Nearly 15,000 WMECO customers lost power during the storms.
July 26, 2011 - Wilbraham - Republican staff photo by Michael S. Gordon - John Caltabiano pulls toys and debris out his the pool behind his 7 Winterberry Drive home Wednesday after strong winds Tuesday afternoon knocked down several large white pine trees in the yard. The one in the background is leaning against the house.
SPRINGFIELD – An errant bird caused more than 200 Western Massachusetts Electric Co. customers to lose power for a time Thursday morning.
The outage was reported about 6:30 a.m. and all power was restored less than two hours later, WMECO spokeswoman Sandra Ahearn said. The bird somehow caused a short-circuit, she said.
“Everyone is back now,” she said.
Nearly 15,000 WMECO customers lost power in the aftermath of Tuesday’s violent microbursts. Ahearn said that all of the utility’s storm-related outages were restored by about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
National Grid, meanwhile, reported that only 15 of its customers in Wilbraham, perhaps the hardest hit community, were without power Thursday morning. All of Wilbraham’s nearly 6,000 customers lost power during the storms.
Wilbraham police reported the following roadways remained closed for storm cleanup as of about 8 a.m.: Faculty Street, Ripley Street, Hunting Lane, Pomeroy Street, Bittersweet Lane and Springfield Street - from the town hall to Main Street.
View Wilbraham Street Closings, July 27, 2011 in a larger map