Tropical Storm Isaias In Branford: Live Updates

BRANFORD, CT — Topical Storm Isaias is lashing the Connecticut shoreline Tuesday. Here is where Patch will post live updates on conditions from power outages, road closures, downed trees and limbs, flooding and other related storm incidents as well as town announcements as we receive them.

Please leave comments on this post to let us know about what's happening on your block, Branford.

Check out what to do if the power goes out here. And please be safe!

1 p.m. -Trash & recycling curbside pickup postponed

"Due to severe weather associated with Tropical Storm Isaias that is to impact our area later today, and for the safety of the haulers who collect our curbside material, the Town of Branford is postponing curbside trash and recycling collections by one day this week. Wednesday’s collections will be picked up on Thursday, and Thursday’s collections will be picked up on Friday. Please place your material to the curb before midnight tomorrow for Thursday and before midnight Thursday for Friday. Residents are asked not to place their trash cans or recycling bins to the curb and to secure any outdoor items that may be damaged or cause damage during the storm. Any additional changes to trash and recycling collections will be announced as information becomes available. Thank you for your cooperation at this time. Please stay safe and if you would please share this information with your Branford family, friends and neighbors."

2 p.m. - A tornado watch has been issued for the region until 4:30 p.m.

The winds are really picking up! Seeing reports of a 48 mph gust.

2:15 - Branford Police say the Town Dock is now closed to people and traffic.

Town beaches, shellfishing areas and Branford Point dock will be closed as of 2:00 p.m. today and remain closed until Wednesday morning. The beaches will remain closed if rainfall exceeds more than 2” until water quality testing is conducted and results are within acceptable levels. For updates on beach and shellfishing openings/closures please visit the East Shore Health Department website http://www.esdhd.org/

3 p.m. - Eversource is reporting 996 Branford customers have lost power.

The customers without power at 3:25 p.m., represent 6 percent of the 16,589 total customers.

4 p.m. Branford Emergency Operations Center asks people to "please stay home."

A Patch call to the Branford Emergency Operations Center had an official there tell Patch they're busy as tree limbs, trees and "still energized" power lines are down in locations in town. "If you want to put something out there tell people to please stay home."

Police asked residents to, "please be patient with our dispatch when reporting wires down and trees down."

And added the steps to take when reporting:

1. As accurate of an address as you can provide for the hazard
2. If anyone is trapped in the hazard
3. If there are power lines involved

5 p.m. - State emergency management officials give an update

5:35 p.m. - Eversource is now reporting there are 4,050 Branford customers without power.

The customers without power represent nearly 25 percent of the 16,589 total customers.

Meanwhile, some say they can't the utility company to report outages, which the utility has acknowledged is being addressed in a Facebook post with no shortage of comments from frustrated customers.

Here's the Eversource response via Twitter:

7 p.m. - Short Beach Road and Shore Drive "are virtually impassible," police say

"Short Beach Rd and Shore Dr areas are virtually impassible at this time. Please use Alps Rd if it is possible. There have been many reports of wires and trees down. We’re responding to as many as we can at this time but please be patient and don’t drive over wires or caution tape. Please continue to use extreme caution if you must be on the roads."

9 p.m. - Eversource reports that 8,915 Branford customers are without power.

The customers without power represent nearly 54 percent of the 16,589 total customers.