More than 84,000 residents are without power on this frigid holiday morning

Greater than 84 thousand residents are nonetheless with out energy on this frigid Christmas morning.

At ten this morning, Versant energy reported that greater than 25,000 prospects are with out energy, the vast majority of them within the Presque Isle, Bangor and Bar Harbor areas. Firm officers say they’ve 105 crews working 16-hour days to revive energy.

Versant President John Flynn mentioned because of the depth of the storm on Friday that snapped bushes and poles like matchsticks, full restoration could take till Wednesday.

“Not solely had been the sustained winds very excessive, however they had been sustained for a very long time, particularly on the ocean coast. They had been violent gusts that did a whole lot of injury,” Flynn mentioned. “Whenever you see poles snapped in half it provides you an excellent indication of what we’re coping with.”

Versant Supervisor of Security Brian Gould says residents ought to all the time assume a downed line is dwell.

“We all know there’s a whole lot of bushes down, driveways blocked, and a whole lot of wires down,” Gould mentioned. “I do not know of something extra harmful to the general public than these eventualities.”

Gould says to by no means contact or drive by way of downed strains or contact bushes on strains.

Central Maine Energy is reporting that greater than 59,000 of its prospects are with out energy this morning, a 3rd of them in York County.

An announcement from CMP President Joe Purington says the corporate is including 200 extra crews immediately, growing its line and tree crew depend to 980. CMP says all prospects ought to have energy restored by the top of the day Tuesday.