The National Weather Service confirmed Friday that the storm produced a 100-yard-wide tornado with winds of at least 100 mph that traveled less than a quarter-mile.The tornado was an EF-1 tornado that touched down around 2:20 p.m. in the area of East Main, Nichols and Cedar Streets. The twister traveled in an east-northeast direction, cutting a swath about 100 yards wide and two-tenths of a mile long.
Connecticut today is formally requesting that FEMA begin the damage assessment process for everyone affected by yesterday's severe weather as the first step in potential federal disaster assistance.
Cleanup and utility crews remain busy getting power restored and roads reopened.
ROADS/ACCESS
The curfew, imposed by Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday is no longer in effect. Police strongly advise people to stay out of areas blocked by police tape. Several buildings damaged by the storm remain unsafe.
Most streets in downtown Bridgeport remain passable, but police have blocked sections of Main Street. Power is on in most of downtown Bridgeport.
Police are stationed at 57 locations throughout Bridgeport where officers have blocked roads to limit access.
There is considerable debris on roads, but crews have removed downed trees from the roadways.
Trouble spots remain near East Main Street and the area near Washington Park.
Parts of East Main Street resemble a virtual war zone.
Westbound Boston Avenue remains shut down near Lakeview Cemetery.
The state Department of Transportation reports that the I-95 northbound ramp at Exit 28 in Bridgeport remains closed due to a building collapse.
STRATFORD
As of noon Friday, Stratford continues to operate under emergency operations protocols with its Emergency Operations Center open and acting as a central contact point for the town's public safety and health departments, assisting state agencies and other supporting public utilities engaged in the recovery and restoration effort.
Several areas of Stratford are still impassable due to downed trees and power lines.
As a public safety precaution, police have closed the Lordship section of Stratford to traffic other than that of local residents while utility (United Illuminating) and town Public Works Department crews work in tandem to restore power and clear downed trees.
Residents are encouraged to stay away from work area and to avoid travel on local Lordship section streets if possible until this work is completed. As of today, approximately 1,800 residents remain without power in Stratford. UI and Town officials are working together restore power as soon as possible.
For traffic and public safety reasons, Stratford has decided to close the Short Beach and Long Beach complexes for the day. Both complexes will remain closed until further notice. Similarly, to reduce traffic, be advised that Stratford will not provide its regular shuttle bus service for seniors in the Lordship area. All other own shuttle routes and runs are operating normally.
ASSISTANCE
Bridgeport residents affected by the storm and who need help can call Bridgeport's Emergency Operations Center at 203-579-3820.
Bridgeport officials said they will be seeking financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
POWER OUTAGES
United Illuminating crews are working to restore power to about 17,000 customers in the greater Bridgeport area. Bridgeport had 8,122 customers without power, followed by Easton with 2,340 or 81 percent of cutomers, Fairfield, 1,119; Trumbull, 739; and Stratford with 182.
A total of 40 crews are working to restore power, including workers from Massachusetts. CL&P is also assisting.
UI expects to have all power restored within 48 hours.
UI supplies most of the power in the greater Bridgeport area.
To report a power outage, call UI's Automated Action Line at 1-800-7CALLUI or 203-499-3333. The automated outage reporting system will record and report your outage.
There are still downed live wires.
The utility warns under any conditions to stay away from downed wires or dangling power lines.
For more details visit:
https://www.uinet.com
CLEANUP
A total of 116 Bridgeport workers are assisting in the cleanup efforts.
INJURED
The number of people injured remains at 25, but officials say that number may be misleading because that's the number of people who were transported to area hospitals. Many more may have gone on their own or received only minor injuries.
State Police and Westport Canine Teams have now completed their searches in the debris fields of collapsed buildings. No bodies have been found.
DAMAGE
Of the nine Bridgeport buildings that partially collapsed, only three were occupied.
A total of 50 familes were made homeless because of storm damage.
WEATHER
Weatherwise, it will be a good day for people to clear debris and crews to restore power. It will be sunny, with a high near 84. And the winds? Only 7 to 9 mph expected.
