Branford Roads Closed Amid Downed Trees and Power Lines

# Severe Thunderstorms Cause Power Outages for 30,000 Connecticut Residents

Connecticut got slammed Thursday evening when severe thunderstorms barreled through, knocking out power for nearly 30,000 people. Trees and power lines came down all over, especially in coastal towns, leaving a mess that had everyone scrambling.

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Local crews worked late into the night, clearing debris and trying to get things back to normal. Residents woke up to the aftermath, with some streets barely recognizable.

Milford Among Hardest-Hit Communities

Milford really took a hit as the storms swept in. Even though it didn’t last long, the storm packed a punch.

Residential Areas Severely Affected

Chris Yee, who grew up in Milford, came home to find a tree smashed into his old house. “It was shocking to see the damage from what was essentially just five minutes of intense weather,” Yee said.

Neighbors spent almost an hour clearing the streets so emergency vehicles could get through. It was a group effort—no one expected to be out there that long.

Transportation Disruptions

The storm didn’t spare the roads either. A huge tree dropped right across Exit 40 off I-95, cutting Milford off and leaving drivers stuck in traffic for hours.

DOT crews hustled to clear it, but detours stretched into the evening. If you were out there, you probably felt the frustration firsthand.

Widespread Impact Across Connecticut Towns

This wasn’t just a Milford problem. Towns up and down the coast felt the storm’s wrath, with damage and service outages popping up everywhere.

Coastal Communities Face Extensive Damage

In Guilford, more than five streets had to be closed after trees and wires came down. It was a headache for anyone trying to get around.

Over in Branford, two main roads were blocked off while police and fire crews worked with DOT to clear things up and make it safe. It’s amazing how quickly a storm can turn the usual commute into chaos.

Things weren’t much better in Norwalk, where Bayne Street shut down after a massive tree fell. Meanwhile, folks in Norfolk got pelted with hail—just to keep things interesting, apparently.

Power Restoration Efforts Underway

Repair crews from the utility companies jumped into action right after the storms. They faced a tough job—restoring power to about 30,000 customers isn’t easy, especially with so much debris everywhere.

Safety Concerns During Recovery

Emergency management teams from Hartford to New Haven urged everyone to be extra careful around storm damage. “Downed power lines may still be energized and present a serious hazard,” warned Stamford’s emergency management director.

For residents dealing with outages or debris, officials suggested a few things:

  • Stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines
  • Report outages directly to your utility provider
  • Use flashlights, not candles, for emergency lighting
  • Keep fridge doors closed to help food stay safe
  • Climate Patterns and Future Preparedness

    Meteorologists in Waterbury pointed out that while summer storms happen all the time here, this one was unusually intense for early June. Hard to say if it’s a fluke or a sign of what’s coming, but it definitely caught a lot of people off guard.

    Community Response

    Despite the challenges, communities across Connecticut showed real resilience. In Greenwich, neighbors jumped in to organize cleanup crews, clearing out smaller debris from parks and sidewalks while they waited for the pros to arrive.

    Local officials urged folks to get their emergency kits ready for whatever storms might come next. With summer storms moving in so quickly, it really drives home the need for weather alerts and staying prepared all year.

     
    Here is the source article for this story: Roads closed in Branford due to downed trees and wires

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