Heavy Winds Damage Trees In Newport

NEWPORT, RI — It's been nearly a week since powerful, near-hurricane-force winds buffeted Rhode Island, tearing down trees and knocking out power to thousands. The coastal areas of the state — Newport and Washington counties — were hit hardest, with debris blocking roads throughout the East Bay and South County and shelters opened over the weekend to give residents a place to charge their phones and warm up.

The wind storm took a heavy toll on the tree canopy in Newport, city officials said, rendering part of Narragansett Avenue, Bellevue Avenue and Malbone Road impassable on Friday night.

"It certainly made for a long night for our team of dedicated arborists who had to contend with gusts of over 60 mph and driving rain to make sure that the roads were passable by morning," the city wrote on Facebook.

Newport is home to "some of the Northeast's most historically significant specimen trees," the city said, which require year-round maintenance from arborists to ensure they remain healthy.

"The next time you see one of our crews trimming back branches or clearing a felled tree, be sure to say thank you, give a wave, or offer a passing thumbs up!" the city said.