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The preparations come as meteorologists predict Lee's arrival in the region on Friday night, Sept. 15, which will likely bring high wind gusts and heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
Eversource President of Electric Operations in Connecticut Steve Sullivan warned that the storm could bring a good amount of damage to the state, which could leave residents in the dark as a result.
"We’ve been watching Hurricane Lee for more than a week and there is still some uncertainty with the forecast and its track. The high winds Lee could bring combined with the saturated ground from all the recent rain that has loosened tree roots, have the potential to bring down trees and limbs onto electric lines and equipment causing outages,” Sullivan said.
According to Eversource officials, the utility company is closely monitoring the situation and is enacting its emergency response plan as a response.
This means that the company is bringing in extra lineworkers to the region and pre-staging them in areas of expected damage, particularly the shoreline and eastern Connecticut.
Additionally, extra utility poles, wires, transformers, and other equipment have been moved into position to ensure quick repairs, Eversource officials said.
"We’ve gone through our storm checklists, and we’re fully stocked with utility poles, wire and other necessary materials. Crews will be staged around the state with a heavy emphasis in the areas expecting the highest winds – so they’re ready to restore power as soon as it’s safe to do so," Sullivan said.
To prepare for the storm themselves, residents are advised to assemble a storm kit, which can include essentials such as:
- Flashlights;
- Batteries;
- Water;
- Non-perishable food items;
- Pet food;
- Medications.
Residents should also fully charge cell phones and prepare to check on elderly neighbors and friends.
When the storm arrives, residents can report outages through the Eversource phone application, or call 800-286-2000.
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