PSEG LI Preparing For First Winter Storm Of The Season

LONG ISLAND, NY - PSEG Long Island is getting ready for the season’s first forecast of snow, sleet and rain expected to hit the area Thursday.

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued the following hazardous weather outlook for Long Island:

A coastal low will impact the area late Thursday afternoon into Friday evening. This will bring a wintry mix of snow and sleet late Thursday afternoon then changing to all rain Thursday night through Friday evening. Minor accumulations are expected. Although the duration of the wintry mix will be limited as the precipitation changes to all rain, some impacts appear likely at this time during the afternoon and evening commute.

Click here for the full forecast.

In preparation, the utility company has performed system checks on critical transmission and distribution equipment and ensured the availability of critical materials, fuel and other supplies.

“If the weather conditions cause interruptions to service, we are prepared and will respond and restore outages safely and quickly,” John O’Connell, vice president of transmission and distribution at PSEG Long Island said. “Whether it’s the first storm of the season or three consecutive storms at the end of the season, like we had last March, we are committed to providing safe, reliable service to our customers.”

Residents are warned that heavy snow and icing on lines and trees and windy conditions can increase the possibility of downed wires and power outages.

Snowy roads and poor visibility make drivers more likely to lose control and strike utility poles, which can also cause wires to come down.

PSEG employees will be on hand to deal with any outages caused by the wintry weather.

Contractors, including tree crews, will also be available to assist the utility’s own skilled workforce if necessary.

In addition, PSEG has provided the following safety tips for local residents:

• To report and receive status updates on an outage Text OUT to PSEGLI (773454) or to report an outage online visit www.psegliny.com.
• To report an outage or downed wire call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 800-490-0075.
• Follow PSEG Long Island on Facebook and Twitter to report an outage and for updates before, during and after the storm
• Visit PSEG Long Island’s outage map to view outage information across Long Island and the Rockaways at https://outagemap.psegliny.com/
• Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything contacting the wire. To report a downed wire call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 800-490-0075
• High winds may cause flying debris, and bring down trees and power lines. Be cautious and stay alert to surroundings during and after storms.
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.
• Make sure everyone in the family is prepared and knows what to do if there is an emergency. Visit https://www.psegliny.com/safetyandreliability/stormsafety/beforeastorm to learn about safety tips from Sesame Street, YouTube safety videos and more.

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