Visario Dimario watches Thursday as line crews replace two utility poles on Mill Street in Auburn. The third grader at Sherwood Heights Elementary school did not have school Thursday because of the power outage canceled classes. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
AUBURN — Power was restored to more than a thousand homes and businesses throughout the day Thursday after an overnight windstorm knocked out electricity in several areas.
More than 1,500 customers of Central Maine Power awoke without power Thursday morning, with New Auburn being the biggest area impacted.
CMP listed 778 customers without power due to a fallen tree on Mill Street, but by 2 p.m. Thursday power had been restored to most in that area. Power was also restored in Poland where 474 CMP customers had lost it due to a tree that fell during the storm.
Auburn Housing Authority Executive Director Martin Szydlowski confirmed that three of their properties were affected by the power outage, including Barker Mill Arms complex, which has about 111 apartments. Szydlowski said the complex at 143 Mill St. was one of the affected buildings, but that it has a backup generator and was able to provide residents with heat, hall lights and at least one working elevator. He said power had been reported out around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Sherwood Heights Elementary school in New Auburn canceled classes Thursday due to the power outage.
By dinnertime Thursday, 83 customers were without power in Andrsocoggin County, the bulk of them in Wales and Lisbon.
More high winds were in the forecast Thursday night, but mostly in the areas of Oxford and Northern Franklin counties.
Amanda Hamilton and her dog, Millie, stay warm in their car Thursday at Barker Mill Arms in Auburn. Hamilton said she lost power around 7 p.m. Wednesday. “It’s freezing in there,” she said. Resident Paul Pepin said he stayed up all night because the CPAP machine he relies on to breathe while sleeping would not work without electricity. Another resident said he “bundled up inside two sleeping bags and went back to bed. I always have a backup plan,” he said. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
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