October 1, 2015 - WALTHAM, Mass. -- With more heavy rainfall on the way, astronomical high tides and the potential for wind gusts to reach upwards of 40 mph along coastal Mass. and RI, National Grid is closely monitoring its electricity and natural gas systems. The company is taking precautions in advance of the arrival of potentially severe weather that could lead to flooding and service interruptions, and is closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Joaquin.

'We are preparing for the potential impact of the weather we may have this week and into the weekend, as well as what Joaquin could bring,' said Dan Bunszell, National Grid vice president of New England Electric Operations. 'We urge customers to take precautions and prepare for the challenges these events may bring.'

In anticipation of the impact of possible high winds and heavy rain, National Grid has mobilized additional crews and equipment resources to restore any power outages as quickly and safely as possible. Safety is National Grid's number-one priority, and the company urges customers to watch out for their own wellbeing and the safety of utility crews working during storms.

Customers Urged to Stay Safe

National Grid advises customers to be prepared for service interruptions. It's a good idea to have a number of working flashlights, at least one battery-operated radio and an extra supply of batteries in your home. National Grid offers the following tips for customers to minimize inconvenience and maximize safety in the event that storm-related power interruptions do occur.

• National Grid customers who experience an outage should call National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 to expedite restoration.
• Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electricity wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization.
• Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it's an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food.
• People who depend on electricity-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company's New England Customer Service Center at 1-800-322-3223.
• Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period.

Electricity & generator safety

• If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating a generator, disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public.
• If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.
• Remember, it's not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts. Our line workers begin restoration work only when conditions are deemed safe.

Gas safety Tips

• Get Out - All occupants should leave the house immediately. Open windows to ventilate. Do not use the telephone or light switches for any reason.
• Call Us - After leaving the house and reaching a safe environment, call the National Grid 24-hour gas emergency number: Greater Boston area: 1-800-233-5325; all other areas in Mass: 1-800-548-8000 and in RI call 800-640-1595.
• Stay Out - Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe. Do not turn off the gas meter even in the event of an evacuation. The gas meter should be left on to maintain proper pressure in the gas piping within the house and to prevent water from entering the lines should flooding occur. Most gas appliances have safety valves that shut off the flow of gas automatically if the pilot light goes out.
• If your appliances have been in contact with water, please contact a licensed plumbing or heating contractor to make sure the appliances are safe to operate.
• If we have shut your gas service off for safety reasons, please contact a licensed plumbing or heating contractor before contacting National Grid. The licensed plumbing or heating contractor will make sure that your service is safe to restore.
• Don't forget to check outdoor appliances, such as pool heaters and gas grills.
• Listen for important announcements on television and radio from emergency officials about possible evacuations or other emergency procedures.

Stay Connected to National Grid

National Grid provides multiple channels for customers to learn about service issues and interruptions during storms. Customers can follow the storm on their mobile devices by using the National Grid mobile app or texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). The company provides real time outage information on its Outage Central web site at nationalgridus.com/OutageCentral. National Grid also provides storm and restoration updates through Facebook and Twitter.

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.

Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).

For more information please visit our website, or our Connecting website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram