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Hundreds of Eversource tree and line crews are working around the clock to restore power to Connecticut customers that were left in the dark during Monday's wind storm. Crews were out in force working to remove fallen trees and restore electric service statewide.
As of 4:45 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, 20,069 of Eversource's 1,273,665 customers were reporting outages, including hundreds in Fairfield County.
In Fairfield County, more than 100 outages were reported in Wilton, Westport, Stamford, Ridgefield, Redding, Newtown, and Bridgeport. No official time has been announced for complete restoration of power.
“These high winds, some as high as 60 mph, are bringing down trees and tree limbs onto power lines," Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations Mike Hayhurst said. “The weather conditions are also making it difficult for our crews to restore power; in many cases, they have to wait for the winds to subside before they can safely go up in the buckets to make repairs. Despite that, our crews are there for our customers when they’re needed most and are committed to working 24/7 until everyone has their power.”
In an effort to keep area residents safe, utility companies in the area offered a series of tips. Safety advice includes:
- Being aware of fallen trees and limbs, and using caution or traveling;
- Never using outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors, as they pose a fire hazard and over time can give off carbon monoxide gas;
- Installing and/or testing carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they are in working order;
- Avoiding the use of candles for illumination due to fire hazards;
- Following the manufacturer's safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units outdoors;
- Operating cars and motor vehicles outdoors only, and never inside the garage;
- Avoiding travel along roadways as hazardous conditions may cause driving accidents, including those involving utility poles which may cause power interruptions.
- Staying at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, and remember that lines may be entangled and hidden in fallen trees. Assume all downed lines are live; and
- Ensuring exhaust and combustion air vents and chimneys are cleared if debris, ice and snow to prevent a potentially lethal buildup of carbon monoxide gas.
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