CL&P says they are ready for Sandy

(WTNH) -- A major concern with the storm is widespread power outages. After last year's Hurricane Irene and Autumn Nor'easter people were left in the dark for days.

CL&P says they are ready and have backed up the talk. Extra transformers, wire, poles, and insulators are standing by in yards around Connecticut.

"I was reading up on it and they claim they are ready," said Torri Edwards, of Windsor, "but if they are not ready, they are in trouble this time."

CL&P has requested 2,000 lines workers and 700 tree cutters from the Midwest. They put out the call days before the storm is expected to come ashore.

"I know they have put in orders to have crews come, so hopefully we just have to cross our fingers and hope," said Michelle Pendleton, of Bloomfield.

CL&P has set up five staging areas. By late Saturday night or early Sunday morning the crews will be coming in from all over the country. They have staging areas in Windsor, Middlebury, Newtown, Middletown, and Waterford.

"It is what it is," said Peter Debisschop, of Windsor, "those guys did a great job and in my opinion all the criticism last time was political barn storming."

CL&P fired up their chain saws after the Autumn Nor'Easter and never stopped cutting. In a pre-emptive strike they have been trimming trees away from the power lines for the past year and they were still cutting Friday.

"I like to hold people to their word," said Rudy Selaly, of Windsor, "so if CL&P says they are going to be ready, I think they are going to be ready."

Even so, Selaly is stocking up on gas for the generator.

"You have to be prepared, if you aren't prepared then you get left out," Selaly said.