OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WFSB) - Power companies and state officials are in position to act if emergencies or power outages occur as a coastal storm moves through the region.
An emergency operations center is open at the State Armory in Hartford, where state agencies are coordinating their efforts. Power company crews are spread out across the state, ready to respond to any issues.
Eversource positions crews along shoreline
Eversource has hundreds of power and line crews positioned across the state, with a focus on the shoreline.
When outages happen, crews respond to emergencies and critical facilities, such as hospitals, first. They then work to fix outages impacting the most people.
Flooding and wind concerns
Eversource is warning customers about basement flooding. Customers should not go into their basements if they see water, because exposed wires can be live and dangerous. Gas systems can also be affected by flooding.
Eversource expects most crews to be focused on power outages because of the wind associated with the storm.
Jamie Ratliff, an Eversource spokesperson, said trees are the number one cause of power outages during a storm.
“Trees are the number one cause of power outages during a storm. And again, this storm is forecasted to bring the heavy rain, the strong winds, which can bring down tree limbs and branches onto electric lines and equipment, causing power outages. So, you know, and in terms of the wind, we do see more tree damage when the leaves are on the trees, which is what we’re seeing right now. So, that’s certainly a concern with forecasted high winds as well,” Ratliff said.
What to do if you see a downed wire
Eversource officials say anyone who sees a downed wire should call 911 right away. Power outages can be reported on Eversource’s website.
Eversource officials stressed not to go near downed power lines and to keep pets away from them as well.
Conditions in Old Saybrook
In Old Saybrook, rain was not an issue, but wind was affecting the area near the beach, bringing in large waves. A dock that is usually walkable was filled with water at high tide.
The wind caused hundreds of power outages in Old Saybrook. Wires and trees were down across town. Town officials said they did not have an estimated time for when Eversource would arrive to fix the outages and asked people to be patient.
Eversource had crews positioned on the shoreline to respond to outages. Crews were seen on the way from Hartford toward outages across the state.