August 7, 2020

Storm Update: Friday, August 7

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Dear Friends & Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are staying safe in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias and the power outages it caused.

First off, I want to thank all our town crews, first responders, linemen, tree crews, and others who have done their best to clear our streets, keep us safe, and to get our power back on. The men and women who are the boots-on-the-ground and who have worked tirelessly deserve our thanks and recognition.

Eversource now estimates that most everyone’s power will be back by Tuesday, with the majority of those still without power back on before then. More out-of-state crews are coming and Governor Lamont has called in the National Guard to assist.

As of 3:30PM, here is the breakdown of outages for each town within the 23^rd District:

Lyme 41.49%
Old Lyme 31.64%
Old Saybrook 23.42%
Westbrook 20.55%

To view the outage map, click here.

In terms of preparedness, it is unacceptable that Eversource underestimated the power of Isaias and was not ready to handle it. In the wake of Eversource’s response to the storm, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has announced that it will begin an investigation.

Governor Lamont has asked PURA to consider the following:

Consider whether the utilities were adequately prepared and have the resources they need to respond to significant weather events
Evaluate their response and whether it met regulatory and statutory requirements
Determine whether resources that were invested into their outage response system was prudent in light of the recent system failures
Determine whether civil penalties should be applied.

This investigation has my full support. We pay an awful lot to Eversource for our power and we deserve better from their management.

Our municipalities are doing the best they can to provide residents with support during this time, here are some local resources that may be helpful to you and your family.

Lyme

The Lyme Transfer Station is accepting brush and operating on regular schedule of Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Potable water is available outside the Hamburg Fire Station, along with a charging station for residents who may need to recharge their phones.

For more information, please go to the Town of Lyme’s website or Facebook.

Old Lyme

Charging Stations and Potable Water Stations (bring your own containers)

o To charge your cell phones or electronic devices, or if you need potable water, the following outdoor locations are available 24 hrs. a day until further notice:

§ The Respite Center at the Lymes’ Senior Center at 26 Town Woods Rd

§ The Old Lyme Police Department at 294 Shore Rd.

§ The Boughton Rd. Fire Station at 189 Boston Post Rd.

Residents wishing to dispose of storm debris can do so at no charge at the Transfer Station on Four Mile River Rd. from now until August 15th. There is a fee for contractors and landscapers
For those in need of assistance, the Old Lyme Emergency Management Call Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call 860-598-0120.

For more information, please see the Town of Old Lyme’s website or Facebook or the Old Lyme Emergency Management’s Facebook.

Old Saybrook

The Town’s Recovery Center is located at Old Saybrook High School (1111 Boston Post Rd)

o The Town is offering charging stations, work stations, free WiFi, ice, hot showers, and cold bottles of water. You may also fill up containers of water at the Recovery Center.

If you have an essential medical device that needs to be charged and/or you have medication that must be refrigerated, please call (860) 395-3142 for assistance.
The Old Saybrook Transfer Station is accepting brush from residents and operating on regular hours.

For more information, please see the Old Saybrook Emergency Management Facebook page or the Old Saybrook Police Department Facebook page.

Westbrook

Residents completing clean up on their property can consider bringing their debris to the Transfer Station, open on Mondays, Wednesday, Saturdays from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm (normal rates apply) or hire a licensed contractor.

For more information, please see the Westbrook Emergency Management website or Facebook.

Safety Tips

For safety tips, including information about food storage and generators, and information about insurance claims, please click here.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to assist you during this difficult and frustrating time.