Newport Hit Hard by Storm; Clean-Up Continues - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

Newport Hit Hard by Storm; Clean-Up Continues

by Mark Curtis, ABC 6 Reporter 

mcurtis@abc6.com

The buzz of the wood chipper was like a symphony on Aquidneck Island as cleanup in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy continues.

Some roads were completely impassable, after debris and erosion shut them down.

Biking was about the only way to get through:

Newport resident Kathey Irving said, "The tide was incredibly high. And we were cut off from the Ocean Drive about four o'clock yesterday afternoon as well, for safety I'm sure."

Among the things the pounding surf did, was toss boulders weighing hundreds of pounds in the road.

ABC 6 Political Reporter Mark Curtis said, "Given the extent of the damage from the debris strewn along Ocean Drive and other roads on southern Aquidneck Island, it's not certain when those roads might be open to traffic again."

Memorial Boulevard between Middletown and Newport was also closed, after waved buried it in sand.

Lots of business in downtown Newport had water damage, but it receded and most businesses were open.

The big issue: power outages from down lines. At its worst, almost 15 thousand customers lost power

Newport resident Tom Galvin, "It was windy and rainy and trees knocked down. You don't get appreciation until you get out here near the ocean and see how much damage and how many big rocks moved around."

But the rough seas also turned up some treats for treasure hunters. Things such as this old iron horseshoe.

Isabelle, a Newport resident who found it said, "Bring us luck, to fix the problems of the storm quicker."

Utility and emergency crews are trying to make that happen, as fast as they can.

In Newport, Mark Curtis, ABC6 news.