Like a lot of the East Bay area, residents, businesses and municipal workers were still busy Monday, March 5, cleaning up the remnants of the nor’easter storm that tore through the area last Friday, March 2.

Extreme wind gusts downed trees and power lines and also caused local waterways to overflow and basements to flood.

Thousands of commercial and residential customers were without power at some point during the storm, which recorded wind gusts of 70-plus miles per hour.

According to City Deputy EMA Director Wayne Barnes, National Grid was quite active in East Providence Monday.

He continued, “As of mid-afternoon the 800 or so customers that were still out early this morning had been cut about in half. The goal is to have nearly everyone up by late this evening.”

EPFD response
East Providence Fire Department Chief Oscar Elmasian said crews responded to several reports of basements filling up with water from the dousing rains associated with the storm. One owner reported having some four feet of water overtaking the home’s basement at the height of the storm Friday evening.

Over the weekend, the chief said the department were called to the scene of several small fires and one as well at the Village Green apartment complex related to the winds that continued to blanket the city Saturday and Sunday.

Compost site opens    
The Forbes Street Compost site will be open Saturday, March 10, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for storm debris refuse. The Department of Public Works has announced that debris resulting from the storm on Friday, March 2, can be dropped off during the aforementioned hours.

Residents may drop off leaves, brush, tree branches and limbs cut to a manageable length. Only tree related material /vegetative material will be accepted at the site. Residents must show a valid driver’s license as proof of residency.  Storm/yard debris in plastic bags will not be accepted. No commercial vehicles are permitted.

For further information please contact the recycling office at 435-7710 or 435-7701.