Flood Safety and Restoration Information€¦ · out and water tested before drinking. • If the...

General safety tips

• Listentothemediaforinstructionsfromlocalofficials.

• Waituntilanareahasbeendeclaredsafebeforeentering.Becarefuldrivingbecauseroadsmaybedamagedandpowerlinesmaybedown.

• Beforeenteringabuilding,checkforstructuraldamage.

• Uponenteringabuilding,useabattery-poweredflashlight.DO NOTuseanopenflameasasourceoflight.Gasmaybetrappedinside.

• Stayoutoffloodedbasementsorstandingwater.Energizedwiring,outletsandappliancesbelowthewaterlinemayposeahazard.

• Floodedbasementsshouldbedrainedandcleanedassoonaspossible.Structuraldamagecanoccurifdrainedtooquickly.Whensurroundingwatershavesubsided,begindrainingthebasementinstages,aboutone-thirdofthewatervolumeeachday.

• Wheninspectingthebuilding,wearrubberbootsandgloves.

• Watchforelectricalshortsandlivewiresbeforemakingsurethemainpowerswitchisoff.

• DONOTturnonelectricalappliancesuntilanelectricianhascheckedthesystemandappliances.

• Testdrinkingwaterforpotability.Wellsshouldbepumpedoutandwatertestedbeforedrinking.

• Ifthepublicwatersystemisdeclared“unsafe”byhealthofficials,waterfordrinkingandcookingshouldbeboiledvigorouslyfor10minutes.

• Shoveloutmudorsandwithspecialattentiontocleaningheatingandplumbingsystems.

FloodSafetyandRestorationInformationWestern New York

Electrical safety

• Nevertouchanyfallenpowerlinesoranythingtouchingfallenwires.ReportallfallenwirestoNationalGrid.

• Ifservicehasbeenrestoredtoyourneighbor-hoodandyourhomeisstillwithoutpower,callNationalGridat1-800-867-5222.

• Itisveryimportantwehearfromyouregardingyouroutage.Youshouldneverassumeweknowaboutthepoweroutage.

• Ifyourhomehasflooded,pleasecheckwithanelectricianbeforeturninganythingon.

• Graduallyreconnectyourappliancestoavoidoverloadingcircuitswhenpowerisrestored.

• Ifyouuseageneratortosupplypowerduringanoutage,besuretoonlyoperateitoutdoors.Beforeoperatinggenerators,besuretodiscon-nectfromNationalGrid’ssystembyshuttingoffthemainbreakerlocatedintheelectricservicepanel.Failuretodothiscouldjeopardizethesafetyofcrewsworkingtorestorepower.

ToreportaNationalGridpoweroutage:1-800-867-5222

If your neighborhood has experienced flooding, please follow these general safety rules and procedures before restoring electricity.

CM5511 (11/14)

Underground Electricity Service

IfyoureceiveelectricityservicefromanundergroundcablethatrunsfromaNationalGridutilitypoleortransformertoyourresidence,theelectricitysystemconsistsofthefollowing:

A. UndergroundServiceEntranceCable,whichrunsundergroundfromNationalGrid’sutilitypoleortransformertotheelectricitymeterandfromthemetertothemainservicepanelinyourhome.

B. MeterBoxonwhichyourelectricitymeterismounted.

C. ElectricityMeter,whichmeasuresyouruseofelectricityinkilowatthours.

D. MainServicePanel,whichincludesthefuseboxesand/orcircuitbreakersthatprotecttheelectricityserviceinyourresidence.

Repair and Maintenance of Underground Service

Thehomeownerisresponsibleforthemaintenanceofandanyrepairstothefollowing:

• Undergroundservicecable

• Meterbox

• Mainservicepanel

Inadditiontomaintainingallpartsofitsdeliverysystem,includingtheutilitypolesandtransformers,NationalGridwillrepairanyproblemswiththeelectricmeter.

Tips on Selecting a Contractor

Whenlookingforaprofessionalcontractortomaintain,repairorreplaceyourelectricityserviceequipment,remember:

• Contractorschargedifferentfees.

• Callatleastthreetocomparepricequotes.

• Askhowlongeachcontractorhasbeeninbusiness.

• Getcustomerreferences—andchecktoseeifthosecustomersweresatisfied.

• Besurethecontractorguaranteesbothworkmanshipandmaterials.

• Makesurethecontractorprovidesacurrentcopyofliabilityandworkerscompensationinsuranceforyourprotection.Avoiddemandsforup-frontpayments.

• Keepinmindthatthelowestbidisn’talwaysthebest.Skill,workmanshipandserviceareextremelyimportant.

This is an important notice. Please have it translated.

For more information, visit us at www.nationalgrid.com and connect with us on

National Grid contact information

To report electricity outages or downed wires: 1-800-867-5222

General questions about safety and service: 1-800-642-4272

Call before you dig: dial 811 or 1-800-962-7962

Restoring your electricity service.Waterdamagetoyouroryourneighbor’shomeorbusinessmayhaveresultedinserviceinterruptions.Itisourgoaltorestoreserviceinyourareaandtoyourhomeorbusinessassafelyandquicklyaspossible.

1. Ifyourelectricitypanelwasunderwaterorthewiringtoyourhomewasdamaged,contactanelectricalcontractortoevaluateyourhomeandmakeanynecessaryrepairs.

