Tri-State Area Utilities Prepping For Storms, Hurricane Joaquin
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Utilities around the Tri-State area are gearing up for storms that are expected to bring heavy rain and flooding as Hurricane Joaquin makes its way towards the East Coast.
Con Edison says crews are ready to respond to any power outages that may occur as the wet weather bears down over the next several days.
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The utility says the heavy rain and wind could cause trees and branches to hit overhead lines, bringing down wires and knocking out power.
PSEG Long Island said it is performing system checks on critical equipment, making sure it is stocked up on essential inventory such as fuel and will have personnel on hand to deal with any weather-related outages.
"After the many lessons learned from Sandy, we have made significant improvements to substations, the electric transmission and distribution system, the outage management system and our customer service technology, as well as our internal communications and emergency planning and execution," John O'Connell, vice president of transmission and distribution for PSEG Long Island, said in a statement. "While the track of Joaquin remains uncertain, we are preparing for the worst case scenario."
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The utility will call in additional contractors and tree trim crews if necessary, spokesperson Elizabeth Flagler said. The utility is also inspecting and fortifying low elevation substations in case of flooding.
PSE&G New Jersey is also closely watching the weather. The company says it is activating its emergency protocol and personnel and is asking for mutual aid from other utilities as well as bringing in extra tree crews, materials and supplies.
"While it is too early to know with any certainty when and where Joaquin will make land -- and the strength of the storm when it does -- we take every storm with the potential for outages seriously," John Latka, senior vice president of electric and gas operations for PSE&G, said in a statement.
For more information from utilities in your area, click on the links below:
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