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Energy & Safety

Our Storm Recovery Plan

 

In the hours before, during and after a severe storm, O&R follows a well-rehearsed Storm Plan procedure so customers won't be kept in the dark.

With advanced warning of a major storm, we:

  • Alert customers who are in O&R's Life Support Equipment Program to make arrangements in the event of possible power outages.
  • Top off fuel tanks and stock vehicles with repair materials.
  • Notify municipal and state officials of our activity, in case they have special concerns.
  • Alert all employees, contractors and nearby utilities, so they'll be ready to respond around-the-clock. In some cases, we suspend employees' scheduled vacations.

When the storm hits, we're ready:

  • Nearly all employees, cross-trained in storm response tasks, are prepared to turn from their regular jobs to help restore power. It's an "all hands on deck" response.
  • Specially trained workers, who routinely are not in the field, are reassigned to locate and monitor downed wires to ensure public safety.
  • Others are on standby to actually repair damage to low-voltage service lines.
  • Still others move to the O&R Call Center to help handle the expected high volume of customer calls.

During major storm events, all recovery activities are coordinated through our Storm Center where:

  • Field reports are received and assessed for severity of damage.
  • Repair crews are dispatched, including those not normally assigned to the storm-damaged area.
  • Local officials are notified of any special problems in their communities.
  • O&R liaison employees are deployed to county Emergency Management offices and other key locations to help coordinate public safety measures.
  • Contractors and crews from neighboring utilities are given safety briefings and assigned repairs in heavily damaged communities.
  • O&R's Community Response Team members are sent to municipal offices in severely affected communities to provide direct assistance to government officials and customers.
  • The news media are kept updated on damage reports, restoration progress and safety advisories.
  • Following every major storm event, a detailed "lessons-learned" meeting is conducted and, as necessary, Storm Plan procedures are further improved.