Submitted by Mitch Gross, Eversource.
(August 22, 2021) — BERLIN, Conn. (August 22, 2021) – Thousands of line and tree crews from as far away as Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Canada and beyond are working non-stop to restore power to Eversource customers following intense rain and high winds from Tropical Storm Henri. Workers are in the process of clearing blocked roads, assessing damage and restoring power. As of 6:00 p.m., crews have restored power to more than 32,000 customers since the storm began. Approximately 27,000 Eversource customers in Connecticut are without power as a result of the storm, the majority in the eastern part of the state.
“While the shift in Henri’s track spared Connecticut from the devastation it could have caused, the storm delivered the expected heavy rains, further saturating grounds that were already soaked from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred and other storms,” said Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom. “In addition to the thousands of line and tree crews we have working, we have an army of people behind the scenes supporting a safe restoration. I’m very proud of our employees – many of whom sacrificed their vacations – and their extraordinary efforts working out in the weather today. We realize how difficult it is to be without power, especially on hot and humid days like we’re expecting this coming week and we’re committed to staying on the job until every customer has their power restored.”
Customers should be cautious when starting their own storm clean up – be careful moving or cutting tree limbs and look for any wires that may be entangled in debris. Customers who are without power and using a generator should be sure the generator is located well away from their home or business and that the transfer switch is working properly.
Also, flooding can cause damage to a home furnace or other natural gas appliances and some natural gas heating systems may be affected in the event of a power interruption. If flooding is severe, natural gas appliances should not be used until inspected by a licensed plumber or contractor. Once that is completed, Eversource can turn gas service back on and safely relight appliances.
Eversource urges customers to always stay clear of any downed wires and to report them immediately to 911. Be sure to report any outage online at www.eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000. Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.
Photo provided by Eversource.
