of 700,000 people.

In a press release from the governor's office, Patrick urged utility companies to be communicative with their customers.

ā€œThe utility companies need to remember the lessons of Irene, and keep customers informed about when they can expect power restored,ā€ said Patrick in the press release. ā€œRunning a household or a business with the lights out is hard enough without being in the dark on when to expect relief.ā€

More than 1,500 utility crews are working throughout the state restoring power and that number is expected to grow to 2,000 throughout the day and overnight, according to information provided on the conference call.

"It is a slow process ... we are still looking at a multiple day event," said Energy Secretary Richard Sullivan. "Customers need to plan ahead and take shelter. Use common sense and take advantage of the assistance that is out there."

His office is urging local officials to be particularly cautious when it comes to making a decision about trick-or-treating tonight, pointing out that many wires and tree limbs remain down and could be hazardous for children.

There are about 1,300 people in shelters throughout the state, including the shelter open at Wayland Middle School.

Update: 9:30 a.m.

NSTAR posted its 8:30 a.m. update moments ago and the number of Wayland customers without power has dropped significantly.

Twenty-five percent, or 1,325 customers, remain without power. NSTAR is estimating complete restoration of power by the evening of Nov. 2.

Update: 9:20 a.m.

Chief Robert Irving of the Wayland Police Department said 26 roads in Wayland remained obstructed or impassable as of 8:30 a.m. Concord Road and Glezen Lane are now OPEN, but Old Connecticut Path (east) and Stonebridge Road are blocked.

Department of Public Works crews are actively working to clear areas that are not affected by fallen wires. Crews must wait for NSTAR to clear roads affected by wires.

The shelter at Wayland Middle School remains open and housed 18 individuals, two dogs and a cat last night.

Update: 9:15 a.m.

As of midnight Oct. 31, NSTAR was reporting 47 percent of Wayland remained without power. That is 2,534 customers in town.

There remains no published estimate for restoring power to the town, but comments on Wayland Patch and updates to the Wayland Patch page on Facebook indicate widespread areas still lacking power. In addition, Twitter user mommingo said her morning commute was an experience.

"Strangest ride from Newton to Natick power out Weston Wayland. People confused by lack of traffic lights," her tweet reads (capitalization corrected here where appropriate.)

Dudley Road at Dudley Pond remains without power, according to user LandoftheWays on Patch. And reporter Abby Jordan spotted several people at Wayland Middle School last night taking advantage of the warmth offered at the shelter there.

Children are out of school today due to lack of power, but officials have not yet announced a decision for tonight's trick-or-treating.

Patch will keep you posted on that decision.

Update: 5:30 a.m. (Oct. 31)

Wayland schools are closed today due to power outages.

Update: 9:10 p.m.

Town officials this afternoon discussed the status of trick-or-treating Monday night, but will hold off on making a decision.

Police Chief Robert Irving said via email that the plan is to "review [Monday morning] progress made overnight to make streets and sidewalks safe" and then make a decision regarding whether to postpone trick-or-treating.

Board of Selectmen Chair Tom Fay said via email that officials said during a Sunday afternoon public safety meeting that they are hopeful conditions will improve sufficiently enough to allow trick-or-treating on the evening of Oct. 31.

Update: 8:25 p.m.

The Wayland Public Schools website states that officials are continuing to assess the situation and will make a decision regarding school openings on Oct. 31 before 6 a.m. Monday.

In the meantime, Wayland Middle School is open as a shelter for individuals who remain without heat tonight. Residents utilizing the shelter should bring their medications with them as well as any blankets, pillows, toiletries, etc., to which they have access. The Town of Wayland has supplies for about 125 people, but can accommodate more than that with their own supplies.

NSTAR is reporting about 96,000 customers remain without power. The utility has not updated town-by-town numbers since 4 p.m., when 58 percent of Wayland customers were without power and no estimate had yet been given for restoring power to the town.

Wayland Patch Facebook user Maureen O'Brien Tarantino reports that power was returned to the Boston Post Road near Town Center area about 6:30 p.m.

Maggie Yang, however, reported power still out on Route 30 at about 7:30 p.m.

Tell us in the comments where power remains out around town.

Update: 5:10 p.m.

An update just posted by NSTAR states that 3,117 Wayland customers, or 58 percent of NSTAR's customers in town, remained without power as of 4 p.m. The number has risen slightly from the noon update.

