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Winds, rain bring downed trees and flooding around the state

NEW HAVEN — A storm that started Wednesday caused power outages, damage and flooding around the state. The remnants of Hurricane Patricia lingered and imp...
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NEW HAVEN -- A storm that started Wednesday caused power outages, damage and flooding around the state.

The remnants of Hurricane Patricia lingered and impacted the Thursday morning commute.  Localized flooding in New Haven near Middletown Avenue and at Cosey Beach in East Haven has drivers taking extra precaution.  Parts of the state saw two or three inches of rain.

Power company crews were working to restore lights to customers with outages. Over 4,000 customers were without power at 8:45 a.m.

The wind causing leaves to blanket area roadways, especially the secondary roads, which means drivers will encounter slick spots throughout the state.

Downed power lines caused problems in West Hartford at Albany and Starkel Road around 1 a.m. The wires were removed and the road was reopened.

There was flooding in Hartford near Sisson and Farmington Avenues. Some scaffolding for the renovation old Hartford Office Supply building on Capitol Avenue collapsed.

In Bloomfield, wires were downed on Burr Rd. near Maple Hill Farms around 2 a.m. The road was reopened.

“This is a high risk rainfall because drivers will have limited visibility and even though the roads are not icy, they’ll be exceptionally slippery because of all the leaves” says AAA spokesperson Amy Parmenter.

AAA reminds drivers that there are several risk factors in weather like this.

  • Limited vision – When so much rain falls over a short period of time, drivers can’t see.  If you can’t see, you can’t drive.  Pull over and put on your hazard lights.
  • Covered Roads – The heavy rain bringing  down a blanket of leaves that will put a slick layer between the tires and the surface of the road.
  • Flooding –Drivers attempting to drive through a flooded roadway or intersection put themselves, their passengers and their cars at risk.
  • Hydroplaning – Even without the leaves, wet roads minimize traction that your car has.
  •     Watch out for Other  Drivers – With the increased risks, there will be accidents.  So drive defensively.

“Even defensive drivers are at risk when the roads are so wet and blanketed with leaves.  Turn on your lights, not just so you can see – but also so you can be seen by others” says Parmenter.

 

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