The General Assembly has scheduled two days of hearings on the state's readiness for -- and response to -- Tropical Storm Irene.
The hearings before the energy and technology, public safety, labor and public employees and planning and development committees will take place at the state Capitol complex on Sept. 19 and 26.
The first hearing, on Monday, Sept. 19th, will begin at 9:30 a.m. with representatives from electric, cable, telecommunications industries as well as municipal leaders. The session will finish by 4:30 p.m.
The following Monday, Sept. 26, the hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and members of the public will be the first to be heard. After that, union representatives and the electric utility companies will have a chance to present testimony. The second hearing is expected to conclude by early afternoon.
Citizens who can't make the hearing on the 26th will have a new opportunity to participate: For what's believed to be the first time, a legislative committee is taking testimony via Twitter and Facebook.
Senate and House Democrats have set up Facebook and Twitter accounts at
http://www.facebook.com/afterirenect and
http://twitter.com/#!/AfterIreneCT to accept public comment and
suggestions.