11/10/11 WTNH: Ideas to organize cleanup during weather disasters

IDEAS TO PREVENT DISASTER HEARD IN W. HARTFORD

Ideas to organize cleanup during weather disasters

Updated: Thursday, 10 Nov 2011, 10:38 PM EST

Published : Thursday, 10 Nov 2011, 9:47 PM EST

wtnh.com / News Channel 8

Bob Wilson

Although some people might blame many of the problems during the autumn nor-easter on utility crews, many lessons can be learned when individuals come together and share ideas.

At the UConn West Hartford campus is was all about finding a solution, and staying calm at what was called the Disaster Accountability Forum.

The debate was monitored by News 8’s Chief Capitol Correspondent, Mark Davis, it was all for the people. Folks came from as far away as Harwington to make their voice heard, this was the time and the place for citizens to make suggestions on how the state of Connecticut can improve on their disaster relief efforts

“You need to talk to someone when you are in crisis mode, like that you need to talk to a real person, and that person should have a computer in front of them, typing it into a database for all the towns, so they know what road it is,” says Carl Pallokat of Harwington.

“You have heard the phrase drill baby drill, I say cut baby cut, we need to cut trees down, we need to keep them 10 feet from power lines, I don’t care if it is your grandmas oak tree, no more do-gooders and trees, it’s ridiculous, this town West Hartford, it looks like a bomb hit it,” says Chris Torino of West Hartford.

There were a lot of ideas coming out of the forum. Some folks suggested volunteer electricians which would be similar to volunteer firefighters.

The whole point to the forum was to look for solutions and stay positive, it was not to bash the electric companies.

“The next time something happens we will be prepared, and I think that is every bodies goal. In 2011 we shouldn’t have this type of power disaster happen in a state in the U.S., we have the resources, we need to prevent these things from happening,” says Ben Smilowitz of West Hartford.

Officials who work along side Governor Dannel P. Malloy sat in during the meeting, and assure Connecticut residents that their ideas were heard.