Today, State Senator Mary Daugherty Abrams (Meriden, Middlefield, Rockfall, Middletown, Cheshire) questioned Eversource’s response to Tropical Storm Isaias as cleanup after the storm entered its fourth day. More than 700,000 people across Connecticut lost power due to the destructive tropical storm, but 415,834 Eversource customers had not yet gotten power back by Friday morning, more than 48 hours after Isaias departed the state.
“Power outages are understandable in the event of extreme weather, but not to this degree,” Sen. Abrams said. “As of 11 A.M. today, 81 percent of Middlefield, 65 percent of Cheshire, 14 percent of Middletown and 13 percent of Meriden still were without power, three days after the storm hit. With recent media reports indicating Eversource drastically underestimated the potential impacts of Tropical Storm Isaias and what appears to be a significantly slowed response to the storm, Eversource owes the public answers as to why its response to this storm has been so lacking.”
“With that said, I do wish to thank the hard-working line crews and essential workers tirelessly working to bring the lights back on across Connecticut. Local public works departments and crews from not only our state but mutual aid from others assist with removing trees, clearing roads and bringing Connecticut back to full strength. Their hard work does not go unappreciated.”
Tropical Storm Isaias brought winds of more than 60 miles per hour to Connecticut during its peak, at one point knocking out power to more than 700,00 Connecticut residents. However, days later, that figure remained over 400,000, indicating a muted, slowed response to the significant storm from Eversource.