LYME/OLD LYME — UPDATED 9pm: “[It] looks like a war zone, wrote one reader from Old Lyme on Facebook talking about the state of her yard this morning. Tropical Storm Isaias hit Lyme and Old Lyme hard yesterday felling trees, bringing down power lines and making roads impassable.
As at 7:45 a.m. this morning, 98.59 percent of Lyme and 99.26 percent of Old Lyme are without power.
The Town of Lyme issued the following update Storm Recovery Update at 12:32 p.m.
Power Outages & Road Closures
Operational Status of Town Facilities
Tropical Storm Isaias has done considerable damage to the Connecticut power grid and caused numerous road closures. Connecticut currently has about 600,000 residents without power.
Power Outage Impacts
- The Town of Lyme is presently 98% without power and the best guess is this situation could last three or more days for primary electric circuits and longer for secondary circuits.
- Town Hall is operational with internet service, but without phones.
- The Public Library is closed until power is restored.
- The Hamburg Fire Station and Town Garage are without phones and being powered by generator.
- Potable water is available outside the Hamburg Fire Station, along with a charging station for residents who may need to recharge their phones. Access inside the station and to the showers previously available in better times are not open due to the COVID restrictions.
- There are numerous trees and electrical wires down on many town roads.
- All tree removal possible has been accomplished by the Town Crew. What remains to be cleared must be addressed by Eversource crews and they are hard to find.
- Wires may still be energized, so please stay away from downed wires and do not drive over any wires on roads.
- Roads that are impassable or with unsafe sections include:
Salem Road
Beaver Brook Road
Blood Street
Honey Hill Road
Sterling City Road
Old Hamburg Road
Tantumorantum Road
Mt. Archer and Brush Hill intersection
Mt. Archer and Honey Hill Lane intersection
- Rte. 156 (a state road) is passable but with many trees/wires closing one lane. Be cautious as they are not marked adequately.
- Rte. 148 (Ferry Road) is blocked close to Hadlyme Four Corners.
We suggest caution and patience as we wait for Eversource to reach the small towns.
Old Lyme Emergency Management issued the following statement at 6 p.m.
Yesterday the Town of Old Lyme sustained significant damage to the power grid due to high winds and tree damage from Storm Isaias.
If you have an emergency, dial 911.
We continue to have over 5,470 homes without power, and at least two major electrical distribution circuits supplying our town that are damaged. Heavily damaged areas still include: Rogers Lake, Oak Ridge, Flat Rock Hill Road, Browns Lane, Mile Creek Road and Ferry Road.
Emergency Management continues to be in contact with Eversource and restoration activities are in progress. Eversource and public works crews are working together to restore power in the heavily damaged areas. Town-wide utility line damage assessment and restoration efforts are in full force.
Please avoid all downed power lines.
Please avoid all blocked roads.
Please run your generator safely, and never indoors.
Lock your cars and homes, and keep a watch out for your neighbors. Secure portable generators, if possible. Be aware of phone scams and use reputable contractors for storm clean up. All public utility workers will have proper ID.
Be sure to call Eversource to report your outage at 1-800-286-2000.
Nine Town Transit is operational.
The Respite Center is open at the Lymes’ Senior Center at 26 Town Woods Road daily from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. If you need to charge your cell phones or electronic devices, or if you need potable water, you can go to the following locations:
- The respite center at the Lymes’ Senior Center
- The police station on Shore Rd.
- The Boughton Road fire station
You must bring your own water container. The police station and fire station are available for charging and water 24 hours a day – however, please do not leave your items unattended.
Residents wishing to dispose of storm debris can do so at no charge at the Old Lyme Transfer station on Four Mile River Road from now until August 15th.
For those in need of assistance, the Old Lyme Emergency Management Call Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call 860-598-0120.
To get up to date storm information follow Old Lyme Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter.
Lyme Town Clerk Linda Winzer published this update at 11 a.m.
Route 156 (Hamburg Road) is closed from Old Hamburg Road to Beaver Brook as the tree/wire issue at the Toll House/Murphy’s Corner just before the Joshuatown Road entrance is addressed. There is no time frame for reopening the road – it all depends on what needs to be done to repair the wires and get the tree out of there.
Lyme Town Clerk Linda Winzer published this important message at 8 a.m. on Facebook:
The town crew worked extremely late last night doing all they are permitted to do to clear roads, and they have basically completed that. What remains are trees in wires and across roads that they cannot touch, that Eversource and their tree crews need to clear. Please be safe as we await their arrival and help.
Remember DO NOT GO NEAR OR TOUCH ANY WIRES. We don’t want an already difficult situation to become a tragedy.