Unitil Corporation, (www.unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, is preparing for forecasted blizzard-like conditions in all of its service territories tomorrow and into Saturday.
According to the most recent forecasts, as much as two feet of snow combined with high winds are possible in all service territories, with higher totals possible in the seacoast region. Coastal flooding is also possible during the storm’s peak hours. Depending on the speed of the winds combined with the volume and consistency of snow, the possibility for electric outages exists for this event.
“Should we experience blizzard-like conditions driving conditions will be hazardous and bucket trucks will be unable to extend arms due to high winds at the storm’s peak,” Unitil Media Relations Manager Alec O’Meara said. “While these conditions could delay restoration efforts as the storm progresses, Unitil is prepared for this weather event and we will still be able to work with first responders to address wires down calls and public safety issues during this period.”
Currently, Unitil has secured additional third party crews to provide assistance at each of its regional operation centers and plans to open its system and regional emergency operations centers to help coordinate the additional resources.
Unitil will be communicating throughout the storm through Public Service Announcements (PSAs), our website, our customer call center and through the media. We also encourage customers to follow along with our storm updates via our Twitter feed (@Unitil) and will be providing real-time outage information online here.
We recommend our customers remain similarly prepared by checking and making an inventory of the following items:
- Flashlights and fresh batteries
- A battery-operated radio and clock
- Bottled water, canned foods and a manual can opener
- A list of important phone numbers and a car charger for cell phones if applicable
- A first aid kit.
In the event of downed wires, assume all cables and wires that have fallen or dangling are energized and stay away. Be sure to avoid wet ground or puddles near a downed lined because water conducts electricity. In addition, keep away from all flooded and debris laden areas because they may be hiding downed lines. Stay in a safe place and avoid driving in damaged areas so you don’t interfere with rescue and restoration efforts.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MEDIA: Unitil asks that when reporting outage information, outlets time stamp the information. Outage numbers change hourly and we wish to make sure the information customers receive is consistent and understandable. Re-Tweets and re-posting of old information without referencing a time can create confusion.
Customers experiencing outages should call the following toll-free numbers:
- For the NH Seacoast Area: 1-800-582-7276
- For the NH Capital Area: 1-800-852-3339
- For Massachusetts: 1-888-301-7700
You can also report outages online here.
