Attleboro Officials Provide Update on Power, Shelter and Crime

Attleboro officials have been updated on the status of power in the city.

City officials were told by National Grid that 29 issues needed to be fixed with the transmission lines prior to coming to Attleboro.

As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, five lines were in operation and an additional eight lines were slated to go up Wednesday. National Grid is currently concentrating on feeder lines, then the distribution lines, according to officials. Once the distribution lines are taken care of, individual lines to people’s homes will be fixed.

“We don’t’ know what neighborhoods or sections of the city they will power,” Mayor Kevin Dumas said. “Half of the downtown is re-energized, but it’s the other side of the tracks."

Acting Police Chief Kyle Heagney said once the lines are added, National Grid will provide Attleboro officials with a reassessment.

“Some populated areas have been energized and we expect a call some time later as new areas are re-energized," he said.

Several streets that were re-energized include parts of Park Street, County Street, Lindsey Street and South Avenue. 

The Emergency Operation Center, located in the , has been in operation since the start of the storm. The center, manned by Attleboro city officials, has been running on emergency generators for 72 hours, according to Dumas.

“We have eight lines coming in to the EOC and calls are non-stop,” Heagney said.

If callers are not immediately connected Heagney suggests residents call right back so that officials can hear their concerns.

Regional Shelter Closed; City Shelter Opened

The designated regional shelter at has been demobilized, according to Chief Scott Lachance. The chief gave two reasons: the state had a need for regional shelters in the western part of the state, which was harder hit by Hurricane Irene, and because the shelter did not have electricity and was running on generators.

The city opened a shelter a at 6 p.m. Tuesday for anyone in need. The shelter will provide electricity to those who are oxygen-dependent or have medical equipment that needs electricity. The shelter will have cots, food and power for those who need it.

“It’s strictly through the city and is staffed with two paramedics, the city’s nurse Jacquie O’Brien, and Attleboro Police, who will provide security,” Lachance said.

Generators and Downed Power Lines

Lachance had some words of advice for the people without power who are using generators to power their refrigerators and other appliances.

“If anyone uses a generator they need to use them outside,” Lachance said. “If people are using them they should have batteries in their Carbon Monoxide detectors."

Lachance also asked that residents assume every wire is a live wire.

“People are getting complacent and they need to assume every line is energized," he said.

Crime

With the number of days that National Grid customers (more than 13,500) go without power in Attleboro growing, so does the level of frustration. That, however, has not resulted in an uptick in crime, according to the police chief.

“We have four reported storm-related incidents,” Heagney said.

The four incidents included three breaking and entering incidents at commercial establishments and one car break-in.

“When the power goes out we are putting a dragnet in place to patrol every square inch of the city,” Heagney added.  “It’s an omnipresence. We increased our manpower exponentially and tripled our force and increased our presence on the street."

Volunteerism

Despite the impact the loss of power has had on Attleboro residents, some good has come out of the situation.

A number of people and organizations have stepped up to the plate to lend a helping hand, according to Dumas.

Volunteer groups have helped to distribute 10,000 informational leaflets to residents. The on West Street and on South Main Street have opened their doors to provide food to those in need.

Attleboro City Councilors Mark Cooper, Duff White, Bill Bergevine, Frank Cook and Brian Kirby rose to the occasion, providing hours of their time and helping the city in ways that go beyond what they do on the council floor, according to Heagney.

“I’m utterly amazed at their altruistic support to the city at the Emergency Operations Center,” Heagney said. “They brought food and helped put up barricades throughout the city.”