Connecticut is rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy toppled trees, flooded homes and knocked out electricity for more than half a million customers last week.
Now, just as outages hit less than 1 percent about a week later, the state’s two largest utility companies say they are preparing for more bad weather as a nor’easter could hit the state on Wednesday afternoon. While the strength is expected to be much weaker than Sandy, United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power are preparing for potentially severe weather — even though the utility companies are still dealing with the last bout of outages.
“We still remain on the job restoring customers still affected by Sandy,” said Mitch Gross, spokesperson for CL&P.
He said that there’s a possibility of 45-50 mph gusts of wind, rain and snow on Wednesday.
The storm is expected to bypass devastated New Jersey en route to Connecticut. Coastal areas are expected to see some of the strongest winds, and there’s a possibility of a storm surge of several feet.
“We’re well prepared for the possibility of severe weather,” he said.
United Illuminating, which serves the Bridgeport and New Haven areas, asked its crews that came from out of state to remain to deal with possible nor’easter damage. The crews hail from Alabama, Florida, Ohio and other states.
“We’re certainly hopeful that we don’t get any additional damage,” said Michael West Jr., spokesperson for UI.
“Unlike Hurricane Sandy, there’s nothing really unusual about this storm,” said meteorologist Geoff Fox of WTIC, according to Fox News. “This is a type of storm New England and the Northeast get often."
He added, “It just seems unfair it’s coming now!”
