August/September is the peak of Hurricane season and there are certain things that everyone can do to be as prepared as possible should a storm hit the region.
Prepare for a Storm:
- Have candles and flashlights available for emergency light, and a battery-operated radio for weather reports and other information. Make sure you have matches and fresh batteries, too.
- Create an emergency kit with essential items such as food, water and communication devices. It should include non-perishable food, water bottles, medicine and supplies. There should be enough items to survive at least 72 hours.
- If you see that a major storm is coming be sure to charge all your cellphones and tablets as well as any backup batteries you may have.
- Please note: Customers with special medical problems such as having oxygen requirements should have a backup plan.
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 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. Check our Facebook page and grotonutilities.com for outage updates. In the case of a full hurricane, your patience would certainly be most appreciated.
Below are some information sources you may find helpful in preparing for a major storm:
CDC – Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm
