Last night, Eversource said:
- Over 1,000 crews have been deployed, with “hundreds more” arriving.
- A list of estimated restoration projects will be available today on the Eversource.com website.
- Some customers may lose power as a necessary step for crews to make repairs safely for others.
- Customers without power may have equipment damage, like meter boxes or the pipe and wire running from the meter box to the home. That damage may require an electrician or contractor to repair. Eversource will let customers know if such repairs are necessary,
6:15 a.m. today: Half of the dozen or so utility trucks parked near the police station, on Jesup Road. A few minutes later, crews began arriving. On we go! (Photo/Peter Nussbaum)
Meanwhile, yesterday the Department of Public Works led an effort — assisted by Eversource line crews and Knapp tree service — to clear and open a number of through roads and side streets. They include Sterling Drive, Buena Vista and Compo Hill; Minute Man Hill; Compo Parkway; South Compo at Narrow Rocks; Rocky Ridge Road (an enormous effort, and site of a visit by an entourage with Governor Ned Lamont, Senator Richard Blumenthal and 1st Selectman Jim Marpe; Stoneboat Rd,, and Quarter Mile Road.
Today they’ll work on Crooked Mike and the northwest corner of town, then the Sturges Highway neighborhood.
The goal is to open all remaining no access/dead end-type streets by sunset tonight.
Workers yesterday at Stoneboat Road. (Photo/C. Swan)
“06880” has learned — but cannot confirm — that one National Guard unit is headed to Westport today, lending physical (and moral) support. Another may be deployed to Weston.
Westporters are angry — and getting angrier — at Eversource.
But its workers are not its management. Utility crews — and those from mutual aid companies — are doing very dangerous work, for long hours (sometimes double shifts).
Here’s an important message from JD Dworkow:
“I spoke to some of them. They’re up here from South Carolina. Can we remind some of our fellow citizens to be nice to them? Offer them cold water and praise? Not complain?”
Preach!
Wakeman Town Farm’s farm stand is open today, until 1 p.m. They say:
“It’s tomato time, with the season’s best variety of everyone’s favorite tomatoes, plus a rainbow of Farm flowers. Our farmer and volunteers have worked hard to bring you the best organic produce grown right here at 134 Cross Highway. Stop by for veggies, our own honey from Wakeman’s honeybees, and WTF logowear, including our popular masks, gaiters and WTF market totes.”
Manna Toast has a ton of food they’d prepared for the week.
“Hurricane Meal Boxes” can be ordered by 3 p.m., then picked up at their Hub Kitchen (across from the Post Road drive-thru Starbucks) between 4 and 5 p.m. today.
The menu includes toast boards, salads, soups, sides and desserts. Power outage tip: You can briefly grill your sourdough slices to achieve toasty goodness.
Call 203-628-4677 or email info@manntoast.com. Click here for the website.
The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado did strike Westport on Tuesday, as part of Isaias’ storm system.
Confirmation came in large part thanks to Scott Pecoriello. He’s the 2015 Staples High School graduate, now a full time meteorologist, who is as spot-on as any forecaster anywhere.
He tells “06880”:
“Tornado confirmed! EF1 with winds up to 105 mph. I had a conversation with the NWS in NY yesterday. They surveyed the damage remotely using a combo of radar, my video, and reports from EMS in Westport.
“Originally my company, Weather Optics (which specializes in impact forecasts for highly disruptive weather events like this one) knew the tornado threat was high, but I was still somehow shocked I was there at the exact location and exact time it formed.
“Another tidbit: This was the first time a tornado hit the state of Connecticut from a tropical system.”
Scott Pecoriello took this photo at Compo Beach on Tuesday, which the National Weather Service used to confirm a tornado.
“06880” has posted tons of Isaias-related photos (see above). Here’s a “greatest hits” video, courtesy of Cabry Lueker:
And yes, work continues around town. Two scenes from late yesterday, on Rocky Ridge Road:
(Photos/C. Swa )