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12:30 p.m. update: Orleans Police report that Route 28 southbound towards Chatham closed for three telephone poles to be replaced. Traffic diverted to Route 39, cross road, and back to route 28. Please respect the barricades the line crews are working on a blind corner.
Power outages have mushroomed to a new high of over 128,000. This is a combination of new issues arising and in some areas crews having to cut power to make repairs.
We’re learning of another early morning fire, this time in Falmouth where Falmouth Fire Rescue Department (FFRD) reports that at about 3:44 am this morning FFRD crews responded to a reported structure fire in West Falmouth. First arriving Engine company found a fire from a fireplace had extended in to a wall. The wall was opened and a fire was extinguished, damage contained to fireplace and wall. Job well done by all under tough weather conditions FFRD photo:
1:30 p.m. update: Orleans Police reported they believe a problem with a main transmission line from Harwich to Provincetown may be responsible for the sudden upsurge in outages on the outer Cape. Meanwhile, Governor Charlie Baker joined Senator Vinny deMacedo, Senator Julian Cyr, Representative Sarah Peake, Representative Will Crocker, Representative Randy Hunt, Representative Tim Whelan, utility representatives and municipal officials from Barnstable County to discuss the impact of the most recent nor’easter at the Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center and to thank first responders for their efforts throughout the storm. (BCREPC photo):
3:00 p.m. update: AT&T cell service is reported out in some sections of the Cape. The company issued the following statement: “As the storm clean up continues, power outages and storm damage may be affecting service for some customers in parts of Cape Cod. Technicians are working to deploy additional generators and restore service as quickly and as safely as conditions allow.”
A traffic crash with injuries was reported in Falmouth at Route 151 & Sandwich Road. The area was shutdown for a time but is reopened. Eversource posted this photo they said was damaged done from a tractor-trailer on Sandwich Road:
122,000 Eversource customers remain without power. A large outage from Harwich to Provincetown continues. There are reports a main transmission line is down but there has been no confirmation from the utility company.
3:30 p.m. update: Working house fire on Andy’s Lane in Falmouth off Brick Kiln Road. Heavy smoke showing avoid area.
Falmouth Fire Rescue photo:
We are getting reports power is starting to come back on on the outer Cape.
4:15 p.m. update: Truro and Provincetown fire crews were called to the Truro Vineyards on Shore Road for a report of smoke in the building. Falmouth fire crews have gotten the blaze on Andy’s Lane knocked down.
4:30 p.m. update: At its 4 p.m. conference call, the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee reviewed the progress of power restoration on Cape Cod and the plans for the regional shelter system.
Given the slow pace of power restoration, the BCREPC determined that the following emergency shelters will remain open until further notice.
Sandwich High School
365 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, Sandwich
Barnstable Intermediate School
895 Falmouth Road, Hyannis
Cape Cod Regional Technical School
351 Pleasant Lake Avenue, Harwich
5:00 p.m. update: Some news from Eversource after a conference call with local officials “Eversource is working on two main transmission lines that should bring much of the outer Cape back online. They understandably are hesitant to give an estimated time for this work to be completed, but they are hopeful it will be within the next couple hours. ***This does not mean everyone will be back up, but hopefully a large number all at once.***.” Again we have been getting reports of lights coming back on on the Outer Cape. Eversource adds the estimated restoration time for all service in Plymouth and Cape Cod is Friday at 11:59 p.m.
