Blue Skies End the Day over Compo Beach

After a turbulent 24 hours of storm prep, the day ended with blue skies and sun peeking through over the Long Island Sound. WestportLocal.com photo

Black Duck Weathers Hurricane; Floor No More Crooked than Usual

The Black Duck Cafe on Riverside Avenue was lively tonight as blue skies appeared above the nearly 200-year-old barge. The “Duck” has served patrons from its perch beneath the I-95 overpass for nearly five decades - weathering dozens of blizzards, floods, and hurricanes (or near-misses, like Henri). Although locals still wonder when the old ice barge may slide off its foundation into the Saugatuck, the building is virtually unchanged year after year, storm after storm.

A traditional bar and grill, the restaurant has live music every Sunday from 6 until 8 in the evenings, which didn’t miss a beat tonight as the Saugatuck institution opened up like it always does - Hurricane threat or not. The neighborhood watering hole nearly shut down in Fall of 2018 due to financial troubles, but after negotiations between creditors, landlord and investors - Barge Burgers and beers continued to slide across the bar as an agreement allowed to keep the business in operation. It grew to national fame in 2011 when chef Guy Fieri featured the Duck on his Food Network show: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. WestportLocal.com photo

Westport Emergency Operation Center Closes: “Hurricane Henri is behind the Town of Westport.”

From the Town of Westport Emergency Operation Center

As many of you know, the major effects of Hurricane Henri were felt in the Eastern part of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and the impact on Westport has been relatively limited.  We had very few power outages today, all of which Eversource quickly resolved.  I am pleased to report that Hurricane Henri is behind the Town of Westport.  As of 4:30pm, we closed the Town’s Emergency Operations Center.  

While we will continue to see rain and winds, the overnight storm impacts to Westport are expected to be less serious than previously projected.  Unrelated to Hurricane Henri, thunderstorms are expected throughout Connecticut tomorrow.  

I want to thank our residents and businesses for heeding the instructions to remain at home and prepare for what could’ve been a major situation.  I hope that for many Westporters, today was a day well-spent with family, or at least a chance to test and improve your emergency preparedness.

Thank you also to the Westport Fire, Police, Public Health, Parks & Recreation, Public Works, and Human Services Departments for their efforts to monitor and prepare to respond to the needs of our community.  

Tractor Trailer Ban Ends at 5:00 Today

Governor’s Office

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the travel ban on all empty tractor trailers, tandem tractor trailers, and motorcycles on Interstate 95 that went into effect this morning due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Henri will be lifted at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 22, 2021.

For everyone’s safety, the governor continues to urge everyone to stay off the roads to the greatest extent possible until the storm has completely passed.