WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Residents of complex return home after massive power outage (New Haven-WTNH) _ Seniors living in the Bella Vista Housing Complex are spending the day back at home after a blackout last night. Right now things are up and running for the 4,000 residents. The outage last night put some seniors in temporary housing because there were no lights or water. Bella Vista has had problems before. News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue has the story. This is certainly been all the buzz with the elderly residents at Bella Vista. They are anticipating a long, hot summer, and they want to make sure this doesn't happen again. John Pastor was one of the Bella Vista residents most at risk when the power died last night. He's grateful for a portable oxygen tank because he couldn't get out of his 17th floor apartment to plug in an electric breathing device. John Pastore, Bella Vista Resident: "That's too far to walk. How am I going to walk like this? I would get killed over there." Pastore was one of thousands of elderly residents who chose to stay in their apartments last night when a power outage and failed generator left five high rises in complete darkness. Archie Latulippe, Bella Vista Resident: "Because the generators weren't working. They should go on right away." Wednesday, Bella Vista management wouldn't talk on camera about why the generators failed. Off camera, they told us that the generators are on a maintenance contract, and that a malfunction is hard to predict. And all you can do is maintain the equipment. Carabetta management says the generator that died is checked once a week. Some residents are skeptical. Fred Mayo, Bella Vista Residents' Association: "I don't know what the story is. I hope city agencies will get on this and find out just what is the problem here." New Haven's Fire Marshall is investigating. He says the building had the proper backup system in place. The question is, was it up to code. Pastore: "They maintain the building nice. I'm surprised the generators didn't work." This is the second time this week residents say they were left in the dark. The first time was Monday and it was only for a few minutes. Carabetta said they have no knowledge of this. The Fire Marshall's office said he has confidence that Carabetta properly maintains this generator. But, he says during this incident they have left him in the dark. He said last night they did not call him when they should have,. And when they called him today, he told them he wanted an outside company to inspect the generator, and he wanted a report by 3:00pm At 3:30, he did not have that report. The residents are getting no answers. They are doing just as much speculating as everyone else. Some are confident this is being taken care of, but others are not. That's not good going into this hot summer. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Residents of complex return home after massive power outage
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Seniors living in the Bella Vista Housing Complex are spending the day back at home after a blackout last night. Right now things are up and running for the 4,000 residents. The outage last night put some seniors in temporary housing because there were no lights or water. Bella Vista has had problems before.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue has the story.

This is certainly been all the buzz with the elderly residents at Bella Vista. They are anticipating a long, hot summer, and they want to make sure this doesn't happen again.

John Pastor was one of the Bella Vista residents most at risk when the power died last night. He's grateful for a portable oxygen tank because he couldn't get out of his 17th floor apartment to plug in an electric breathing device.

John Pastore, Bella Vista Resident: "That's too far to walk. How am I going to walk like this? I would get killed over there."

Pastore was one of thousands of elderly residents who chose to stay in their apartments last night when a power outage and failed generator left five high rises in complete darkness.

Archie Latulippe, Bella Vista Resident: "Because the generators weren't working. They should go on right away."

Wednesday, Bella Vista management wouldn't talk on camera about why the generators failed. Off camera, they told us that the generators are on a maintenance contract, and that a malfunction is hard to predict. And all you can do is maintain the equipment. Carabetta management says the generator that died is checked once a week. Some residents are skeptical.

Fred Mayo, Bella Vista Residents' Association: "I don't know what the story is. I hope city agencies will get on this and find out just what is the problem here."

New Haven's Fire Marshall is investigating. He says the building had the proper backup system in place. The question is, was it up to code.

Pastore: "They maintain the building nice. I'm surprised the generators didn't work."

This is the second time this week residents say they were left in the dark. The first time was Monday and it was only for a few minutes. Carabetta said they have no knowledge of this. The Fire Marshall's office said he has confidence that Carabetta properly maintains this generator. But, he says during this incident they have left him in the dark. He said last night they did not call him when they should have,. And when they called him today, he told them he wanted an outside company to inspect the generator, and he wanted a report by 3:00pm At 3:30, he did not have that report. The residents are getting no answers. They are doing just as much speculating as everyone else. Some are confident this is being taken care of, but others are not. That's not good going into this hot summer.

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