BERLIN, Conn. (September 16, 2013) – September is National Preparedness Month and with the height of Atlantic hurricane season upon us, Connecticut Light & Power is reminding customers that now is the time to prepare for emergencies.
“None of us can control the wrath of Mother Nature, but working together, we can be better prepared to respond,” said Bill Herdegen, CL&P President. “As part of CL&P’s year-round focus on emergency preparedness, we’ve developed new processes and technology to improve storm restoration; we’ve also been working with state agencies, municipalities we serve, and community organizations to be a trusted partner in emergency preparedness and response.”
This summer, CL&P participated in a statewide emergency preparedness drill led by the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to strengthen coordination and communication among state and local officials, utilities and the private sector. The company has also conducted wires down training sessions with local public works departments and emergency responders to practice a new statewide process for removing electrical hazards from roads and opening roads after emergencies.
During severe weather, downed trees are the number one cause of outages, often tearing down electrical lines and equipment . CL&P is spending tens of millions of dollars on its vegetation management program this year, trimming trees along 4,420 miles of its distribution system and removing trees that pose a threat to the system. But even the healthiest trees can come down in a storm, and CL&P reminds everyone to treat all downed wires as live and dangerous.
While the state and utilities prepare for emergencies, it’s equally important that families and businesses develop and rehearse an emergency plan and keep a storm kit stocked with essential supplies. For an overview of what to include in a kit, check out CL&P’s "Shopping for a Storm Kit" video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/X8Y_M4SO5oE. CL&P will continue providing tips on how to prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies on social media – @CTLightandPower on Twitter using #PrepTip and at facebook.com/ctlightandpower.
Customers who depend on electricity for critical medical needs are urged to contact CL&P at 800-791-3369 so they can be enrolled in a voluntary notification program intended to help them better prepare for scheduled outages or the potential for outages from severe weather.
The Connecticut American Red Cross, one of CL&P’s partners in emergency preparedness, provides helpful information and resources at www.ctredcross.org. For information on statewide response, please visit Connecticut’s Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security at www.ct.gov/demhs.