WALTHAM, MA – National Grid is continuing to monitor the forecast and is prepared for Hurricane Lee to potentially impact Massachusetts customers overnight Friday into Saturday, bringing heavy rains, potential flooding, and damaging winds into the region.

Current forecasts expect that Hurricane Lee will continue its current trajectory north toward western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick in southeast Canada. Although the current track of the storm seems to be shifting favorably for Massachusetts, the primary concerns associated with this storm continue to include flooding brought on by heavy rains and gusting winds that could reach up to 70 mph in some areas, primarily on the eastern coast of Massachusetts, including the South Shore, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Strong wind gusts have the potential to damage trees and knock down power wires, causing power outages in impacted locations. Trees that still have all their leaves are more susceptible to damage from strong winds. In addition, highly saturated soils from recent rainfall weaken tree roots and can increase the possibility of trees toppling over. The storm is expected to depart by the end of the day on Saturday, and calmer weather is expected for Sunday. 

"We are continuing to closely monitor Hurricane Lee, as we have been for several days. Forecasts continue to shift for this hurricane, but whatever impacts Lee may bring, we will be prepared," said Tim Moore, Vice President of Electric Operations for New England. "We have secured additional crews and personnel who are in place along the coast and across Massachusetts ready to respond in the case of a multi-day event."

National Grid is preparing for this storm by securing more than 600 field-based crews and over 3,300 personnel as part of the company's emergency response operations and preparedness activities. This includes overhead line, forestry, contractors, underground, damage assessment, wires down, transmission, and substation workers. National Grid's internal crews will be supplemented by crews from Canada, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey, among others. As forecasts evolve, the company will continue to assess resources needs.

National Grid is part of the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group (NAMAG), which is part of a broader, industrywide mutual assistance program. The electric power industry's mutual assistance program is a voluntary partnership of electric companies across the country that serves as an effective—and critical—restoration resource for electric companies.

As always, the safety of our customers, communities, and crews is the top priority during any power restoration process. Our crews will begin the restoration process when it is deemed safe to conduct work. For example, it is not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts.

The company continues monitoring the weather and is communicating with local officials, first responders, and life support customers.

The company offers the following tips and reminders:

Customers Should Stay Connected:  

• Report power outages at www.nationalgridus.com or call 1-800-465-1212.
• Use your mobile device to track outage information and storm-related safety tips through National Grid’s mobile site, accessible at www.ngrid.com/mobile.
• Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram; we post all the latest storm and restoration updates.
• Track outages and estimated restoration times at www.nationalgridus.com/outage-central
• To stay connected during storms and outages, text to 64743 using any of the below commands.
• REG to sign up for text alerts
• OUT to report an outage
• SUM followed by your town, county, or state to get a summary of outages in your area
• HELP for the complete list of commands 

Stay 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 excellent 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.   

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. 

Gas Safety

• If you suspect a natural gas leak:
• Get Out - All occupants should leave the house immediately. Do not use the telephone or light switches for any reason.
• Call Us – After leaving the house and reaching a safe environment, call the National Grid 24-hour gas emergency numbers:
• Massachusetts: 1-800-233-5325
• Stay Out - Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe.

Heat Safety

• Know the signs of heat-related illness. Heavy sweating, muscle cramps, and a fast pulse aren’t just signs of being warm. They are symptoms of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Know the signs and pay extra attention to children, seniors, and other vulnerable groups when the temperature and humidity rise.

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.