LI Urged Not to Let Guard Down on Hurricane Preparedness
Gloria & ’38 LI Express Hit in Late September
Uniondale, N.Y. – September 12, 2007 – As the anniversaries of the two
most damaging hurricanes to hit Long Island in modern history approach, the Long
Island Power Authority (LIPA), KeySpan, and the County Executives of both Nassau
and Suffolk urge residents and businesses in the bi-county region to keep an eye
on the long-range tropical weather forecasts and to continue to hurricane
preparations.
On September 27, 1985, Hurricane Gloria blew across Long Island causing
significant property damage and over 750,000 power outages that took nearly 12
days to fully restore. The 1938 Long Island Express, which moved up the East
Coast at an unprecedented 70 miles per hour on September 21, clobbered the
Island, especially the East End, with winds in excess of 180 mph causing
catastrophic property damage and a number of fatalities.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said LIPA CEO/President Richard M. Kessel
after meeting with County Executives Thomas Suozzi and Steve Levy, and Robert B.
Catell, Chairman of National Grid USA to discuss some of the new hurricane
response strategies the Authority has incorporated in its preparedness plans.
“Long Island must remain vigilant and continue to prepare for a hurricane or
other significant emergency. We all must prepare for the worst while hoping for
the best,” Mr. Kessel said.
Noting that Governor Spitzer recently issued a Proclamation declaring
September 2007 as Preparedness Month in New York State, LIPA Chairman Kevin S.
Law said in a statement that “As LIPA, KeySpan and governments at all levels
prepare and coordinate emergency response efforts, it’s vital that those who can
help others in an emergency take the time to contact their local Red Cross
Chapter or VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) to sign up for a
training session and an assignment so that should a hurricane or other emergency
strike Long Island neighbor can help neighbor to overcome the crisis.”
"The joining together of KeySpan with National Grid has special significance
when it comes to preparing for hurricanes and other emergencies, " said Robert
B. Catell, Chairman of National Grid USA. "As part of a larger, stronger, more
expansive company, we will be able to supplement our highly skilled work force
on Long Island with additional resources to ensure we are prepared for whatever
comes our way."
“Nassau County is ready in the event of a hurricane,” said Nassau County
Executive Thomas Suozzi. “We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of
all Nassau County residents.”
“A crucial component of how well local governments implement their emergency
plans will be how the public reacts to the advance warnings of a hurricane,”
said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. “One of the inherent dangers in
emergency preparedness is that the early warnings that begin 48-72 hours in
advance of a storm often go unheeded by the public until the clouds thicken and
the winds kick up. Every Long Island resident needs to be mindful of the power
and swiftness of a hurricane, and map out an emergency strategy for before,
during and after the storm.”
The briefing focused, in part, on logistical coordination since LIPA has
added a new element to its emergency response plan, which calls for the
establishment of mini field operations locations in both counties to house and
feed mutual assistance crews that would come to Long Island from outside of the
region. The briefing also reviewed the coordination of so-called Reverse 911
systems to provide the public with useful information before and after an
emergency, which both counties and LIPA now have available.
LIPA also underscored several of the key actions taken to prepare for heavy
storm activity such as its special storm hardening program that will invest an
additional $25 million per year over the next 20 years ($500 million) on
targeted efforts to help protect the Island’s electric system against severe
storm damage. As the storm hardening program moves forward in the years ahead,
Long Island still needs to be prepared for wide-scale outages if the Island gets
hit with a hurricane this season, which is predicted to be more active in the
Atlantic basin than previous years.
The storm hardening expenditures is in addition to the $2.5 billion LIPA has
invested over the last nine years on transmission and distribution system
upgrades and improvements, and will be in addition to LIPA’s annual capital
improvement expenditures of about $200 million.
In preparation for a storm, LIPA begins tracking major storms days before
they near Long Island. As a major storm, or hurricane, approaches the region,
LIPA takes steps to respond quickly to storm-related outages.
For customer service, “21st Century”, an automatic reporting system that can
process more than 100,000 customer calls per hour can be activated.
Automatically, outages are electronically recorded and reported to system
operators to start the restoration process by assigning a job ticket to the
reported outage.
In addition to the line crews, all employees have a second job if a major
storm strikes and are trained for storm emergency assignments, and personnel
work extended shifts around the clock to complete all service restorations as
quickly as possible.
LIPA’s Storm Center at
http://www.lipower.org/stormcenter is available 24/7 for updates, outage
information and storm restoration progress reports.
To help minimize storm damage to LIPA’s electric system, LIPA’s forestry
program works throughout the year to identify and trim tree limbs in rights of
way and along easements that
could potentially cause outages during or after a storm. Additionally, customers
are urged to have trees on private property surveyed independently to be assured
that their trees or bushes are not experiencing dangerous and weakening rot.
Tree limbs that come in contact with electric lines remain the major cause of
customer outages during storms, accounting for over 90% of all service
disruptions. For more information on LIPA’s Forestry program, please visit
LIPA’s Web site at
http://www.lipower.org/community.
Well in advance of a hurricane or tropical storm reaching Long Island, LIPA’s
customers are encouraged to follow these storm preparation recommendations to
help ensure their family’s safety and comfort:
- Develop a family plan for survival and property protection. Rehearse the
plan so everyone knows what to do.
- Have flashlights, battery-operated radios and extra batteries on hand.
Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh.
- Know the hurricane risks in your area. Learn the storm surge history and
elevation of your area. Learn the location of official shelters or make
plans for a local hotel or motel. Be prepared to take alternate routes to
these locations as main streets maybe closed.
- Learn safe routes inland away from the Ocean or LI Sound.
- If your residence is in a potential flood or storm surge zone, be
prepared to evacuate when officials recommend it.
- Arrange now for elderly and others with special needs such as those who
depend on electric life-support devices. Alert LIPA customer service
(1-800-490-0025) about these support devices.
- Inventory personal property; safely secure all records and valuable
documents in a watertight place.
- Have material available to protect your doors and windows. Boarding or
shuttering windows is significantly more effective than taping windows which
barely strengthens the window and will not protect at all against flying
debris.
- Put together a family hurricane evacuation kit that includes bottled
water, bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows, and
appropriate prescription medicines.
- Ensure that enough non-perishable food and water supplies are on hand.
NOAA suggests 1 gallon of water per person per day.
- Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
- Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed of dead wood.
- Determine where to move a boat in an emergency.
- Provide for pets.
If a hurricane or major tropical storm damages the region, Long Islanders are
strongly cautioned to stay away from downed power lines. Immediately after the
storm, outages will be evident to LIPA via its computerized control systems.
LIPA’s computer systems automatically detect neighborhood service interruptions
and begin the restoration process by alerting systems operators of the outage.
However, should anyone notice a downed electric line or experience a single
service interruption, call 1-800-490-0075. In addition, downed wires might end
up covered by tree limbs or leaves, so be careful when letting children play
outside after a storm.
For more information on hurricane preparedness, as well as links to weather
sites and emergency response agencies visit LIPA’s Web site at
http://www.lipower.org/stormcenter.. |
