Thousands without power as cleanup continues after powerful storms tear through Merrimack Valley
Communities in the Merrimack Valley are cleaning up after powerful storms tore through the area Friday afternoon.
According to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, as of Sunday morning, half of the 18,000 homes in the dark were in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence.
Our @nationaglridMA crews are working around the clock to restore power to the 34,000 customers that remain without service in communities like Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Chelmsford and elsewhere in the Merrimack Valley region. We have over 1,000 personnel responding to… pic.twitter.com/kVacW9cIhI
— National Grid US (@nationalgridus) September 9, 2023
“It seemed like just a rainstorm at first and then it got heavier and heavier, and then the wind, and then the hail, it was just getting louder and louder, and then we suddenly lost power around 2:30 p.m.,” said Kimberly Almeida, of Andover. “My kids were home. They actually had a half-day from school for Andover because of the heat but I think it turned out to be a good thing because otherwise there would’ve been buses on the road at that time.”
Andover town officials said it could be multiple days until power is restored.
“I’m not surprised that it will likely be a couple of days, I mean it kind of stinks that these things happen on weekends but at least I won’t have to work for the next couple of days and the kids don’t have to get to school,” Almeida said. “I’m hoping by Monday schools will be able to be open.” Andover police said at least a dozen roads were impassable Saturday morning due to trees and branches down.
On Powers Street, a tree fell on a house sending two people to the hospital.
This all comes just a few days ahead of the five-year anniversary of the Merrimack Valley gas explosions.
The three communities impacted by that catastrophe are the same three communities that were hit hardest by Friday’s storms.
WILD WEATHER: More than 11,000 homes in Andover still don’t have power after yesterday’s powerful storms, and scenes like this one are to blame. Trees, branches, and utility poles are knocked down all over town.
Live reports from 8-10 AM on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/rwrldmM744— Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) September 9, 2023
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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