Field Force Restores Service to 17,000 WNY Customers Impacted by Powerful Windstorm
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BUFFALO, N.Y. – National Grid’s Western New York crews have restored service to more than 17,000 of the 23,000 customers impacted by the second of back-to-back damaging weekend windstorms. The latest storm carried gusts of up to 69 mph in some areas, and brought down trees, tree limbs and power lines. The company increased weekend staffing and work shifts in preparation for the high winds, and crews will continue to work around the clock until all customers are returned to service.
Among the hardest hit areas are Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. The company's workforce is removing hazards, making repairs and restoring service hour by hour in these regions. The labor-and time-intensive work, particularly in rural locations, involves rebuilding portions of the electricity infrastructure, including replacing broken poles and damaged equipment.
Impacted customers in areas that experienced the most significant wind damage are expected to have power restored by 11:30 p.m. today, with isolated and scattered single customer outages potentially extending into Monday morning. National Grid crews will do everything within their control to complete restoration as quickly and as safely as possible.
The most accurate way for customers to check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address is to log into National Grid’s Report or Check an Outage page.
“We are grateful to our Western New York customers who continue to show our crews patience and understanding, especially in light of the number of storms that have battered the region over the last few months,” said Matt Barnett, National Grid’s Vice President of New York Electric Operations. “We also send our appreciation to the many police, fire, public works, municipal officials, and other volunteers who continue to support our customers and our communities during the restoration process after every storm.”
The Restoration Process
The company’s first priority is to ensure the safety of our customers and our crews by clearing away dangers such as live, downed power lines. Next come repairs to main transmission facilities, including towers, poles and high-tension wires that deliver power to thousands of customers. Recovery work at local substations also is a high priority, followed by repairs to neighborhood circuits, transformers and service wires.
National Grid continues to work closely with local officials to coordinate restoration efforts. Customers are reminded to remain aware of potential safety hazards such as damaged trees, particularly broken limbs that haven’t yet fallen to the ground. As always, all downed wires should be considered live and immediately reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.
The company is providing the following safety reminders:
Electricity & Generator Safety
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If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
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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.
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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.
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Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices before the storm.
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Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
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Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.
Safety Near Downed Power Lines
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Always use extreme caution near downed power lines and wires, and always assume that they are carrying live electricity.
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Never touch a person or an object that is in contact with a downed line, as electricity can pass through to you.
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Take caution when approaching fallen trees, which could have power lines caught in them.
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Remember that water can conduct electricity. If you see a line down in a puddle or flooded area, avoid contact with the water to prevent risk of shock.
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Learn more about downed power line safety at our website and view our downed power line safety video.
Stay Informed and Connected
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Customers with active electricity accounts who text ‘REG’ to 64743 can have personalized alerts sent to them via text, email or phone call when we detect an outage on their properties.
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Customers also can text ‘OUT’ to 64743 to report an outage.
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For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit National Grid’s Outage Central website. Customers who create an online profile also can sign up for email alerts.
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Customers can read the latest company news, check outage status and report an outage by using the National Grid app.
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Visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.
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