More than 376,000 in Maine lose power; repairs may take days

[jpak]

Source: Portland Press Herald

More than 376,000 Maine homes are without power Monday morning following a powerful wind and rainstorm – exceeding the peak number of power outages reported during the historic Ice Storm of 1998.

It could take multiple days to fully restore power and restoration work won’t start until crews ground and de-energize downed lines, according to Gail Rice, spokeswoman for Central Maine Power Co. Restoration estimates for specific areas will not be available Monday.

The storm, with high wind gusts and driving rain, has affected rail service and closed roads and schools across southern Maine.

The National Weather Service issued a warning that “extremely dangerous” flooding was possible across the western mountains Monday morning. The worst of the wind was expected to hit Maine for several hours Monday morning. A wind gust of 69 mph was recorded in Portland just after 6 a.m.

<more>

Read more: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/10/30/more-than-74000-without-power-as-storm-roars-into-maine/

[ffr]

1. That's strange. What would cause the weather to be so violent as to do this?

Last edited Mon Oct 30, 2017, 12:39 PM - Edit history (1)

Are the angels angry with us?

[Soxfan58]

7. Punishment

For electing Paul Lepage Governor ...twice!

[Vinca]

2. I think a couple of hundred thousand in New Hampshire lost power as well.

It was a noisy, noisy night. Our power flickered, but miraculously didn't go out. The road across from us is closed though and it's either a downed tree or power pole or a bridge washed out. This fall we've had power company tree removal people spending days on our road removing overhanging branches and trees. It definitely paid off for us during this storm.

[Bengus81]

3. Hey...those Whitefish guys are coming back from PR,for $300 million they could fix it n/t

[They_Live]

8. Heck.

For $500 million, no questions asked, I will take care of this personally.

[Zoonart]

4. My power has been out for

Six hours now, Lower Hud Valley, NY.

[sharp_stick]

5. We've got a lot in the dark in CT as well

especially on the Eastern side of the State. There's quite a cutoff where you can see who got hit the hardest.

[Hortensis]

6. Too bad they aren't in line behind our folk on the island.

No malice toward them, but their righteously angry demands would jab the GOP in the butt big time.

40 days now without power and/or water for way too many AMERICAN CITIZENS. It really could be any of us if we lived where votes were written off by the GOP.

[jpak]

9. At noon today, outages rose to 500,000 customers - worst in Maine history

More than 65% of the state.

https://bangordailynews.com/2017/10/30/outdoors/weather/storm-leaves-nearly-500000-mainers-without-power-restoration-could-take-days/

[Thor_MN]

10. Sounds like something a $500 million contract with a 3 employee company could handle...

Cost of living on the East Coast is high, so call it $400 a day for food, $500 a hour for a line man (the actual worker will get $15 an hour and a BOGO coupon at Arbys..)