I know that you have been busy over the last few days working on your local and county preparations in anticipation of Hurricane Irene.
I can assure you that PSE&G is closely monitoring weather conditions and have crews on standby and ready to respond to what threatens to be one of the worst storms in decades. Beyond the direct impact of the storm, the high level of ground moisture from previous storms this summer is causing significant concern about tree damage to our distribution system.
In anticipation of the storm hitting NJ on late Saturday or early Sunday, we have mutual aid crews from out of state en route to assist and have secured large quantities of replacement poles and transformers. Many of you have been helpful in identifying staging areas for our crews, trucks and materials that will allow us to more efficiently dispense resources throughout the central NJ area to restore service. Thank you for your assistance and responsiveness thus far.
As you can see, we are preparing for the worst case scenario. Although we must wait to see how severe the storm is, I ask you in advance for your patience during what may be very challenging days and weeks ahead. Please keep in mind priorities for restoration of service will be: hospitals, sewage treatment facilities and circuits serving the largest numbers of customers. Please feel free to share this information with your local and county government agencies and organizations as well as family and friends so they are aware of how restoration work is prioritized.
PSE&G will have extra personnel embedded at most county and at the state OEM offices, if and when they are activated. If OEM is activated and there is an issue in your town, please coordinate activities thru your local OEM coordinator. PSE&G will have someone communicating directly with the county and state OEM contact and issues will be handled on a priority basis.
Please find the latest press release at http://www.pseg.com/info/media/newsreleases/2011/2011-08-25.jsp .
In anticipation of possible storm conditions, PSE&G offers the following tips:
DOWNED POWER LINES
High winds and uprooted trees can cause power lines to come down. Downed wires may appear dead but should always be considered “live.” STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES. Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with. Parents are urged to check for downed wires in areas where their children might play and to remind the children to stay far away from any wires. If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until help arrives. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell PSE&G the nearest cross street.
CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SUSTAINING EQUIPMENT
Individuals who rely on electricity to operate life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or dialysis machine, should pre-register with PSE&G to receive priority attention in the event of an outage. To request the service, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG. They should also inform their rescue squads and fire departments of their needs, in case of emergency. Even though customers with life-sustaining equipment who have registered with PSE&G will receive priority attention during outages, they should also have emergency back-up equipment on hand, since immediate restoration cannot be guaranteed.
IF YOU LOSE POWER
First check your neighborhood. If you are the only one without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. If that’s not the problem, look outside at the wire between your house and the utility pole. If it is down, report it immediately to PSE&G.
GENERAL TIPS:
Mother Nature can be unpredictable. It’s wise to have an emergency kit on hand year round. Here are some things to include:
· A battery powered radio.
· A corded telephone (cordless phones will not work if the power is out)
· Flashlights and extra fresh batteries.
· A first-aid kit.
· Bottled water and an adequate supply of non-perishable food.
· A non-electric can opener.
· Matches and candles with holders.
· Extra blankets and sleeping bags.
· A list of emergency phone numbers, including PSE&G’s Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSEG. Call this number to report power outages or downed wires