O&R Declares Storm Watch

Orange & Rockland Utilities declared a company-wide storm watch late Tuesday morning.

O&R pointed to the predicted snowfall and potential wind guts of 30 to 35 miles per hour in its service area as concerns. The forecast is also calling for frigid temperatures with wind chills well below zero through Thursday morning.

The utility company has Emergency Response Operations coordinators monitoring weather conditions and preparing responses for storm-related damage. Customers can report downed power lines and outages and check on restoration status by at www.oru.com/storms or by calling 1-877-434-4100. O&R also has a mobile app at www.oru.com/app.

O&R offered these safety tips for dealing with a winter storm.

• For safety’s sake, don’t touch or approach any downed wire. Assume it is energized and dangerous. Call O&R immediately toll-free 1-877-434-4100. Depending on the situation you may also want to call your local police to divert traffic until an O&R crew arrives.
•  Maintain a distance of at least 50 feet from downed wires and anything they are in contact with including puddles of water and fences. Supervise your children so that they are not in the vicinity and keep pets on a leash.
•  If a fallen wire is draped over a car, do not approach the car and make rescue attempts. Remain a safe distance away, and try to keep the occupant of the vehicle calm. If possible, emergency personnel should handle the situation.
•  Stock up on non-perishable food, bottled water, manual can opener, baby supplies and pet food. Set your refrigerator and freezer controls to their coldest settings. Fill the bathtub with water.
• Have emergency equipment within reach --- portable radio, flashlights, candles and matches, spare batteries, first aid kit, cell phone and important medications. Update your personal list of emergency phone numbers. Keep O&R’s toll-free number 1-877-434-4100near the phone to report power outages.
• Always call in a power outage. Don't assume O&R already knows about it or that someone else will report it. 
• Secure a portable generator or make alternative arrangements for care of people who rely on electronically. 
• Be sure you can manually open and close garage doors and security doors or gates operated electronically. 
• Check O&R's Storm Center for updates at www.oru.com.