BUFFALO, N.Y. — With snow making its way back into our daily lives, National Grid prepares to also be a part of the public's safety.
The significant lake-effect snow that is happening should make people note that inland Lake Erie shoreline and East of Lake Ontario will receive the highest snow totals.
Crews have had an extension in their work shifts ahead of the snow and have issued pre-positioning across Western New York, Central, and Northern service areas.
With that being said, National Grid has also made preparations if the weather impacts the energy delivery system. This could be a reminder for the public to keep electricity and generator safety in mind using these tips:
Electricity & Generator Safety
- If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
- 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.
- 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.
Other tips to remember in case of an emergency are to keep working flashlights and extra batteries close by, tune in to local news outlets or the National Weather Service for updates and alerts. It is also good to reach out to neighbors and loved ones during difficult weather.
Severe weather can cause safety concerns when power lines may have been taken down so, it is important to use caution and never touch trees or lines.
Other ways that you can stay informed on power outage safety tips are as follows:
- 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.
- Customers also can text ‘OUT’ to 64743 to report an outage.
For real-time power outage information visit www.nationalgridus.com
