Our Stories: Promoting a Culture of Safety for People of All Ages

When severe storms strike, knowing how to handle downed power lines can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe. Fortunately, Orange & Rockland’s emergency preparedness team prioritizes community outreach, ensuring that first responders and customers are always practicing safety measures.

This spring, representatives from O&R’s electric operations and emergency preparedness teams brought their talents to a new audience – the North Rockland High School first responders club - and hosted an electrical safety seminar.

Designed to prepare students — many of whom are active first responders through their local fire department or ambulance corps — for the challenges posed by severe weather, the seminar emphasized safe practices for encountering electrical and gas equipment, including downed power lines.

Geoff Greene, O&R emergency preparedness senior specialist and graduate of North Rockland, highlighted the core message of the seminar.

"Our priority is and always will be safety. First responders frequently encounter our infrastructure during emergencies, whether it's a downed power line or a gas issue,” Greene said. “To better prepare them for these encounters and ensure they know how to protect themselves and the public is critical. If we restore power in record-breaking time, but someone gets hurt, we haven’t achieved a successful restoration."

Through an engaging presentation and an impactful video demonstration, students learned to treat any encountered down wires as live until confirmed de-energized by O&R crews, and how to communicate effectively with utility personnel during emergencies. These practical skills and knowledge can potentially save lives in critical situations.

Ernest Cebrian, director of safety & security for the North Rockland Central School District, praised the collaboration.

"These young people are already showing incredible dedication as first responders,” Cebrian said. “By equipping them with essential safety knowledge, Orange & Rockland is empowering them to protect themselves and serve their communities effectively."

The importance of electrical safety cannot be overstated, and O&R continues to take a proactive approach in educating the next generation of first responders and the community at large.

This presentation was just the latest in a series of outreach initiatives, with a similar class given to Port Jervis Senior High School last year. Greene said the goal is to host additional seminars for other local schools throughout the service territory with topics that include both gas and electrical safety.

The presentation reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering safety and preparedness in the community. By equipping students with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate electrical hazards, O&R is fostering a culture of safety and preparedness that extends beyond the classroom.