Unitil Corporation, (www.unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, is opening its system and all regional Emergency Operations Centers in advance of a major winter storm expected tonight and into tomorrow.
According to the most recent forecasts, as much as 12-18 inches of snow is possible in all regions, with at least a portion of the snow expected to be wet and heavy in consistency. Lower snow totals may occur in coastal regions, but more wet snow is also possible in these areas. Wet heavy snow can stick to trees and limbs, causing damage. Unitil has secured additional crews from as far away as Canada in advance of the storm and will be prepared to coordinate any public safety or restoration efforts during the overnight hours.
"Public safety is a major focus during the peak hours of a storm and in the immediate aftermath. While crews still restore power where they can, we also work closely with first responders to address wires down issues and other public safety concerns when snow is falling at a high rate. Having our Emergency Operation Centers open during this time helps coordinate response efforts."
Unitil Media Relations Manager, Alec O’Meara
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.
Unitil will be communicating throughout the event 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 Facebook, our Twitter feed (@Unitil) and we will be providing real-time outage information online at unitil.com/map.
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 at unitil.com/report-outage.
