National Grid says the official start of hurricane season on June 1 should serve as a reminder to everyone that it’s time to prepare for the possibility of power outages caused by the high winds and torrential rains generated by these storms. There have already been three named storms this season and Tropical Storm Colin is moving offshore after dumping huge amounts of rain in Florida and the Carolinas.
“We work constantly to make certain that our transmission and distribution systems will stand up to the worst weather,” said Michael G. McCallan, Director of Emergency Planning at National Grid “But despite those efforts outages are bound to occur when we’re hit with hurricane force winds and flooding. When that happens, we know customers depend on us to get their electric service restored as quickly and safely as possible. That’s why we continue to refine our storm preparation and restoration procedures.”
There are a number of steps customers can take before the storms hit. The best rule is to be prepared. High winds, lightning and heavy rain can cause local electrical service interruptions. It’s a good idea to have a number of working flashlights, at least one battery-operated radio and an extra supply of batteries in your home. A radio is a good way to stay in touch, as National Grid provides news media with timely information regarding service restoration efforts. Also, post National Grid’s emergency outage reporting number, 800-465-1212, near your telephone so it will be handy if needed.
Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it’s an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food.
People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a National Grid life support customer, call the company’s Customer Service Contact Center at 800-322-3223.
If you use a generator or plan to install one to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors and remember before operating the generator to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker located at your electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public.
Flooding caused by heavy rain and high tides can also adversely impact the natural gas distribution system. National Grid asks customers to be alert for gas service interruptions caused by severe flooding.
