HARWINTON, CT — Senator Ryan Fazio, Republican nominee for Governor, today called on Governor Ned Lamont to declare a state of emergency for the communities impacted by the devastating July Fourth storm, criticizing the administration’s delayed response as communities from Harwinton to Torrington to New Canaan struggle to recover from widespread power outages, downed trees and power lines, road closures, and significant storm damage.
After touring the storm damage in Harwinton with First Selectman Michael Criss, Fazio said local leaders acted far more quickly than the state.
“First Selectman Criss declared a local state of emergency within 30 minutes of the storm because he understood the severity of the damage. Yet it took nearly two days before significant crews arrived and three days before the Governor visited the affected areas. That is unacceptable,” Fazio said.
Fazio added: “The people of Connecticut deserve leadership that responds immediately, not only when people are watching. This storm exposed deeper bureaucratic failures within our utilities and state government, with utility crews waiting for management approval instead of restoring power. When out-of-state crews are ready to work faster than our own system allows, something is fundamentally broken.”
Fazio called on the Lamont administration to declare a state of emergency for heavily affected areas to expedite relief, and conduct a full review of the state’s emergency response and utility restoration procedures.
“Our municipal leaders, first responders, and line workers have done a great job under difficult circumstances,” Fazio said. “The state needs to match their urgency. Connecticut families deserve a government that leads with action, not delay.”