Gov. Ned Lamont Wednesday declared a state of emergency for Connecticut in response to the widespread power outages caused by the impact of Tropical Storm Isaias.

The declaration authorizes the governor to order certain actions that will help expedite the response.

“With more than 700,000 customers experiencing power outages, we need to take several emergency steps that will facilitate restoration,” Lamont says, “I remain in consistent communication with municipal leaders and utility officials so that we can move resources to where they are most needed at this time. I continue to have regular communications with our Emergency Operations Center, which is managing both the response to this storm and our continued response to COVID-19.”

He has also submitted a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a presidential emergency declaration.

The federal declaration would allow the state to get assistance directly from the government to help protect public health.

 

Hundreds of thousands of residents remain without power after Isaias left a path of destruction across Connecticut Tuesday.

The brief storm knocked down trees and power lines.

At least one man was killed by a falling tree, officials say.