Business & Tech

VIDEO: Those Without Power Flee to Shoreline

Hotels and motels fill up in parts of Connecticut unaffected by major October snowstorm.

Being left in the dark for days is nothing new to people in Connecticut who were in similar circumstances two months ago when Tropical Storm Irene blew through the state. But unlike the long wait for electricity this summer, many people can't stay at home and pass the time playing games and reading by candle light while they wait for the electricity to be restored because the temperatures are much too cold. Instead, people fled to the shoreline, where the storm had a negligible impact.

Nancy Thibodeau of East Londmeadow, MA, said she started driving around looking for an available hotel room in the tri-state area Monday and finally found one in Mystic and checked in Tuesday.

The Red Roof Inn in New London filled up quickly because it advertises to be pet friendly. Maintenance Engineer Gene Correll said that a majority of their 108 rooms are occupied by people, and their pets, in need of a warm place to stay. Carroll said the hotel is completely booked through Thursday.

Anita Miller, co-owner of Goldy's Restaurant, said Halloween is typically the slowest day of the year but the snowstorm created unexpected business.

"We had one waitress on praparing for the normal Halloween but we got slammed all night long," she said.

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Miller said more customers treated themselves to lobster dinners and dessert and the restaurant gave out candy to the kids for Halloween.

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