StormBeat: Power outages start to dwindle as restoration efforts continue

This story will be updated with important information for the duration of the storm and its impacts. Check back for updates from around Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Thousands of people have been cleaning up yard debris torn up by Wednesday’s nor’easter.

Utility crews have been working around the clock to restore power to thousands of households and businesses.

National Grid spokesperson Ted Kresse told 12 News on Wednesday that 2,400 field-based personnel crews are responding to outages across the region, including approximately 400 external line crews and 250 forestry crews.

The strong wind gusts toppled trees and downed power lines across Southern New England. At the storm’s peak, more than 90,000 Rhode Islanders and roughly 500,000 Massachusetts residents were in the dark.

As of Friday morning, more than 1,000 National Grid customers in Rhode Island were without power, and 100,000 in Massachusetts were in the dark.

To report an outage, call National Grid at 1-800-465-1212, Eversource at 1-800-592-2000, the Pascoag Utility District at (401) 568-6222, or the Block Island Utility District at (401) 466-5851.

The storm prompted several school local districts to shift to distance learning or cancel classes altogether Wednesday.

Persistent power outages will also keep some schools closed Thursday, including Fairhaven, Acushnet, and Dighton-Rehoboth public schools.

The Newport Pell and Jamestown bridges were closed for a portion of the morning due to the strong wind gusts, but have since reopened.

While a number of flights were affected Wednesday morning, scheduled arrivals and departures at T.F. Green Airport appear to be back on track.