Fairfield relief can't come soon enough

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) -- You can't blame Fairfielders or anyone else, for that matter, for a dessert of frustration after a main course of devastation caused by Sandy.

"I've worked in storms the past twenty years. This is major devastation here. It's the worst I've ever seen," George Patrick said, who is working to help clean up.

George Patrick grew up in the area. Those who travel to disasters have similar sentiments.

"This being more serious with the flooding issue, it's very transparent of Irene, very similar. I would rate this, probably on a scale of one to ten, I'd probably say about an eight," Brandon Keppler, in from Illinois, said.

Certainly the worst for those with shorter memories.

"We've been out power about two days now. I don't think I can bear it any longer," Abby Copeland of Fairfield said.

The living is rustic. Take it from this man, who lives a distance from the beach. He's using his car for its heat and its radio.

News 8's Jeff Valin asked Glenn Madden of Fairfield, "So, you were trying to get the news of the day?", he said, "Yeah, yeah. I'm kind of cut off here, so, just want to figure out what's going on."

There's plenty that has to go on before life goes on for those between Old Field Road and the beach.

"They did disconnect all the utilities. They're all shut down and I know the gas mains have to be replaced, water mains exploded," Patrick said.

UI says it'll be in assessment mode until Thursday morning, but while predictions on the street are vague.

"I think it's going to be months by the time all this is repaired," Patrick said.

Some say early prep will help people get back in their homes, if not back to normal, soon.

"I can say that United Illuminating Corporation, without a doubt, they had resources in place before the storm even hit, and that is something that is going to go a long way," Keppler said.