Preparing for Earl, Just in Case

Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) Company, New Jersey's largest electric and gas utility, is closely monitoring the track of Hurricane Earl and is prepared if the storm hits. According to the National Weather Service, the powerful Category 3 storm is expected to affect the East Coast Thursday night and Friday bringing the potential for heavy rain and strong winds in our service territory. Earlier this week, Hurricane Earl pummeled the northeastern Caribbean with damaging rain and winds.

September is the height of hurricane season and Hurricane Earl is just one of several potential storms swirling around the Atlantic Ocean that could impact the East Coast in the next week or two. PSE&G is monitoring these other storms as well.

In anticipation of Hurricane Earl, PSE&G has all personnel available and is ensuring that additional supplies, such as poles and pole top equipment, are on hand to promptly respond and restore service should the inclement weather result in outages.

Clearly, a storm like Hurricane Earl has the potential to interrupt service. High winds might cause trees to brush up against power lines and lightning could strike and damage trees or pole top equipment.

PSE&G uses an automated system to handle customer calls as efficiently as possible. Customers who get an automated response when calling PSE&G should not hesitate to use it, as it is designed to route their calls to the right destinations. The system also provides the option to speak directly to a customer service representative. Customers are asked to use this option if they are calling to report damage to wires, transformers or poles.  This will help PSE&G to restore power more expeditiously.

In addition, if outages are widespread, the utility will activate its Twitter page to keep the public informed about our restoration progress. Sign up as a follower at http://twitter.com/psegoutageinfo to monitor restoration progress.

Depending on the severity of the storm, response times for both electric and gas emergency services may be longer than usual.

In anticipation of possible storm conditions, PSE&G urges customers to be aware of the following important points:

DOWNED POWER LINES

Heavy rain and strong winds can cause power lines to come down.  Downed wires may appear dead but should always be considered "live."  STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES.  Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with.  Parents are urged to check for downed wires in areas where their children might play and to remind the children to stay far away from any wires.  If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until help arrives. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell PSE&G the nearest cross street.

CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SUSTAINING EQUIPMENT

Individuals who rely on electricity to operate life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or dialysis machine, should pre-register with PSE&G to receive priority attention in the event of an outage. To request the service, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG. They should also inform their rescue squads and fire departments of their needs, in case of emergency. Even though customers with life-sustaining equipment who have registered with PSE&G will receive priority attention during outages, they should also have emergency back-up equipment on hand, since immediate restoration cannot be guaranteed.

IF YOU LOSE POWER

First check your neighborhood. If you are the only one without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. If that's not the problem, look outside at the wire between your house and the utility pole. If it is down, report it immediately to PSE&G.

If you lose power:

• Throw a blanket over appliances for added insulation. 
• KEEP REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER DOORS CLOSED. Food will stay frozen between 36 and 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer (24 hours in a half-full freezer).
• Know how to open your garage door without the electric opener. 
• Remember, electric well and sump pumps will not operate. 
• Unplug all motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers and sensitive electronic equipment (like TVs, microwaves and computers) to prevent a possible electrical overload when power is restored. 
• Leave one light switch on to indicate when power is restored.

HOW PSE&G RESTORES POWER TO CUSTOMERS

In the event of an outage, PSE&G's crews work around the clock to restore power to customers. Their first concern is always health and safety.

Crews work to restore power to the largest numbers of customers first, taking into account "priority" customers, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, water and sewer facilities, communications facilities (TV, radio, and telephone), and customers on life-sustaining medical equipment. At the same time, the utility restores power to homes and businesses, starting with the circuits serving the largest number of customers.

IF YOU USE A PORTABLE ELECTRIC GENERATOR, CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH IT. Be sure your generator is UL-approved, installed by a licensed electrician and inspected by your local electrical inspector. There must be a way to physically disconnect your generator from utility lines. Customers who improperly install, operate or maintain a generator are responsible for any injury or damage suffered by themselves, their neighbors or utility workers.

FLOODED BASEMENTS

Flooded basements can pose a genuine safety risk. Below are some steps you can take to help ensure your safety in the event of flooding:

• Be cautious in flooded basements.
• If customers lose electricity and their basement is flooded, notify PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) and call the local fire department to have the basement pumped. Stay away from the breaker box if it's in a flooded basement. And don't go into a flooded basement if energized wires are present.
• If water gets up to the height of the gas burner on a water heater or gas heater, customers can shut off the supply of gas to the unit if they know how. They must call PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) to have the gas supply turned back on, because pilot lights must be lit.
• Customers should call PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) immediately if they smell gas.

GENERAL TIPS:

Mother Nature can be unpredictable. It's wise to have an emergency kit on hand year round.  Here are some things to include:

• A battery-powered radio. 
• A corded telephone (cordless phones will not work if the power is out)
• Flashlights and extra fresh batteries.
• A first-aid kit.
• Bottled water and an adequate supply of non-perishable food.
• A non-electric can opener.
• Matches and candles with holders.
• Extra blankets and sleeping bags.
• A list of emergency phone numbers, including PSE&G's Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSEG. Call this number to report power outages or downed wires.