Getting the state back to full power and clearing roadways is expected to take between three and five days according to Gov. Lamont who has declared a state of emergency.First Selectman Fred Camillo has declared a local emergency to help deal with the aftermath of the storm. The first selectman has found that, as a result of the storm, a “condition of extreme peril to life and property” exists in town and has “declared a local civil preparedness emergency exists” in Greenwich. The police department recommends everyone limit their travel until the roadways are cleared of hazards.
In Greenwich about 35% or 10,061 customers have been affected. The hardest hit areas are in Eastern Greenwich and along the coastline. According to Eversource, hundreds of their line, tree and service crews worked through the night after Tropical Storm Isaias and associated tornadoes tore through Connecticut causing widespread damage. For an outage map, go to: https://outagemap.eversource.com/external/default.html
Eversource crews are working around-the-clock shifts to address emergency situations, clear blocked roads, assess damage and restore power to customers impacted by the fierce storm. Approximately 617,000 Eversource customers in Connecticut are without power as a result of the storm. As of 10 a.m., crews said they had restored power to more than 100,000 customers since the storm began. The energy company anticipates restoration in Connecticut will take multiple days.
“The impact from this storm, in terms of power outages, is greater than Superstorm Sandy. The fierce winds with this storm caused widespread power outages and historic damage, affecting customers in all of the 149 communities we serve in Connecticut,” said Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations in Connecticut Michael Hayhurst. “We are taking to the skies to conduct a detailed damage assessment of our 17,000 miles of overhead equipment and using patrollers on the ground, so we can efficiently deploy our resources to get power restored for all of our customers. We recognize how difficult it is to be without electricity especially while many people continue working from home during the pandemic. Our crews will continue working until every customer has power back while also complying with stringent pandemic protocols.”
Most of the damage to Eversource’s electric system was caused by fierce winds accompanying the tropical storm that whipped through the region, bringing trees and branches down onto powerlines. The energy company cautions customers to always stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1. Due to the unique challenges associated with working during the pandemic and the devastating impact of Isaias along the entire East Coast.
