Eversource Removes Storm-Damaged Trees In Branford

BRANFORD, CT — Eversource crews were out in Branford removing storm-damaged trees Monday morning. The utility which has come under fire for its storm response and days-long power outages says trees are the culprit.

"More than 10,000 trees toppled during Tropical Storm Isaias and the late-August microburst in Branford and surrounding communities," Eversource spokesman Mitch Gross said. "Since those violent storms, Eversource has identified and removed hundreds of additional storm-damaged trees that threatened electric reliability."

Eversource said that as it removes stormed-damaged trees and branches, it "urges" customers to inspect trees on their own property.

“Trees are the number one cause of power outages and removing these trees is critical, especially with fierce storms happening more frequently. Roughly 60 percent of Connecticut’s landscape is forested, with many large, mature trees located over or near power lines,” Eversource vegetation management manager Alan Carey was quoted as saying.

"We trim and remove hazardous trees every day along state and local roads and can’t stress enough the importance of communities and customers working collaboratively with us to support these efforts so we can reduce the number of tree-related power outages in future storms.”

The utility says that, "Customers’ restoration time after a storm is greatly impacted by the extensive tree-clearing required before Eversource can repair the electric system and restore power to customers."

In Branford, the entire town lost power for several days after the late August storm that brought a tornado and microburst.

Eversource said that in addition to downed trees blocking access to power lines, they
"also create increased public safety risks for fire, police and other first responders.

"The recent fierce storms that carved paths of destruction across the state damaged not only dead and diseased trees, but also brought down mature, healthy trees with full-leaf canopies. Eversource continues to make investments in the electric system to strengthen it to be more resilient to the region’s changing weather," the news release from Gross reads. "Despite those efforts, the electric grid is not built to withstand the impacts of massive, mature trees falling on it.

This year alone, the energy company is spending $83 million trimming branches and removing hazardous trees along 4,200 miles of roads across Connecticut as part of its robust vegetation management program, the media release reads.