The United Illuminating Company (UI) is preparing for Hurricane Earl and diligently watching its path. Storm trackers have projected that the storm, with wind speeds of 135-mph, is heading north toward the tri-state region. The National Hurricane Center has reported that there is a 20 percent to 30 percent probability that Hurricane Earl could bring high winds and heavy rain to the area by Friday or Saturday.
“We’ve been watching the movement of Hurricane Earl for several days now,” said Donna Rogers, associate vice president – Electric Systems Operations. “While no one knows precisely if and when Earl could reach our area, we have put plans in place so we are prepared and our staff has been alerted, along with contractor support.”
UI has held a series of meetings and ongoing test runs with field and technical staff. The company has already arranged for booking overtime with office staff to handle any potential increase in call volumes due to the possibility of severe winds and rains that affect the electrical infrastructure. UI has also contacted additional crews and marshaling their plan of action with emergency operations centers and cities/towns across the service territory.
“These sorts of storms can be very unpredictable and difficult to plan for,” added Tony Vallillo, UI’s president and chief operating officer. “However, we are preparing for it and designing strategies to pay particular attention to our communities along the shoreline.”
UI encourages customers to take extra precautions during this time. Always stay away from and avoid downed power lines. If you see a down power line or need to report an outage, please call 1-800-7-CALL-UI (1-800-722-5584) with the location and any specifics.
Additional Preparedness Tips for Customers:
Preparing for Bad Weather
Hurricane season is upon us. Currently, Hurricane Earl is tracking along the East Coast and looks to pass to the east of New England. UI will be monitoring the storm as it approaches. The beginning of the hurricane season is a reminder that everyone should be thinking about their preparations for weather-related events. The following are some tips to help you develop a response plan:
CREATE A FAMILY DISASTER PLAN
* Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances, it may be necessary to evacuate.
* Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet.
* Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
* Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
* Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
HAVE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT ON HAND
* Water, non-perishable food
* Non-electric can opener
* First-aid kit, medicines and prescription drugs
* Toiletries, hygiene items and moisture wipes
* Flashlight and batteries
* Battery-operated radio and NOAA weather radio
HAVE A PLACE TO GO
SECURE YOUR HOME INSIDE AND OUT
HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR PETS
One of the most important decisions you will have to make is Should I Evacuate? If you are asked to evacuate, you should do so without delay. But unless you live in a coastal or low-lying area, an area that floods frequently, or in manufactured housing, it is unlikely that emergency managers will ask you to evacuate.
For additional information on preparing for weather-related events visit the American Red Cross at www.ctredcross.org.
The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a New Haven-based regional distribution utility established in 1899. UI is engaged in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and related services to more than 325,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas. UI’s World Wide Web address is http://www.uinet.com/. UI’s parent company, UIL Holdings Corporation, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UIL.
