PEABODY — A downed tree took down power lines behind the Torigian Family YMCA on Lynnfield Street Tuesday shortly before 8 a.m., according to a Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP) statement posted on its Facebook page.
Approximately 2,000 PMLP customers, including several businesses in the Centennial Drive Office Park and three area schools, temporarily lost power. The statement said that power was restored to all customers shortly before 9 a.m.
“These downed lines were the result of a tree that fell in a remote section of Peabody behind the YMCA,” PMLP said. “It took a bit over an hour for customers to be restored. Honestly we thought it would take longer based on the damage to the pole from the fallen tree. The engineers, substation team, and line workers were able to isolate the area with the downed wires and snapped pole, and reenergize customers. Now that customers are restored, we will take steps to replace the snapped pole.”
The statement went on to say that PMLP will deploy special equipment to replace the snapped pole and remove downed wires.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala said the three affected schools were the Welch and South Elementary schools and the Higgins Middle School, but added that there was never any doubt that school would be held on Tuesday.
“PMLP and our facilities department were right on top of it, so it was a great example of a partnership with the city and light department,” Vadala said, explaining that power was restored in all three schools by 8:45 a.m.
“Higgins has a generator, so even though they start at 8:30, there were no problems and the elementary schools don’t start until 9 so everything was good,” he said.
