Hurricane Sandy - PSNH Update Oct. 27th

PSNH staff members are continuing to prepare for the likelihood of power outages caused by the high winds and rainfall associated with Hurricane Sandy. The massive storm is expected to impact the Granite State beginning early Monday and continuing Tuesday. The company is advising customers to prepare for the likelihood of power outages associated with storm damage, and is securing additional crews to assist in what may prove to be a significant repair and restoration effort.

Crews from as far away as Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas are already on their way to New Hampshire, to join PSNH crews and local contractors. The company is working to retain more crews, but their availability, where they come from - and when, will be dictated by what damage Hurricane Sandy actually causes – and where help is needed the most. PSNH is a participant in regional utility mutual aid groups, which work to coordinate assistance; however, we expect additional help from both within and outside the region will be difficult to confirm until the storm passes and it is clear how resources can best be used.

Meantime, customers must consider how they will respond, especially in the event of a power outage that lasts for several days. Take advantage of this weekend to consider your family emergency preparedness plan and to obtain supplies, such as water, batteries – and fresh fuel for any emergency generator. Tips and reminders on how to prepare are posted at www.psnh.com and at www.nh.gov/readynh/.

The company on Friday made calls to its customers who are on medical support devices, or are otherwise especially vulnerable when power outages occur, reminding them of how to plan and prepare for an outage, and what to do should an outage occur. Similar calls to all PSNH customers are being made over the weekend.

Staying Informed – During major power restoration efforts, PSNH uses a variety of communication tools to keep the public informed. Customers can follow PSNH on Twitter @psnh or on Facebook for real time updates. PSNH also uses a news blog, www.psnhnews.com, to post press releases, outage updates, and other important storm related information. Customers can also access PSNH’s outage map to see up to date outage information about their community.