The Northeast was fortunate to have Hurricane Joaquin turn out to sea. That is
not a reason to let down your guard. If you didn’t have time to properly prepare for
Hurricane Joaquin, it is time to prepare for the next storm.

We urge you to maintain your vigilance and awareness for the possibility of land
fall of any storm or hurricane. If Hurricane Joaquin heightened your awareness of the
need to be prepared, then that is a lesson well learned.

Many of our customers are experienced in storm preparation, but we fear that
others are not. What can you do to be ready for the impact of extreme weather
conditions? Here are a few suggestions:

• Please note: Customers with special medical problems such as
  having oxygen requirements should have a backup plan.
• Have candles and flashlights available for emergency light, and a batteryoperated
  radio for weather reports and other information. Make sure you have matches
  and fresh batteries, too.
• Keep on hand a supply of non-perishable food, medicine and supplies. Don’t
  forget bottled water, along with extra baby supplies and pet food.

During an outage:

• If all your power suddenly shuts off, the main breaker in your electrical breaker
  box may have tripped. You can restore power simply by moving the switch to “off,” then
  back to the “on” position. Check your fuses, too, if you have them.
• If your area is without power, or you see any downed wires, call Groton Utilities
  at (860) 446-4000. Call us too if you see damage to electrical equipment, or anything
  out of the ordinary such as trees or branches on wires. Do not go near any wires.
  Even a downed wire may be dangerous.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed. Contents should be safe for at least 24
  hours. Turn off your appliances. When power is restored, turn them back on gradually.
• Don’t worry. We respond to outages immediately and continue to work until all
  customers have power. Once you’ve called, please resist the temptation to call back.
  However, if your neighbors have their electricity back and you’re still out, you should call
  again. In the case of a full hurricane, your patience would certainly be most
  appreciated.