Brookfield Looks to Rebuild After Macroburst

BROOKFIELD, CT -- The macroburst that slammed through town on Tuesday has left 74 percent of the 8,342 residents still without power as of Eversource data provided Friday morning.

The final analysis, based on a National Weather Service storm survey, done in conjunction with the Connecticut State Police and the Town of Brookfield, paints a picture of a macroburst with maximum wind speeds of 110 mph impacting a swath about 3 miles in width and 9 miles in length from New Fairfield through Brookfield. The time of impact was from 4:37 p.m. to 4:53 p.m. on Tuesday.

Numerous hardwood and pine trees were uprooted and snapped, with the most significant surveyed damage in Brookfield from the Candlewood Shores area, extending east across Route 7, to just north of the Senior High School, to Lake Lillinonah. Falling trees caused two fatalities, one in New Fairfield and another in Brookfield, and one serious injury via wind damage to the roof of a baseball dugout.

Eversource said Thursday it hopes to complete power restoration in the areas that sustained the worst damage by Sunday afternoon.

Police are urging residents to stay away from downed power lines, not to run generators inside their garages, and to be careful with chainsaws.

Brookfield public schools will be closed again on Friday.

Photo Contributed by Patch reader Kelly Manning.