WALTHAM, MA/PROVIDENCE, RI – National Grid is preparing for a powerful storm headed towards New England on Monday.  The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, strong sustained winds, and high gusts across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The most severe weather is expected to begin after 8:00 a.m. on Monday and continue through most of the day with winds beginning to subside after 8:00 p.m.   

            Current forecasts indicate that weather conditions could cause damage to the electrical system, with possible outages for many in the region. National Grid considers this a Type 3 event.  For Rhode Island, that means almost 30 percent of its customers could be impacted for 72 hours once it’s safe for restoration to begin.  For Massachusetts, a Type 3 event means approximately 10 percent of its customers could be impacted for 72 hours.

National Grid recognizes the ongoing challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and has been monitoring the potential weather conditions for several days.  The Company has been securing additional resources to support potential restoration needs and collaborating with local and state agencies to ensure that it’s prepared for the storm and its aftermath. 

            “National Grid has been closely tracking this storm for several days to ensure we have the appropriate plan in place for the forecast,” said Michael McCallan, Vice President of New England Electric Operations. “We know the nation and our customers are already experiencing an incredibly challenging situation with the coronavirus pandemic and we have been doing everything we can to keep the power going during these circumstances. That being said, if the weather throws a punch, we know it’s more important than ever that we ensure the safety of our customers and employees, and be ready to address the potential outages that may occur.”

            As part of its preparations, more than 200 external line crews have been secured to assist National Grid’s 200 internal line crews in the region.  200 forestry crews will also be ready to assist in the restoration efforts once conditions are safe to do so. Storm room operations and staging sites will be opened up in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

We are updating our customers:  Stay informed and connected

• Report power outages at www.nationalgridus.com or call 1-800-465-1212.
• 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, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit National Grid’s Outage Central website. Customers who create an online profile also can sign up for email alerts. www.nationalgridus.com/outage-central
• Visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.
• Information on National Grid’s pandemic preparedness and a customer Q&A can be found at www.ngrid.com/covid-19

We are keeping safety a priority:

We urge customers to watch out for their own wellbeing and the safety of utility crews working during storms. Here are some tips to help keep everyone safe:

• Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization.
• Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it’s an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food.
• People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223.
• Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period.

Electric safety

• If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public.
• If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
• Reminder: It’s not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts. Our line workers begin restoration work only when conditions are deemed safe.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.