For Immediate Release: August 27, 2011

Utilities: Most extensive collaborative preparation in memory

Hundreds of out-of-state workers on site or arriving tonight

Hundreds of outside contract utility and tree crews from as far away as Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Canada have arrived in Vermont or will be here tonight to assist with restoration efforts as Hurricane Irene moves up the coast to New England.

“This has been an extraordinary week of preparation. There is an enormous amount of collaboration going on between the Vermont utilities, Vermont Emergency Management, the governor’s office and other Vermont agencies,” Vermont utilities said in a joint statement today. “We rarely have this much advance notice of a storm, the one silver lining of the past few days.”

Vermonters who lose power Sunday should be aware that in most circumstances utilities will not be attempting to restore power during the height of the storm, when extreme winds and heavy rain will make work conditions dangerous or impossible. Although crews will respond to emergencies, utilities will wait until the storm has passed, which is expected to occur early Monday morning, at which time they will be best able to assess damage and to restore power more quickly, effectively and safely. Roads may also be blocked or closed after the storm goes through, which could also slow restoration efforts.

Utilities urge customers to prepare for the possibility of being without power for several days, possibly even more, should the storm take a track for the worse.

Utilities and officials are urging Vermonters to plan to remain indoors in a safe location beginning Sunday afternoon as the storm begins to hit the state. Customers with life support and special medical needs are a priority in restoring power, but it may be impossible to restore power quickly and those with medical concerns should make alternative plans now. All customers should prepare to be without power for several days, possibly more, and should make contingency plans ahead of time.

As part of one of the most extensive state and utility collaborative efforts in memory, Vermont crews and support staff are on standby, and supplies, lodging, food and other logistical details are in place to ensure a strong response if the storm brings significant problems. Government and non-profit officials are also coordinating efforts for emergency shelters, hospitals and transportation agencies to assure the necessary resources are available.

Vermonters are urged to stay off the roads throughout the storm unless absolutely necessary. There is a high probability of damaging high winds and heavy rain that could cause extensive damage, power outages and flooding Sunday into Monday. Customers across the state could see widespread power outages beginning Sunday afternoon, though the exact track of the storm is still uncertain.

Officials remind Vermonters to reduce cell phone usage during the storm, but to call their local utility when they lose power. Stay away from all downed power lines or anything in contact with those lines.

Current forecasts for Hurricane Irene include the threat of sustained winds of 30 to 50 mph, with gusts around 60 to 65 mph.

Vermont utilities urged customers to be sure to have flashlights, batteries, food and water available in case they lose electrical service, and suggested that friends, family and neighbors check on elderly Vermonters who may need help.  Candles are not recommended as light sources during a power outage due to fire risk.

When electricity goes out, the utilities’ first concern is safety, then restoring service to large blocks of customers and critical facilities, like hospitals.

Who gets power restored first?
When electricity goes out, the utilities’ first concern is safety.  Line work and downed lines present great risks to employees and customers, so safety is a grave concern.  Always stay at least 50 feet from downed lines!

When major storms hit and outages occur, we try to restore service to all of our customers as soon as possible. Here’s a look at our priorities:

1. Problems that present an imminent danger to life.
2. Failure at a key point on the system affecting thousands of customers, such as a transmission line (a main highway of the power system).
3. Critical health and public safety facilities.
4. Main distribution lines, which are smaller than transmission lines, but may serve hundreds of customers.
5. Single lines.
6. Single customers.
7. Cleanup work.

If you’re on life support, please call your utility.

The utilities offered the following advice:

• Before outages occur, be sure you have a phone that is hard-wired and does not rely on electricity.
• Fill a bathtub with water before you lose service so the water can be used to flush toilets when the power is out. PREVENT UNSUPERVISED BATHROOM ACCESS TO CHILDREN. THIS WATER SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR DRINKING WATER.
• Treat any downed line as if it is live.  Report the line to your local utility and fire department, stay at least 50 feet away from the line, and keep children and pets away as well.
• If using a generator, read and follow the owner’s manual before starting it.  Never operate a generator inside any structure or near a structure.  Use a transfer switch to ensure electricity is not accidentally fed onto a line where line crews must work.
• Keep freezers and refrigerators closed as much as possible to prevent food spoilage.
• If power goes out, turn off all electrical appliances except one light so you’ll know when service returns.  Then, turn equipment back on slowly.
• Never use grills inside garages, sheds or other buildings, as the fumes can be poisonous.

Please check vtoutages.com for up-to-date power outage numbers.

Media contacts:

Barton Village Inc. Electric Department, Denis Poirier (802-525-4748) 

Burlington Electric Department, Mary Sullivan (802-865-7417)

Central Vermont Public Service, Christine Rivers (802-742-2415)

Green Mountain Power, Dotty Schnure (802-655-8418)

Lyndonville Electric Department, Kenneth C. Mason (802-626-3366)

Morrisville Water & Light Department (802-888-3348)

Vermont Electric Company (VELCO), Kerrick Johnson (802-770-6166)

Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc., Elizabeth Gamache (800-832-2667, ext. 1158 or 802-730-3424)

Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya Inc., Barry Donovan (802-770-7168)

Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, Brian Callnan (802-244-7678)

The Town of Hardwick Electric Department, Eric Werner (802-472-5201)

The Town of Stowe Electric Department, Ellen L. Burt (802-253-7215)

The Village of Enosburg Falls Water & Light Department, Jonathan Elwell (802-933-4443)

The Village of Hyde Park, Don Waterhouse (802-888-2310)

The Village of Jacksonville Electric Company, Joseph Winter (802-368-2811)

The Village of Johnson Water & Light Department, Duncan Hastings (802-635-2611)

The Village of Ludlow Electric Light Department (802-228-3721)

The Village of Northfield Electric Department, Nanci Allard (802-485-6121)

The Village of Orleans Electric Department, John Morley, III (802-754-8584)

The Village of Swanton Electric Department (802-868-3397)

Washington Electric Cooperative Inc., Avram Patt (802-223-6705, ext. 312)