National Grid is prepared for a winter storm expected to impact Massachusetts Saturday afternoon through Monday, bringing a mixture of snow, wind, rain and ice into the region.

The major concerns associated with this storm include icing, snow, hazardous winds and cold temperatures. Wind gusts have the potential to damage trees and knock down power lines, causing power outages in impacted locations. Icing can lead to sagging powerlines and tree limbs. The timing of the changeover to snow and freezing rain will influence snow and ice amounts, with higher snow totals across Western Massachusetts. Strong wind gusts are forecast through Monday.

"National Grid has been tracking this storm for several days and we have crews and personnel ready to respond to any impacts from the weather," said Shaun Vacher, Vice President of Electric Operations, New England. "In the event of outages, our crews and support teams will be working for as long as needed to restore service as quickly and safely as conditions allow.”

National Grid is preparing for the storm by securing additional crews and personnel as part of the company's emergency response operations and preparedness activities. This includes overhead and underground line workers for distribution and transmission restoration, tree trimming crews, damage assessment and wires down personnel, and substation workers. As forecasts evolve, the company will continue to assess resource needs.

As always, the safety of our customers, communities, and crews is the top priority during any power restoration process. Our crews will begin the restoration process when it is deemed safe to conduct work. For example, it is not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts.

The company has been preparing for the storm and continues monitoring the weather and communicating with local officials, first responders, and life support customers.

The company offers the following tips and reminders:

Customers Should Stay Connected:  

• Report power outages at www.nationalgridus.com or call 1-800-465-1212.
• Use your mobile device to track outage information and storm-related safety tips through National Grid’s mobile site, accessible at www.ngrid.com/mobile.
• Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram; we post all the latest storm and restoration updates.
• Track outages and estimated restoration times at Outage Central
• To stay connected during storms and outages, text to 64743 using any of the below commands.
• REG to sign up for text alerts
• OUT to report an outage
• SUM followed by your town, county, or state to get a summary of outages in your area
• HELP for the complete list of commands 

Downed Powerline Safety:

• Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization. 
• Stay at least 30 feet away (at least two full pole spans) from all downed wires and keep others from going near them. Never attempt to clear debris, perform maintenance, or try to move downed power lines. 
• Never touch a person or an object that is in contact with a downed line, as electricity can pass through to you.
• Take caution when approaching fallen trees, which could have power lines caught in them.
• 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.
• Make safety your top priority when you see a downed wire. Call 911 or National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 to report it immediately and keep yourself and others away from the scene. To learn more about downed power line safety, please visit Downed Power Line Safety.

Stay Safe: 

• Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it’s an excellent idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food. 
• People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223. 
• Check on elderly family members, neighbors, and others who may need assistance during an outage.   
• If the power is out, use flashlights or other battery-powered lights. Do not use candles, which can pose a fire hazard.
• Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.

Gas Safety

If you suspect a natural gas leak:

• Get Out - All occupants should leave the house immediately. Do not use the telephone or light switches for any reason.
• Call Us - After leaving the house and reaching a safe environment, call the National Grid 24-hour gas emergency number for Massachusetts: 1-800-233-5325
• Stay Out - Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe.

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.