Storm Safety and recovery tips from National Grid

• Never install a generator inside a house or building. Operating a generator indoors—even with a door or window open—is never safe due to the risk of fire from fuel leaks or spills. Another danger is engine exhaust, containing carbon monoxide, which is potentially deadly and could build up to hazardous levels in a home.
• If your generator is located in a garage or outside building, check to be sure it is properly ventilated to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet.
• If you have questions about the safe operation of your electric generator, contact a licensed or qualified electrician.

• If your home has flooding, check with an electrician before turning on anything.
• Once power is restored, reconnect your appliances one at a time to avoid overloading your circuits.
• After a prolonged outage, check food in your refrigerator or freezer carefully. If in doubt, throw it out.
• If your neighbors get their power back, but you don't, 1-800-465-1212 in New England and 1-800-867-5222 in New York.

• Check with your local municipality to find out how storm-damaged trees and other debris should be handled. A city, village, town or county may own trees next to your property, so that municipality will be responsible for removing debris from the trees it owns.
• Our first priority is to clear power lines and restore power as quickly and safely as possible. While we will remove broken utility poles, please contact your local municipality to check if they can assist with the removal of broken or damaged trees and limbs.
• Please leave damaged poles alone. Handling or cutting utility poles—or burning them in your fireplace, woodstove or furnace—exposes you to the chemicals used to treat and preserve these poles.

• Weatherhead and Insulator (see #2) at the point where electric lines connect to your residence.
• Service Entrance Cable (see #3) is the wire that runs from the weatherhead to the electric meter and from the electric meter to the service panel in your home.
• Meter Box (see #4) on which your electric meter is mounted.
• Main Service Panel (see #6) which includes the fuse boxes and/or circuit breakers for the electric service in your home.

• Continue to monitor this web site and your local media for important information.
• Consider all downed wires to be energized and dangerous, including telephone, fiber optic and cable TV wires. They may be in contact with energized electric wires that are not within your view. To report downed electric wires, please call us: 1-800-867-5222 in New York and New England 1-800-465-1212.
• Disconnect sensitive appliances, such as computers, televisions and microwaves, to avoid potential power surge damage when electricity is restored.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut—food will stay six to nine hours in a refrigerator without spoiling. Frozen foods will keep about 24 hours.
• Use generators safely—for detailed information, see the Generators section.
• If your home has flooding, check with an electrician before turning on anything.
• If you anticipate an extended outage, consider moving yourself and your family — especially those with special needs — to an alternate location.
• Consider checking on others who may benefit from your assistance.

• Water. The American Red Cross recommends one gallon of water per person per day
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towel
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

• Remain calm and gather all supplies that you will need EARLY, including adequate medical/prescription supplies
• Establish a “safe room” in an interior room with no window. Bring needed supplies including battery-powered radio, flashlights, medication, food and drinking water into this room.
• Make sure that your home is secure and shuttered, and that it can withstand a hurricane. Ask neighbors to assist with preparations if necessary
• Make sure that a neighbor or someone in your family knows that you will be there

• Remain calm. Call them in advance. Make sure they will be ready for you.
• Have a backup plan in case they are out of town.
• Have your emergency checklist completed outlining your needs.
• Bring your own food, water, medicine supply and important papers with you.
• If your loved one has dementia, ask to have a room just for you and your loved one. Ask them to take the same safety precautions you have in your home (e.g., hide sharp objects and poisons, limit access to exits, cover mirrors).
• Notify your friends/family/neighbors of your evacuation plans.

• Use surge protectors
• Unplug televisions and other sensitive electronics
• Consider a UPS
• Charge the battery for your cell phone and laptops

• Before lowering a TV antenna or satellite dish, make sure to turn off and unplug the TV, and avoid power lines.
• Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters, and wrap them in waterproof materials.
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings ahead of time to keep food fresh longer in the event of a power outage.
• Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment.
• When working on a ladder, look up and note the location of power lines before you begin. Be sure that ladders or scaffolds are far enough away so that you – and the ends of the tools you're using – don't come within 10 feet of power lines.