Ahead of powerful winds and freezing rain, National Grid, announced in a Sunday press release, that it's increasing staffing and reminding customers to keep safety a priority.
The company anticipates large portions of Upstate New York to be impacted, including the shorelines of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the Genesee Valley, Central New York, Tug Hill, Mohawk Valley, Capital and Adirondack regions.
The company has secured external resources to support power restoration efforts and activated it's emergency response plan, which includes
* Mobilizing internal line, field and tree crews, and securing external resources.
* Pre-staging crews, equipment, and materials in areas anticipated to be most severely impacted.
* Proactively reaching out to elected, municipal and emergency management officials to keep them updated on our preparations and provide safety information.
* Reaching out directly to customers through traditional and social media channels, email and texts, and on our website to provide safety information and to urge them to be prepared.
* Conducting outbound calls to life support and critical facility customers to ensure they are prepared.
"As this winter system approaches, National Grid's line workers, field teams, support staff, and contractor crews are prepositioned and ready to respond," said Kyle Bentley, National Grid New York's Vice President for Electric Operations. "And with many customers preparing to celebrate the New Year later this week, our focus remains on our ability to deploy our crews to safely and swiftly restore service should the weather cause interruptions."
Bentley said that National Grid will continue to monitor weather forecasts and encourages customers to keep safety a priority with the following reminders.
Electricity & Generator Safety
* If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
* Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide.
* Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
* Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642-4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.
* Stay tuned to local news outlets or the National Weather Service for storm updates, weather alerts
* Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices.
* If the power is out, use flashlights or other battery-powered lights. Do not use candles, which can pose a fire hazard.
* Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
* Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors, and others who may need assistance during an outage.
Safety Near Downed Power Lines