National Grid Prepares and Urges Customers to be Ready for Winter Weather Emergency Situations

WALTHAM, MA (12/20/2010)(readMedia)-- As the winter storm season approaches, National Grid urges its customers and the community to be prepared and anticipate upcoming storms, possible power outages and gas emergencies. Just as National Grid crews prepare for winter storms all year round by taking part in drills and familiarizing themselves with time-tested emergency restoration plans, the company encourages others to prepare as well and to learn important safety tips in case of an unexpected event.

When an outage occurs, National Grid crews follow an emergency plan to begin restoring service as safely and quickly as conditions allow. Accurate damage surveys, restoration estimates, clearing of damage and repairs are all critical parts of any major weather event. National Grid maintains credible and consistent communication with local public officials and the media throughout the duration of restoration efforts to keep the public informed.

"If there is an outage in your area, please know that we're doing everything we can to restore service as quickly as possible," said Christopher E. Root, senior vice president of Electricity Distribution Operations for National Grid.

SPACE HEATERS

The company urges customers to take special precautions when using a portable space heater to keep warm during an outage. Some types of kerosene and propane portable space heaters get hot enough to ignite nearby draperies, carpet, paper, clothing or furniture. It's important to periodically check nearby objects to see if they feel hot. It's also important to choose a model that has an Underwriters Laboratories label, which means it has passed certain safety tests. If it's necessary to use a portable space heater, check to make sure it has a safety information label and an automatic shutoff device that turns the heater off if it tips over or becomes too hot.

PORTABLE GENERATORS

When a portable generator is in use during a power outage, users must make sure the main circuit breaker in the electric service panel box is in the "off" position or, in older electric service panel boxes, that the main fuse block is removed. This is necessary to prevent the generator's electricity from going back into the power lines in the street and potentially endangering the lives of line crews and other emergency workers. Generator exhaust contains deadly carbon monoxide, so a gasoline or diesel-powered generator should never be run inside a house.

NATURAL GAS LEAKS

National Grid also reminds customers what to do if they suspect a natural gas leak and how to avoid potentially deadly carbon monoxide. Like any fuel, natural gas is safe when used properly. In the interest of customer and public safety, National Grid crews continually test, repair and improve the underground system that delivers natural gas. Despite best efforts, however, the possibility does exist for a gas leak in or near a home. National Grid adds a harmless substance called mercaptan that has a strong odor, similar to that of a rotten egg, to natural gas so it's easy to tell if there's a gas leak inside or near a building.

National Grid advises its New England customers who suspect a natural gas leak to take the following immediate actions:

• Get Out - All occupants should leave the house immediately. Do not use the telephone, strike a match or switch lights or appliances on or off for any reason.

• Call Us – After leaving the building and reaching a safe environment, call the appropriate National Grid 24-hour gas emergency number:

Massachusetts

800-233-5325

Rhode Island

800-640-1595

New Hampshire

800-833-4200

• Stay Out - Do not go back inside the building until National Grid tells you it is safe to do so.

CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can be deadly if left undetected. It is the byproduct of the incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, butane, propane, wood, coal, heating oil, kerosene and gasoline. Common sources include malfunctioning forced-air furnaces, kerosene space heaters, natural gas ranges, wood stoves, charcoal grills, motor vehicle engines and fireplaces.

During the heating season when windows and doors are tightly shut, fresh air is sealed out, allowing any carbon monoxide that may be present to build up over time. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of the flu. Depending on the amount of carbon monoxide in the air and length of exposure, symptoms may include headaches, weakness, confusion, chest tightness, skin redness, dizziness, nausea, sleepiness, fluttering of the heart or loss of muscle control.

If you suspect carbon monoxide is present in your home, go outside immediately and breathe deeply. If symptoms are severe, get medical attention right away.

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

In addition, National Grid offers these important safety tips for customers during a storm or other emergency event:

  • Never touch fallen power lines or anything in contact with fallen wires such as a car, fence or tree.
  • If your home is without power and you believe National Grid is not aware of the outage, call the company at 1-800-322-3223.
  • Disconnect sensitive appliances such as DVDs, televisions, computers and microwave ovens to avoid potential power surge damage when electricity is restored.
  • Turn off any appliances that were on when power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
  • Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut. Food will stay chilled for six to nine hours in a refrigerator without spoiling. Frozen foods will keep for about 24 hours.
  • Burn only wood or newspapers in your fireplace.
  • For those who have computer access, or who might be monitoring outages for someone else, National Grid provides real-time outage information, including the option to report an outage at www.nationalgridus.com in the Outage Central section of the company web pages.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.

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