SHU CLOSED
Sacred Heart University in Fairfield is closed Friday because of a power outage.
BARNUM FESTIVAL
Champions on Parade, scheduled for Saturday night at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport, will go on.
The Great Street Parade on Sunday will also go on as scheduled.
The storm, however, has affected two Barnum Festival events. The fireworks display originally planned for tonight at Seaside Park has been postponed. A rescheduled date has not been set.
The Barnum Festival did have to cancel the singing of the Swedish Nightingales Jenny Lind concert scheduled Thursday night at the Playhouse On the Green. Officials are coordinating schedules this morning to try to find a date and time, hopefully this weekend, when both young ladies are still in town, to reschedule the performance.
BARNUM MUSEUM DAMAGED
The Barnum Museum in downtown Bridgeport was hit hard by the storm. "We have had some significant damage to the building as well as the collection. Two Main Street windows completely blew out, allowing all the storm water and wind to howl through the first floor exhibition areas. Additionally, water at the North West corner of the building was then able to seep through the first floor into the basement storage area wetting the archival collection of Barnum books.
Museum staff had extraordinary help from many of our friends who came to assist with the recovery, and currently the building and collection are stabilized for the moment. The museum will have to seek professional assessments to determine the extent of the damage to the building structure and to the collection of the display and storage items. Currently staff members are photo and video documented the incident and beganing to do written evaluations.
STATE POLICE
State Police began drawing down their troops late Friday morning. Right after the storm 35 troopers were rushed to Bridgeport. They assisted anywhere they were needed. doing security, traffic control and searching for injured and trapped people.
But by late Friday afternoon the number of troopers in the city was down to 20.
CLEANUP
A total of 116 Bridgeport workers are assisting in the cleanup efforts.
INJURED
The number of people injured remains at 25, but officials say that number may be misleading because that's the number of people who were transported to area hospitals. Many more may have gone on their own or received only minor injuries.
State Police and Westport Canine Teams have now completed their searches in the debris fields of collapsed buildings. No bodies have been found.
DAMAGE
Of the nine Bridgeport buildings that partially collapsed, only three were occupied.
A total of 50 familes were made homeless because of storm damage.
WEATHER
Weatherwise, it will be a good day for people to clear debris and crews to restore power. It will be sunny, with a high near 84. And the winds? Only 7 to 9 mph expected.
SHU CLOSED
Sacred Heart University in Fairfield is closed Friday because of a power outage.
BARNUM FESTIVAL
Champions on Parade, scheduled for Saturday night at Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport, will go on.
The Great Street Parade on Sunday will also go on as scheduled.
The storm, however, has affected two Barnum Festival events. The fireworks display originally planned for tonight at Seaside Park has been postponed. A rescheduled date has not been set.
The Barnum Festival did have to cancel the singing of the Swedish Nightingales Jenny Lind concert scheduled Thursday night at the Playhouse On the Green. Officials are coordinating schedules this morning to try to find a date and time, hopefully this weekend, when both young ladies are still in town, to reschedule the performance.
BARNUM MUSEUM DAMAGED
The Barnum Museum in downtown Bridgeport was hit hard by the storm. "We have had some significant damage to the building as well as the collection. Two Main Street windows completely blew out, allowing all the storm water and wind to howl through the first floor exhibition areas. Additionally, water at the North West corner of the building was then able to seep through the first floor into the basement storage area wetting the archival collection of Barnum books.
Museum staff had extraordinary help from many of our friends who came to assist with the recovery, and currently the building and collection are stabilized for the moment. The museum will have to seek professional assessments to determine the extent of the damage to the building structure and to the collection of the display and storage items. Currently staff members are photo and video documented the incident and beganing to do written evaluations.
STATE POLICE
State Police began drawing down their troops late Friday morning. Right after the storm 35 troopers were rushed to Bridgeport. They assisted anywhere they were needed. doing security, traffic control and searching for injured and trapped people.
But by late Friday afternoon the number of troopers in the city was down to 20.
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