DMV faces major disruptions after storm chaos

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed significant operational challenges faced by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) due to a storm that disrupted services. The storm, which occurred on Wednesday, caused system outages, prompting the DMV to deploy additional staff to a mobile unit in Whitehall, where services remained operational. The absence of Spectrum services in the area contributed to the mobile unit's functionality.

As the situation unfolded, officials reached out to Greenwich for assistance, resulting in the establishment of another mobile unit on Thursday. Fortunately, the DMV's systems were restored by Thursday morning, allowing for some processing of tasks. However, the impact of the storm continued to be felt, as operations were halted again on Friday due to further complications.

During this downtime, staff redirected their efforts to other essential office tasks and communicated with the public about the statewide service disruptions affecting all DMV locations, which were unable to process transactions in-person, by mail, or online. By Sunday night, services resumed, and operations have since stabilized.

In addition to addressing the storm-related issues, the meeting also highlighted ongoing efforts to complete the 2023-24 grant management process. Officials reported progress in scanning approximately 100 boxes of public defender documents and updating software for compatibility across two county agencies. Training sessions for staff in four towns are planned to ensure effective use of the new equipment.

The collaborative efforts among various departments and local officials were acknowledged, particularly the support from Greenwich, which played a crucial role in maintaining service continuity during the crisis.