National Grid Implements Lessons From Irene

Improvements include upgrades to service restoration and better communication.

  This article was submitted by National Grid. One year ago Tropical Storm Irene battered the eastern seaboard creating unprecedented damage and interrupting electric service to millions along the east coast.  As of August 28, 2011, it was the most severe storm to hit New England in 20 years. Massachusetts was not spared from Irene’s wrath.  Her fury ravaged National Grid’s electricity system and left more than 518,000 customers without power in 170 of the 172 communities served byNational Grid in the state.  From that devastation has come innovation in the way National Grid prepares for severe weather, allocates its resources to restore power more quickly, and communicates with its customers and public safety officials. “We understand and…

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Sea Notes: Stories on the Swampscott Waterfront

NEW VIDEO: Recovery Day

On Monday boat owners got their sailboats back to their moorings, lashed to the town pier or retrieved from rocks.

The day broke clear and calm and the air smelled clean in Swampscott on Monday. It contrasted with the clammy and stormy weather over the weekend. Boat owners whose vessels tore loose from moorings went to work Monday retrieving their vessels. Here is some footage of the retrieval and recovery work.

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Swampscott Stories

Photos From the Past Two Days

From a drive-thru pic to waves and a cradled boat.

Here are some photos, mostly from after Irene. The beaches were inching back toward normalcy Monday: beach people were lounging in the sun and reading books. The sky was mostly blue and the air clean. Still, much of the talk and activity revolved around the storm and power of mother nature. Several boats took on major damage and a few were destroyed. Most of the big sail boats, however, will soon sail again. Many owners reported minimal damage. There were no deaths or serious injuries reported. Monday at King's Beach and Fisherman's Beach storm memories were on people's minds while scattered storm reminders bobbed and rested along the shore.

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Sea Notes: Stories on the Swampscott Waterfront

Helpless Then a Plan

Swampscott boat owners watched as boats snapped free one by one today.

Susan Booras and other boat owners watched the storm-driven waves from the Swampscott Yacht Club today at high tide when the lines in the harbor started to snap. "It was so sad," she said. "They went, 'snap, snap, snap.'" One after another more than a dozen boats broke free from their mooring lines. The mooring line was tied to a cleat on the deck of the Booras's boat, Moira, a 25-foot sailboat that they have owned for a year. The cleat was ripped from the deck. About 10 sailboats ranging from 24-36 feet broke free from their lines. They bobbed and rocked in the rough seas and drifted at an angle toward shore, most landing along King's Beach. Bill Sullivan's Irish Eyes landed closest to the beach's sea wall. As the tide went out, the blue …

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Live: Storm Blog

LIVE Swampscott Irene BLOG

UPDATED Sun., 2:56 pm A ship's hold for all things Irene and Swampscott.

Aug. 28, 2:50pm, Police Chief Ron Madigan said that 7 or 8 boats broke free of their moorings and ran ashore today. Police notified the harbormaster. Boats came ashore at Fisherman's Beach, Lynn Shore Drive and behind Cap'n Jack's. Police, Fire and DPW crews have been responding to downed wires and limbs and other calls throughout the storm. The police chief and Deputy Fire Chief James Potts and DPW Director Gino Cresta were on hand to open the emergency shelter at the senior center this morning. The two people who sought refuge there have returned to their residences. 1:55 pm DPW removed a split tree that threatened a house at 964 Humphrey St. around midday and were bound for Galloupes Point Road address where a large tree had fallen into…

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