After a Storm
Never touch downed power lines; always assume they are carrying live electricity. Downed lines should immediately be reported to National Grid at 1-800-465-1212.
If you smell gas anywhere, including in your home, go outside and call 1-800-233-5325 or 911 immediately.
Safety after a storm
Once safe conditions are established, our crews begin restorations. Please keep in mind that it may take a while for your power to return. Our crews target critical sites such as hospitals and public safety facilities first, before they can work on local neighborhood lines. While we work to restore your service, here is what you should keep in mind following a storm:
- Be prepared for additional outages. Damage can be caused by equipment failure or trees weakened by the storm even after your power has been restored.
- Last to get power? If your neighbors get their power back, but you don’t, call us at 1-800-465-1212.
- Clear your vents. In the winter, check around vents and gas appliances for snow buildup to prevent malfunctions or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Cleaning up after a storm
Snow safety tips to protect your outside natural gas meters:
Make sure your meter remains visible. After a snow storm, please make sure your natural gas meter is clear of accumulated snow and ice.
- Avoid allowing snow to completely cover your meter.
- Never shovel snow onto or against your meter.
- Use a broom to dust snow away from the meter; do not use a shovel.
- Never tap or hit the meter to knock or break away snow from the meter or gas piping.
- If your meter is completely coated in ice, or you think there is a safety concern with your meter, piping, or equipment, call our 24 hour emergency line at 1-800-233-5325 or 911.
- Also, remember to keep your eaves and gutters clear and remove icicles hanging from your eaves or gutters.
- Don’t rush to plug in! Once power is restored, reconnect your appliances one at a time to avoid overloading your circuits.
- If in doubt, throw it out. After a prolonged outage, check food in your refrigerator or freezer carefully for freshness.
- Refill your pipes. If you drained your plumbing system, refill your pipes only after heat is restored to your home or building. Check your entire system carefully for leaks.
- Remove tree limbs and debris. Check with your municipality on how to handle damaged trees and other debris. Although we remove broken utility poles, cleaning tree debris—including limbs cut by National Grid—is the property owner’s responsibility. This policy allows our crews to focus on our top priority: restoring power in your neighborhood as quickly and safely as possible.
- Know your responsibilities. While we repair electrical lines and meters, you are responsible for your weatherhead and insulator, service entrance, meter box, and main service panel. View our What’s Yours, What’s Ours brochure for more information.
- Hire a contractor. Seek professional repairs if your home has experienced flooding, and any appliances were submerged, or your gas connections are defective. When choosing a contractor, always get at least three quotes in writing, ask for references, consider workmanship as well as cost, and check with your local Better Business Bureau when possible for any complaints on record against the contractors.