Lightning Strikes Buildings, Thousands Lose Power in Middletown

UPDATE, 12:45 a.m.: Power had been restored to about 1,000 residents late Thursday morning, but Eversource was reporting that 2,561 were without power just before 1 a.m.

UPDATE, 10 p.m.: Eversource is reporting that 3,540 residents are without power and Mayor Dan Drew says "more thunder cells headed this way from the west. Stay home unless it's absolutely necessary to go out."

Original post

MIDDLETOWN, CT — More than 3,000 city residents are without power and Mayor Dan Drew has announced that he has ordered the opening of the Emergency Operations Center.

“I’m here with PD, EM, Fire, and DPW. We’re monitoring and responding to a number of situations throughout the city,” Drew said in a Facebook post. “There are several roads we’re shutting down or which are impassable. Several traffic lights are out. We have reports of a few lightning strikes to buildings, including the Canoe Club restaurant chimney. There have been no fires. There are wires down in some places and a half dozen trees down.

“Traffic lights are out at South Main and Randolph. Randolph & East Ridge, and Randolph & Fowler are out. Several neighborhoods are without electricity.”

Eversource is reporting 3,304 outages as of 9:15 p.m.

“Right now the following roads are closed in certain sections due to water: Farm Hill to Norfolk, Wadsworth, and Home Avenue. There are other streets the PD is checking now,” Drew said. “If you are home, please stay. If you’re out, get home and stay. Storms will be intermittent throughout the night.”

Check back for updates