Severe Storm Causes Power Outages in Massachusetts
A powerful storm that hit Massachusetts brought heavy rainfall and strong winds, leaving a trail of downed trees, limbs, utility poles, and power lines. As a result, power restoration efforts in the state could take multiple days, according to two of the three major utility providers.
Eversource, one of the major utility providers in Massachusetts, stated that they are expecting a multi-day restoration effort. They have also brought in additional crews from out of state to support the restoration process. The company attributed the ongoing severe storm to the saturated ground and weakened tree branches, which made trees and limbs more susceptible to coming down with the heavy rain and strong winds.
Similarly, National Grid deployed additional line and tree crews, including some from New York and Canada, to speed up repairs during what they described as a “multi-day event.” The company’s field personnel prioritized emergency calls and critical care facilities, as well as assessing damage, clearing trees, and making repairs to electrical infrastructure.
As of Monday night, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported that 190,617 customers of Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil throughout the state were still without power. National Grid mentioned that approximately 200,000 of its customers in Massachusetts were without power at the peak of the storm.
On the positive side, National Grid has restored power to more than 127,000 of its customers, while Eversource reported significant progress in restoring power to 132,000 customers and clearing 115 blocked roads.
Unitil also shared that they had resumed normal operations in Massachusetts and in the region of Concord, New Hampshire. At the peak of the storm, approximately 11,600 of Unitil’s customers along New Hampshire’s Seacoast were without power, but as of Monday night, that number had decreased to approximately 1,800.
The restoration efforts are ongoing, and customers are advised to stay updated on the status of the power restoration in their respective areas.