National Grid will distribute dry ice and bottled water today to support customers affected by the damaging winter storm that impacted portions of upstate New York. More than 173,000 customers in central and western New York state had service interrupted after a wintry mix of rain and snow, and winds in excess of 70 mph impacted the regions.

Dry ice and bottled water distribution is a component of National Grid’s response. The company has deployed more than 3,500 line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety workers to assess and repair damage to the electric system, and they will work around the clock until the last customers are restored.

Distribution locations were selected for their accessibility by customers in communities impacted greatest by the storm. Customers are asked to bring a cooler or paper grocery bags to transport dry ice to their homes, and company personnel will provide information about its proper handling.

Dry Ice Distribution Sites — Western New York
All locations open January 10 and 11, 2024 from Noon to 4 p.m.

 

Please note: To provide easier access for customers picking up dry ice and bottled water, National Grid and the Town of Eden are moving the distribution site to a new, nearby location for the remainder of today’s distribution period, which is to last until 4 p.m.

The new location at 3000 Schoolview Rd. is about 1.3 miles from the previous one, which was located at the police station: 2795 East Church St. National Grid employees will remain onsite to redirect customers to the new location.

Dry Ice Distribution Sites — Central New York
All locations open January 10, 2024 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Additional distribution sites and times may be announced through the weekend depending on community needs. New sites will be listed on National Grid’s Outage Map, on the company’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, and announced to media via press releases. Under NY Public Service law, dry ice is typically distributed in regions that are projected to experience storm-related power outages that could potentially last more than 48 hours.

What is dry ice?

Dry ice is manufactured by freezing carbon dioxide at very low temperatures until it reaches a solid form. Handle the dry ice very carefully — use gloves, a cloth, etc. to protect your hands while working with the dry ice. It is important to avoid any direct contact with the skin.

When transporting dry ice in your vehicle, remember that carbon dioxide buildup can be hazardous in a closed space. Rolling down windows and ensuring your vehicle’s ventilation system is not set to recirculate are two ways of preventing this buildup in the car. Additionally, always keep small children and pets at a safe distance from dry ice.

Using dry ice safely

Keep dry ice wrapped tightly in newspaper, paper bags, or towels when not in use to extend its shelf life and remain safe. To preserve refrigerated (not frozen) foods, place the dry ice at the very bottom of coolers, refrigerators or other insulated containers. Do NOT put food in direct contact with the dry ice.

To preserve frozen goods, set the dry ice on top of the frozen items. Do NOT allow foods directly the dry ice. Be sure to layer insulating material, such as cardboard or Styrofoam, between the dry ice and perishable items.

Dry ice is not edible; NEVER add it to a beverage or edible item.

When wrapped in an insulating container, small quantities of dry ice have an effective cooling time of roughly 24 hours. Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible also helps to preserve the food and further extend its cooling life.

When dry ice is unavailable, or if available quantities are only sufficient for preserving your frozen food, look into purchasing regular ice cubes, available at convenience stores, gas stations or other markets. For effective cooling techniques, place bags or containers of ice throughout the refrigerator or cooler. As with the dry ice, avoid direct contact with food.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.