National Grid Nears Complete Restoration in Latest Nor’easter

The company donates $100,000 to support the American Red Cross disaster relief fund

March 14, 2018 – WALTHAM, MA – As the final push for full power restoration continues in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, National Grid is making a donation in recognition of the contributions of the volunteers and emergency responders who aided in storm restoration during a brutal two-week stretch of weather.

Following three consecutive Nor’easters, National Grid has restored power to more than 800,000 customers who lost service sometime during the back-to back storms Riley, Quinn, and Skylar. Recognizing the vital contributions of the thousands of volunteers and emergency responders who have supported their customers’ needs, the company is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“This donation reflects our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who helped provide shelter, water, food and supplies during these recent Nor’easters,” said Dan Bunszell, Vice President, New England Electric Operations. “We also value that the Red Cross is always there to help our customers and communities prepare for emergencies the weather can bring. We recognize the frustration and hardship power outages can cause our customers, and their reliance on organizations like the American Red Cross for help. We also thank all the emergency responders and municipal officials who were instrumental in the coordination and prioritization of our response efforts.”

National Grid employees, plus mutual aid crews from 15 states and Canada, have been working nonstop since this weather pattern began on March 2. Crews have responded to thousands of 911 emergency calls for wires down and made repairs to electrical infrastructure throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The three Nor’easters hit the region with everything from hurricane-force winds, historic tides and flooding, to record-setting March snowfall totals.

National Grid is currently working to restore the remaining customers without power following Winter Storm Skylar. The company has more than 750 line crews and 300 tree crews working in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to restore the vast majority of customers by midnight tonight.