For Immediate Release
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Winthrop Police and Fire Departments Responding to Storm-Related Incidents
More than 40 Trees have Fallen
One-Fifth of Town is Without Power at this Time
WINTHROP — Police Chief Terence Delehanty and Fire Chief Paul E. Flanagan report that emergency crews in Winthrop are actively engaged in clean-up and restoration efforts, despite the challenges of the ongoing gusty winds and rain from a coastal storm that arrived last evening.
More than 40 trees have fallen in Winthrop and more trees and branches continue to come down throughout the day. Some trees and limbs have come down on power lines. Cleanup efforts are being slowed by the continued high winds in town. Winthrop has seen wind gusts approaching 80 mph.
Currently, 17% of Winthrop residents and businesses are without power. Those without power are National Grid customers. The Town of Winthrop is in constant communication with the utility, but no estimated restoration timetable has been provided.
As of 10 a.m., more than 200,000 Massachusetts residents are without power. A Wind Advisory remains in effect for the entire state until 5 p.m.
From the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency:
A strong, damaging wind event impacted the Commonwealth overnight, with the greatest impacts in southeastern Massachusetts, and the Cape and Islands. The high winds associated with this event resulted in sporadic road closures and widespread electric customer outages (leaving several hundred thousand residents without power) due to downed tree limbs and wires. The most significant power outages are being experienced by National Grid and Eversource customers. The threat of high sustained winds will continue throughout the day which is expected to result in additional power outages.
Currently, local communities and state agencies are coordinating response efforts to manage the impacts from this event, and any additional impacts that may result from today’s high winds.
Important Safety Information from National Grid:
Always use extreme caution near wires and power lines—for your own safety, assume they are live and deadly.
If you see a downed line, keep everyone away and dial 911. You can also report it to National Grid at 800-465-1212. Repairing downed power lines can be dangerous work, so please drive carefully when you spot our repair crews on the road.
If you see a downed power line:
- NEVER touch downed power lines or anything coming in contact with fallen lines
- NEVER walk beneath overhead equipment, lines, or wires near a downed line
- NEVER touch someone who is being electrically shocked
- NEVER handle or cut utility poles
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