NYSEG: Personnel on Heightened Alert

NYSEG and emergency planners are closely monitoring weather forecasts and preparing for the possible effects of Hurricane Sandy, NYSEG spokesperson Jim Salmon said Friday.

"Depending on the exact track of the storm, portions of the NYSEG service areas could experience considerable wind and significant rainfall early next week. NYSEG is concerned with the potential impact of falling limbs and trees on power lines and also with possible flooding that could affect both electricity and natural gas facilities," he said, in a press release.

Officials said their front line and support personnel across the state are on heightened alert and the companies’ customer relations centers are prepared with materials are on hand to repair any damage to the companies’ energy delivery systems. 

The company has issued the following tips in advance of the storm:

Before a storm strikes

• Anyone who uses life-sustaining equipment that operates on electricity should contact NYSEG at 1.800.572.1111. Customers may be enrolled in a critical customer program or provided specific advice on how to prepare   for power interruptions.
• Keep flashlights, a battery-powered radio or TV and fresh batteries handy.
• Have at least one telephone that is not dependent on electricity. (Cordless phones won’t work during a power interruption.)
• Keep a supply of non-perishable food and bottled water on hand.
• Make sure cell phone batteries are fully charged.

During a power interrruption

• Stay away from downed power lines – even lines that appear “dead” can be deadly. Customers should call 1.800.572.1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous situations.
• Emergency generators can be dangerous. Carefully read, understand and follow manufacturer’s instructions when operating an emergency generator. Never run emergency generators indoors; operate them only outdoors in well-ventilated areas, away from windows and doors, and never in a garage.
• Stay out of flooded basements because energized wiring or outlets below the water line may pose a hazard. Natural gas service in a flooded basement may also pose a danger. If a basement or home is in danger of flooding, customers should contact their utilities to turn off electricity and/or natural gas service.
• For electricity emergencies and to report power interruptions, customers should call 1.800.572.1131.
• For natural gas emergencies and to report suspected natural gas odors, customers should call 1.800.572.1121.
• Contact neighbors to see if their power is off. A loss of power may be the result of a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker.
• Listen to a battery-powered radio for weather and power restoration updates.
• Turn off major appliances (electric water heaters, refrigerators and freezers) and sensitive electronic equipment (TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computers, audio equipment) to prevent overloading and possible damage when power is restored. Turning off this equipment may mean unplugging it, turning off a circuit breaker or removing a fuse for the circuit that provides power to this equipment. Leave one light switch “on” to know when power has been restored.
• Don’t use a natural gas or propane range to heat your home.
• Never use outdoor grills or stoves inside.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.

After your power is restored

• If a basement or home was flooded, customers should have an electrician check the home and have a plumbing and heating contractor check natural gas appliances before contacting NYSEG or RG&E to have services turned on.
• Turn on appliances and sensitive electronic equipment one at a time to avoid overloading circuits.
• Replenish emergency supplies used during the storm.