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As Hurricane Irene approaches New York, Con Edison is closely monitoring its progress and is preparing for the possibility of extensive outages to electric, gas and steam customers.
Con Edison spokesman Chris Olert says the company is taking all the necessary steps to prepare for the potential impacts of this storm. The storms high winds have the potential to topple trees and power lines throughout the companys service area. He says residents should prepare for possible "extended and lengthy" power outages throughout Weschester County.
Customers can report power interruptions or service problems as well as view service restoration information online at www.conEd.com and on their cell phones and PDAs. They may also call Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power.
In the event of major flooding, the company said that it would have to wait for waters to recede before workers could even enter some facilities to begin assessing damage to equipment.
Olert says residents should prepare for possible long-term outages and reminds residents to check that their flashlights and battery operated radios are in working order.
Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.
In addition, officials remind residents never to touch downed power line and to assume they are live and dangerous.
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