Response- Dec 16th- 20th

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
12:00 PM

"It seemed like just as we were starting to make some progress the weather just stopped us in our tracks," Jim Baskind frustratedly explained. "We restored power to the hospital and were starting to make headway on some of the major hubs, and all of the sudden we had to stop what we were doing and start clearing roads again.  This was basically our third day working eighteen hours so it was difficult news to take."

"Since the station was shut down we were operating mostly out of the town shelter and the EOC.  We were going door to door making sure people who chose to stay in their homes were alright, and if they had generators that they were using them properly."  Dennis Daugherty had already responded to one carbon monoxide poisoning.  Across the state over 100 were reported.  "It was frustrating because aside from making sure no one was in imminent danger there really was not much we could do for people.  Most restaurants were closed, driving was still difficult, and we had no mobile feeding capabilities."( SAAR)

"As if I didn't have enough to be concerned with at this point," said Bill Ralleigh with a sigh, "I was contacted by officials from the Seabrook power plant warning me that our battery powered emergency sirens were running low, and that the situation was being monitored."  Snow began falling, sometimes at a heavy rate.  Utility crews continued to work, as PSNH reported having 84,000 customers still without power.  "I would say about one fourth of the town had power at this point.  It was concentrated mostly in the area around the hospital, so most of the critical emergency response buildings like my police and fire stations were still without power on Tuesday."

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Greenham's emergency shelter, now operating as a warming center open only during the day, continued to serve municipal employee's and utility crews during their brief rest periods.  "Everyone was exhausted at this point, but the entire community was pitching in.  Some of the residents who regained power were bringing by freshly cooked meals for the responders and volunteering their time to give some of the shelter workers a break.  People were really coming together," explained a proud Ann Richards.

Jim Baskind: "We were really making progress on Wednesday.  The major hubs were repaired late in the day and supplied of wires were restocked so we could replace all the downed lines."

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

Snow fell again on Thursday with some areas recieving between five and seven inches with a glazing of ice.  Repair progress slowed, and 66,000 customers were still without power.  Many car accidents were reported, some even involving municipal workers. "I was responding to a reported car accident about half a mile away from where I was working at the time.  The roads were covered with snow so I tried to drive carefully, but I must have hit an ice patch and I just lost control.  I slammed right into a utility pole which had just been repaired.  I felt like a complete moron, but it was an accident," Dennis Daugherty explained, his face red with embarrassment. (SAAR)

Bill Raleigh decided to close down his EOC. "The town offices regained power that afternoon.  Everyone was exhausted and it seemed like we had a handle on the response."

Friday, December 19th, 2008

Two thirds of Greenham's resident had regained power, with the remaining outages spread throughout the more rural areas of the town.  Across New Hampshire 26,000 customers were still without power, and more snow was expected in the forecast, hampering utilities and FEMA assessment teams.  A total of two people had dies from carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly used generators.  Non essential operations were now operating only during the daytime to allow overworked employees to rest and to concentrate resources on critical areas. (SAAR)

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

Nearly all of Greenham now had power.  Bill Raleigh had shut down the local EOC and was now conducting operations during regular working hours.  Utilities continued to work day and night to restore power across the state.  Greenham's shelter continued to warm and feed any residents and response workers who needed their services, but fewer and fewer people were coming in by the hour.  Dennis Daugherty was uninjured during his car accident and continued helping with the cleanup effort over the next few days.  Jim Baskind continued working to repair utilities.  Greenham had been hit hard by the ice storm of 2008 and had experienced its fair share of problems and setbacks.  Fortunately no one was seriously injured in the town, though that was not the case throughout the rest of New Hampshire.  Though the road to full cleanup and recovery would be long, the town was now out of the worst of the ice storm.