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First Selectman Explains Why It Sometimes Takes a While to Get Power Back After a Storm

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There are a number of reasons why it may take a while for your home to get power back after a storm, including whether your home can be restored with a lot of other homes all at once, how fast the wind is blowing after a storm, and even whether or not you have a special need, according to First Selectman Jayme Stevenson. At Monday’s Board of Selectman meeting, Stevenson took several minutes to explain how first responders, Department of Public Works crews and utility crews approach the cleanup after a storm and the restoration of power to local customers. Here’s how Stevenson described it, in her own words (without quotes):

I just want to remind everybody, as we are on the eve of, yes, another March snowstorm — hopefully it won’t be as bad as the last one — [that] a little movement in the storm here or there can make a big difference. Generally, people in town have been incredibly patient with regard to getting their power restored, and I just wanted to remind people of the [power restoration] process — and this storm was an excellent example of the damage that heavy snow and high winds can do throughout town, bringing down branches, trees, snapping utility poles, damaging transformers. ‘Make Safe’ Period
The very first part of the response effort on the part of our emergency operations team, in collaboration with Eversource, is to go out and take care of the emergency situations.

By Tony Webster from Portland Oregon on Flickr

Be Prepared for Power Outages

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An announcement from Darien police:

(The word “Commonwealth” in the first paragraph below is a term some states like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania use for “our state” — these tips may be copied from a source in one of those states, but that doesn’t make them any less useful for Darienites.)

The severe winds experienced during Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and Thunderstorms have the potential to cause power outages throughout the Commonwealth. These strong winds have the capability to topple utility poles and snap tree limbs causing them to fall on power lines and disrupt electrical service. Tips for dealing with a possible power outage during warm weather:

Before an Outage

Check flashlights and portable radios to ensure that they are working, and you have extra batteries as part of your Emergency Kit .  A radio is an important source of weather and emergency information during a storm. If a storm is coming that may bring power outages, fully charge your cell phone, laptop, and any other devices in advance of a power outage. Keep extra batteries for your phone in a safe place or purchase a solar-powered or hand crank charger.

Darien Police Stop Sign

Downed Wire Near RR Tracks Caused Monday’s Power Outage

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A downed wire near the New Haven Line tracks off of West Avenue caused the outage Monday across downtown Darien from the railroad bridge along Route 1 to the Interstate 95 overpass, a utility spokesman said. “I don’t have a definitive cause as to why it came down,” said Mitch Gross, a spokesman for Eversource (the new name of Connecticut Light & Power, among other utilities). There was a report of an explosion, but it wasn’t part of the problem or a cause of the outage, Gross said. When an electricity line goes down, it’s often accompanied by a loud pop or explosive sound by a device called a “cutout fuse,” he said. That’s what happened in this case, he said.

Power Outage Fire Truck July 20

Downtown Electricity Back After Dark Afternoon with Traffic Lights Off, Few Stores Open

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Editor’s note: Power was restored by 7 p.m., Monday.  For more information, see this follow-up article. Update 9:04 p.m.:

Electricity returned to downtown by 8:15 p.m.

Update 6:55 p.m.:

A drive through downtown Darien at 6:40 p.m. showed electricity had not yet been restored between the railroad bridge and the Interstate 95 bridge. A utility crew was working on wires just on the Norwalk side of the I-95 bridge over the Post Road. Update 5:08 p.m.:

Darien police say there were reports of a transformer explosion near downtown, which may have caused the outage.