2. Whenrepairsarecompleted,theelectricalcontractorwillassistyouinobtainingan“electricalinspection”fromathird-partyagency.PleasenotethatelectricalinspectionsarenotperformedbyNationalGrid.

3. Whenthehomepassestheelectricalinspection,theinspectorwillcontactNationalGridandtheappropriateserviceorderwillbereleasedtoturnonyourpower.

4. Ifyourelectricitypanelwasnotunderwaterandnodamageoccurred,pleasecontactanelectricalinspectortocertifyyourhomeisreadytobere-energized.

• AlistofelectricalinspectionagenciesisavailablefromNationalGrid,1-800-642-4272.

• Inallcases,someonemustbehomeforNationalGridtorestoreelectricityservicetoahome/building.

Forfurtherinformationabouttherestorationofyourelectricityservice,pleasecall:1-800-642-4272.

Appliance safety after a flood.

What to do if heating or cooling equipment has been exposed to standing water.Safetyprecautionsmustbetakenafterahomeorbusinesshasbeenexposedtostandingwater,whichcandamageanelectricalsystem,waterheater,furnace,boiler,air-conditioning,ventilation,andheatpumpsystem—andputyouandyourfamilyatrisk.

• Replacementvs.repair -Inmostcases,flood-damagedheatingandcoolingequipmentandsystemswillhavetobereplaced,notrepaired.Allinspectionandreplacementworkonfloodedequipmentshouldbeperformedbyqualifiedheatingandcoolingcontractors,notbyhomeowners.Alicensedelectricianshouldreplacefloodedelectricalequipmentandcomponents.

• Ductwork–Ifyouhaveacentralforced-airfurnaceinthehousewithflooddamage,payattentiontoyourductworktoo.Aqualifiedheatingcontractorwillnottrytosalvageductinsulationthathasbeenincontactwithfloodwater,butwillreplaceitbecauseitisimpossibletodecontaminate.

• Gasfurnaces,boilers,fireplaces -Ifthereisanyquestionwhetherfloodwaterhassubmergedagasapplianceand/oritscontrols,havetheunitcheckedbyaqualifiedheatingcontractor.

• Electricfurnaces-Justlikethegas-firedwarm-airfurnace,anelectricfurnaceissusceptibletocorrosionanddamage,resultinginreliabilityproblemsorsafetyhazards.Havetheunitcheckedbyaqualifiedheatingcontractor.

• Propaneheating-Useextremecautionwhenthereisthepotentialforpropaneleaksandhavepropaneequipmentchecked,repairedand/orreplacedbyaqualifiedheatingcontractorasquicklyaspossibleafteraflood.

• Radiantceilingheat-Aqualifiedelectricianshouldbeconsultedtodeterminewhetherthecableisreusable.

• Heatpumpsandairconditioningsystems-Thedecisiontorepairorreplaceshouldbemadebyaqualifiedprofessionalonacase-by-casebasis.

• Waterheatingsystems-Whetheryourwaterheaterisgas-fired,oil-firedorelectric,ifitwasexposedtofloodwater,theunitshouldbereplaced.Anewwaterheaterisarelativelysmallinvestment,andreplacingitisfairlyeasytodo.

What’s yours, what’s ours.

The Facts about Your Energy Service EquipmentOurcustomerssometimesaskwhoisresponsibleformaintainingandrepairingtheequipmentthatprovideselectricityand/ornaturalgastotheirhomes.Mostpeoplepaytheirtelephonecompanyonlyforservicetotheirhome,anddon’tchoosetopaytheadditionalfeeformaintainingthephoneandlinesinsidethehome.Inthesameway,youpayNationalGridforprovidingservicetoyourmeter,notformaintainingtheequipmentorappliancesthatusetheservice.Thecustomer/ownerisresponsibleforinstalling,maintainingandrepairingallequipmentbeyondtheserviceconnectionpointexceptfortheelectricmeter.

Overhead Electricity Service Entrance CableIfyoureceiveoverheadelectricityservice,yourelectricitysystemconsistsofthefollowing:

1. ElectricityLinesthatrunfromtheutilitypoletoyourresidence.TheonlyequipmentthatismaintainedorownedbyNationalGridbeyondthisconnectionpointistheelectricitymeter.

2. WeatherheadandInsulatoratthepointwhereelectricitylinesconnecttoyourresidence.

3. ServiceEntranceCable,thewirethatrunsfromtheweatherheadtotheelectricitymeterandfromtheelectricitymetertotheservicepanelinyourhome.

4. MeterBoxonwhichyourelectricitymeterismounted.

5. ElectricityMeterwhichmeasuresyouruseofelectricityinkilowatthours.

6. MainServicePanelwhichincludesthefuseboxesand/orcircuitbreakersfortheelectricserviceinyourhome.

Who is responsible for what?Ifyouhaveoverheadelectricityservice,youareresponsibleforthemaintenanceandrepairofthefollowing:

• Weatherheadandinsulator• Serviceentrancecable• Meterbox• Mainservicepanel

National Grid is responsible for repairs to:• Overhead,outsideelectricitylinestoyourresidence,

transformers,poles,substations,transmissionlines,etc.

• Electricitymeter

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