EG Escapes Worst Of Sandy

By 8:30 p.m. Monday night, the water was 15 inches high on Water Street by Rhode Island Clam and Harbourside. But Robert Smith was feeling a bit optimistic or, at least, he wasn't panicking.

The owner of Rhode Island Clam, Smith had gotten a call that the water was up to the door. It was short of that and from across the street Smith decided he had seen enough. 

"When we left it today, we left it so it would take water. For Irene, we gutted it," said Smith. When someone asked if he was going to go in, Smith declined. "It is what it is. Whatever it is now, it will be a 9 o'clock tomorrow morning."

Still, Smith said the water was the highest he'd ever seen it on Water Street.

At Norton's, the situation was not as good. At about 6 p.m. Monday, the roof came off.

"I was standing in front of the lift and all of a sudden I hear this eeeekkk and it just peeled like a can opener," said Karen Hogan, who lives in Cowesett. "It hit the train tracks. It was horrible, a horrible noise," she said. 

Hogan was at Norton's checking on her boat, which had been pulled from the water but sat near the cove. 

Over on Grand View, Jean Ann Guliano had trees come down in her backyard.

"We just heard a big crash and went out with our flashlights to find two HUGE trees went down in our back yard – part of one is resting on our roof. Thankfully, it only looks like the gutter is damaged and Mr. Potato Head is fine! Note: our backyard is only about 20' wide," Guliano said in a Facebook post. "I think we are pretty lucky!"

According to Town Manager Bill Sequino, the main damage was from downed trees. Power was off intermittently throughout East Greenwich. At 10:30 p.m., about 1,500 EG customers were out of power, according to National Grid

While most residents appeared to have stayed home Monday, Filippou's Twisted Pizza was busy, both with in-store customers and deliveries. 

Steve Filippou said he was grateful to all his employees, who had the option to stay home. 

"They all came in, just like the last storm," Filippou said, referring to Irene in August 2011. He said they would probably be staying open late. 

"When we run out of ingredients, than we'll close," he said.

Fat Belly's on Main Street was open Monday afternoon, but closed by the dinner hour. 

"We try to stay open as long as possible," said Isabel Grocut, a longtime employee. The restaurant was busy and cheerful. When power flickered off and on then off again, the crowd roared. 

"It's the end of the world as we know it," sang one customer.

By 6 p.m. Fat Belly's was dark and closed.

At St. Luke's, the monthly community supper – Christ Community Kitchen – was held despite the storm.

According to chief cook Tamara McKinney, "I had bought the food. If I freeze the food uncooked and we lose power, we lose the food. If I prepare the food, and I freeze the food and the power goes out, we lose the food. If I cook the food and people come, we can all eat and celebrate Mother Nature!"

About 35 people did come, partaking of a rich shepherd's pie, salad, bread and a plethora of desserts.

Power on Main Street was spotty at 9 p.m.

At Town Hall, a generator hummed. But just three doors away, at Norman's Tap, the lights were on and the drinks were flowing. 

Town Manager Sequino reiterated there would be NO trash pickup Tuesday – that customers who normally have trash pickup on Monday and Tuesday will have their trash picked up on Wednesday. Pickup will be delayed one day from Wednesday to Friday.

Town offices will be open Tuesday. Schools will be closed.

If you have news about Sandy and how it affected your neighborhood, please leave a comment about it here, or send an email to elizabeth.mcnamara@patch.com. Thanks!