More than 470,000 without power in Massachusetts after devastating nor’easter
More than 470,000 people are without power in Massachusetts Wednesday morning as a nor’easter pounded the region with fierce winds and heavy flooding.
The state’s outage map shows a whopping 473,200 people without power as of 8:20 a.m.
Wind gusts reached 97 mph at the height of the storm — and although the wind is expected to die down as the morning progresses, gusts still reached around 70 mph on the outer Cape early Wednesday, NBC 10 Boston reported.
About half of the town of Chatham was left without power Wednesday morning as the storm tore down trees and branches, according to the report.
A woman needed to be rescued from her car after a tree fell on top of it as she drove on Route 6A in West Barnstable, the outlet reported.
The car wound up on top of a live power line — but police were able to rescue her safely and no one was hurt.
The Massachusetts Steamship Authority suspended all service until further notice.
“The storm is continuing to bring high winds to the area,” the ferry service tweeted. “Travel on the roads is extremely dangerous so please do not attempt to come to our terminals.”
Dozens of schools were either closed or delayed Wednesday due to the storm.
The nor’easter also swept the New York City region — and Mayor Bill de Blasio warned the public to “expect some impact until Wednesday morning.”
“Hold onto your hats this morning, especially along the coast!” the NYC branch of the National Weather Service tweeted early Wednesday. “While the rain has ended, winds remain blustery as our coastal low departs to the northeast.”
Wind gusts are reaching 40 miles per hour at JFK Airport, and growing stronger farther east — peaking at 60 miles per hour in Montauk.
