On Tuesday night a sudden power surge swept through East Hampton, Connecticut, affecting at least 41 homes. The East Hampton fire chief confirmed that Eversource crews inspected each affected residence for electrical damage.
Homeowners begin claim process
Residents who suffered damage must submit claims to Eversource. The utility has indicated that standard reviews may take up to 30 days, while more complex cases could require additional time. The fire chief warned that some items that appeared to survive the surge might fail in the coming days.
Resident experiences
Lauri Sirois, who lives on Terp Road, described the moment the surge hit her home. “All of a sudden, the kitchen lights got brighter, then we heard a loud pop and smelled smoke,” she said. She called 911, evacuated her family and pets, and waited for emergency responders.
Throughout the night, Eversource workers moved from house to house, unplugging appliances, removing light bulbs and testing each outlet for functionality. Sirois reported that four of her surge protectors and her dryer were damaged. A technician later confirmed the dryer was a total loss, noting that the motor did not even hum.
Sirois spent nearly $800 to replace the dryer. She noted that some neighbors experienced far greater damage and expressed concern about the financial burden of waiting for claim decisions. “We were fortunate we had the extra cash to do that. But that’s not going to be the case for everybody. And then there’s interest if they take more than 30 days,” she said.
How Eversource evaluates claims
Eversource does not reimburse customers based on the cost of purchasing new items. Instead, claims are assessed at the damaged property’s actual cash value, which factors in the age and condition of the appliance or item. The utility emphasized that each claim is evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.
The cause of the surge remains under investigation, and the utility has not released further details about the source of the overload.
What homeowners can do
Homeowners are advised to document all damaged items, keep receipts for repairs or replacements, and submit their claims promptly. If a claim is denied or the settlement seems insufficient, residents may consider contacting the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for further assistance.
Community members are encouraged to stay vigilant for any lingering electrical issues and to report unusual activity to their local fire department or utility provider.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
