The weight of the snow expected to fall in the New York City on Wednesday, as a result of Winter Storm Cato, could bring down power lines, causing customers to lose power and creating a safety hazard.
In addition, road salt will mix with melting snow and could damage underground electrical wiring, possibly leading to outages.
Con Edison crews will be ready to respond to any power outages that occur as a result of a snow and rainstorm before the Thanksgiving turkey is in the oven. In addition, the company is in close contact with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services to coordinate storm-response if needed.
However, the utility company is urging residents to take the following safety measures during the winter storm:
- Anyone who sees downed wires should stay away from them, as they may be live.
- Do not touch downed wires with your hands or any object. Be aware that downed wires can be hidden from view by snow, tree limbs or water.
- If a power line falls on your car while you're in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.
- If your power goes out, disconnect or turn off appliances that would otherwise turn on automatically when service is restored. If several appliances start up at once, the electric circuits may overload.
- Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios or televisions are in working order. Make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on restorations of electrical service can be heard on most local radio and television stations.
Customers can report downed power lines, outages and check service restoration status at www.conEd.com or by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).
