R.I. EMA warns of widespread power outages, major storm for Christmas

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) issued a warning to Rhode Islanders Wednesday afternoon  to prepare for a significant storm expected to impact the state with high wind and rain starting late Christmas Eve until about noon on Christmas Day.

RELATED: Where the weather outside is frightful: Winter safety tips

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Boston has advised a High Wind Warning for Rhode Island with winds gusts up to 75 mph.  Expect downed power lines, trees and the possibility of widespread power outages.  Additionally, a Flood Watch has been issued for Rhode Island with a forecast of two to three inches of rain statewide. Along with the snowmelt, this may cause significant flooding of urban and poor drainage areas. Expect a Gale Warning for the coast as the storm approaches.

Be aware of holiday decorations you have outside and bring them inside or securely tie them down. Because the wind is expected to cause power outages, charge up your laptops, tablets, and phones. If you lose power, call National Grid at (800) 465-1212.

RIEMA Director Marc Pappas says be prepared and have patience. “Monitor the weather closely and be ready to take action, as the wind is expected to be a major factor early Christmas morning.  Along with the wind, this storm could cause problems on Rhode Island’s roadways and bridges, and minor flooding in low lying areas.”

National Grid prepares

National Grid is making preparations for the storm, which it says could lead to a multi-day power restoration event.

“We have canceled employee vacations, secured additional crews, and put emergency plans in place in anticipation of this severe, ill-timed storm,” said Michael McCallan, vice president of electric operations for New England. “We’re prepared for the storm and its aftermath. We recognize that no outage is convenient, and we’re particularly conscious of the timing of this storm, when so many of our customers will be celebrating the holidays at home during what continues to be a challenging year.”

Nearly 1,700 field-based workers in New England have been secured as part of National Grid’s emergency response operations. This includes overhead line, forestry, contractors, underground, damage assessment, wires down, transmission, and substation workers.   

The company has been preparing for the storm for days, and is continuing to monitor the weather, communicating with local officials, first responders, and life support customers.

The Company offers the following tips and reminders: 

Stay connected 

• Report power outages at www.nationalgridus.com or call 1-800-465-1212. 

• Use your mobile device to track outage information and storm-related safety tips through National Grid’s mobile site accessible at www.ngrid.com/mobile. 

• Track outages and estimated restoration times at www.nationalgridus.com/outage-central 

• To stay connected during storms and outages, text to 64743 using any of the below commands:

— REG to sign up for text alerts 

— OUT to report an outage 

— SUM followed by your town, county, or state to get a summary of outages in your area 

— HELP for the full list of commands 

Stay safe

• Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization. 

• Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it’s an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food. 

• People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223. 

• Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period. 

 Electric safety 

• If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public. 

• If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. 

• Reminder: It’s not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts. Our line workers begin restoration work only when conditions are deemed safe. 

Please support your local news coverage

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the local economy - and many of the advertisers who support our work - to a near standstill. During this unprecedented challenge, we continue to make our coronavirus coverage free to everyone at eastbayri.com - we believe it is our mission is to deliver vital information to our communities. If you believe local news is essential, especially during this crisis, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

Donate Here

Thank you for your support!

Matt Hayes, Portsmouth Times Publisher