At this time, no estimate is yet available for when power will be restored. NSTAR is currently in the "assessing" phase according to its most recent update.

Wayland's Local Emergency Planning Committee Chair Doug Leard, however, said officials have been told it could be three days before power is restored.

Crews are currently setting up cots and supplies in the Wayland Middle School gymnasium for individuals who remain without heat.

Update: 4:45 p.m.

Doug Leard, chair of Wayland's Local Emergency Planning Committee, said the town will open a shelter at Wayland Middle School tonight to accommodate individuals without heat.

The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures to drop into the mid-20s tonight, and Leard said the power outages are actually worse with this nor'easter than they were when Hurricane Irene came through in late August.

Leard said the town is equipped with items (cots, blankets, towels, toiletries, etc.) for about 125 people, but asked that individuals who have access to sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, towels, etc., to please bring those items when they come to shelter at WMS. In addition, individuals should bring any prescriptions they currently take as the shelter will not be providing any medications.

At this time, Leard said he believes Wayland High School and Wayland Middle School have power, but Claypit Hill and Happy Hollow do not. He anticipates Superintendent Paul Stein will make a decision about school tomorrow either later this evening or early tomorrow morning. (Patch will update that information as soon as it becomes available).

ā€œMy thing, I have a concern with the general safety outside,ā€ Leard said, noting that many wires and tree limbs remain down across town. He said town officials are hearing various reports regarding when power could be restored throughout town, with some reports stating it could be as long as three days.

Leard is in the process of obtaining food and water to stock the shelter as well as coordinating the schedules of Wayland's Community Emergency Response Team and Medical Reserve Corps members to help staff the shelter.

Update: 3:45 p.m.

Power remains an issue in Wayland and other towns in Massachusetts. As of noon today (the most recent update available) NSTAR was reporting that 3,015 of its 5,405 customers in Wayland (56 percent) remained without power. In total, just more than 111,000 NSTAR customers were without power at noon.

NSTAR is "anticipating our clean-up and power restoration work will be a multi-day effort."

Rebecca Lynch reported on the Wayland Patch Facebook page at about 3:30 p.m. that power remains out in north Wayland. If power is out in your part of town, let us know in the comments section.

A comfort station is open at for residents who remain without power. The facility is available to individuals seeking warmth or a place to recharge cellphones or other electronic devices, or use laptop computers.

The Wayland Local Emergency Planning team will make a decision by 6 p.m. as to whether sleeping accommodations will be offered at Wayland Middle School.

Wayland Police remind residents to observe the rules of a four-way stop when approaching intersections that lack working stoplights, but ask that residents avoid traveling is possible so as to allow public works crews and NSTAR to work on restoring power.

Update: Oct. 30, 10:55 a.m.

Wayland Chief of Police Robert Irving updated the town with the following:

At 9:45 a.m. the town still has extensive power outages. Ā Hundreds of tree limbs have fallen. Ā The following roads are closed or impassable:

Concord Road at Glezen Lane
Old Connecticut Path at #68
Glezen Lane (west)
Stonebridge Road at #41
Loker Street at Country Corners Road
Wayland Hills Road

The Wayland CERT is opening a "Comfort Station" at the Wayland Middle School at 11:00 A.M. Ā Residents may go to the Middle School to get warm, charge cellphones and have refreshments. Ā Cellphones may also be charged at the Pubic Safety Building.

NSTAR has not been able to provide any details on when power may be restored at this time.

Residents are urged not to approach any downed utility wire, consider all wires as being "live." Also, many trees were damaged and are hanging precariously over sidewalks and roadways. Pedestrians should avoid walking under leaning trees.Ā 

Original story (Oct. 29):Ā It began snowing in Wayland around 5 p.m. Saturday and, by 10:45 p.m. the town was experiencing widespread power outages.

The National Weather Service in its winter storm warning anticipated the heavy wet snow would weigh heavily on tree limbs still thick with leaves, causing many to fall and potentially causing widespread power outages.

A 10:45 p.m. update from Wayland Police Chief Robert Irving stated the following:

At 10:45 p.m. the town is experiencing widespread power outages due to tree limbs falling on power lines. Several roads are closed including Concord Road. Police, fire and public works crews are responding to numerous locations and response times could be delayed due to the high number of storm related incidents at this hour.

Gov. Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency for the storm early Saturday evening and asked residents to remain off the roads if at all possible.

Stay with Wayland Patch for continued updates and upload your snow photos as you capture them.


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