Widespread Power Outages Caused By Downed Power Lines in East Lyme, Old Lyme, and Lyme

With winds gusting at 70 to 90 mph, trees and power lines are coming down all over, causing widespread power outages and road closures. Flooding in the lower lying areas has also closed off many roads, particularly along the beaches in Old Lyme and East Lyme. 

At about 7 p.m., police even closed the Niantic River Bridge to traffic.

As of 7:45 p.m., CL&P was reporting that 96 percent of its customers in East Lyme, 89 percent in Lyme, and 84 percent in Old Lyme were without power. Downed power lines closed Flanders Road at Society Road. East Lyme Middle School, which is serving as the regional emergency shelter is located on Society Road but there are other ways to get to it.

More People Head to East Lyme Shelter

The Red Cross Shelter in East Lyme expects to receive 60 people from the Red Cross relocation shelter at the Winthrop School in New London shortly. They are being evacuated due to a "question of the generator's integrity."

Emergency Management Director Reid Burdick said shelter director Norma Pabon informed him that some power outlets were not working and the lights were dim at the school. Burdick said the precaution is being taken because it is uncertain if there is a problem with the generator and that it would be unsafe to potentially keep residents at the shelter if a power outage occurs later in the evening, when the storm is expected to peak.

"The building may very well be fine, but the question is, is that good enough?" said Burdick.

Mayor Daryl Finizio said the people who have taken refuge there to the Region 4 shelter at East Lyme Middle School. Residents are being taken to the regional shelter in two Senior Center buses under police escort. A trailer of cots is also being taken to the regional shelter.

Stay Off The Roads

East Lyme, Old Lyme, and Lyme residents are all being urged to stay off the roads, particularly as more are likely to become impassable as the storm churns on. New London Mayor Finizio ordered a halt to city transportation to the city's shelter at about 3 p.m. in conjunction with an order to limit police, fire, and Public Works responses to emergency calls only. The decision was made due to high winds and hazardous conditions.

The highways are mostly empty, and many local roads are littered with hazards posed by branches, power lines, and water. Black Rock Point in Niantic is cut off by a downed tree on Attawan Road but East Lyme police say there are similar problems all over town at this point and beach roads in Old Lyme have been underwater since this morning. 

The best advice is to stay home and ride out The rain is coming down heavily at this point and the biggest storm surges are expected at high tide tonight, which is still several hours away and tidal rivers are spilling over now.