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08/07/2020 12:00 AMOn Aug. 4, Tropical Storm Isaias walloped Clinton and caused extensive damages and widespread power outages to the town.
Starting in the afternoon of Aug. 4, Isaias hit Clinton with extreme wind, which caused serious damage and power outages that are expected to last for days. At its peak, more than half of the town lost power due to the strong winds taking down trees and wires. A Facebook post from the Clinton volunteer Fire Department on Aug. 5 confirmed that there were no serious injuries reported due to the storm.
Town Manager Karl Kilduff reported a brief update to the Harbor News.
“Like most of the state, Clinton was hit with high winds from the tropical storm, which brought down limbs and power lines. Half the town lost power in the storm,” Kilduff said.
Officials are strongly urging the public to avoid all downed wires at all costs.
The post from the fire department said the department responded to more than 90 calls of service between 2 p.m. Aug 4 and 2 a.m. on Aug. 5. Some of the responses “included trees and limbs on wires, wires down, arcing wires, brush fires, trees on vehicles and homes occupied and unoccupied, propane leaks, and medical emergencies, to name a few.”
Now that the storm has passed, the Department of Public Works (DPW) cleanup can begin, however it may take several days until things are back to normal.
“Public Works is working to clear debris and open roads. However, our work relies on Eversource to ‘make safe’ trees where lines are down. If there are no lines down, DPW can clear. Otherwise, we are looking for Eversource and their team to address electricity so we can work,” said Kilduff.
A Town Council meeting scheduled for Aug. 5 and an Inlands Wetlands Commission meeting scheduled for Aug. 4 both had to be postponed due to the lack of power.
“Eversource has not given us a time frame for restoration. Given the widespread nature of the storm and the high number of customers without power across the state, we can urge patience at this point. Eversource needs mutual aid crews to assist in the effort,” Kilduff said.
Kilduff said that DPW will do a curbside pickup of debris starting on Monday, Aug. 10. The full schedule from the department is below. Kilduff also said that Town Hall is available as a charging station in the Green Room and Rose Room., and asked that users wear masks and socially distance.
DPW Debris Clearing Schedule
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7 and 8: Transfer Station will be open normal operating hours of 7:15 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Fees will be waived for brush and leaves.
Monday to Friday, Aug. 10 to 14: DPW crews will chip brush along curbside. Limbs must be placed with butt end out and no larger than eight inches in diameter.
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14 and 15: Normal operations; no charge for brush