Tips to be prepared when a storm comes your way

After the summer storm a few weeks ago, the Connecticut Light and Power

Company (CL&P) offers these simple tips to help you prepare for whatever weather comes our way.

1. Before the storm

Prepare a “storm kit” and keep it handy: flashlights with spare batteries, a battery-operated radio or TV; first-aid kit; canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated foods; a manual can opener; bottled water, and important phone numbers.

2. During a storm

- Keep your battery-operated radio or TV tuned to local broadcast stations for the latest weather conditions.

- Assume any downed, hanging or burning power lines are “live” and stay away from them. If a power line falls on your vehicle while you are inside, stay there. Don’t touch anything outside the vehicle and wait for emergency crews.

- Call CL&P at (800) 286-2000 or at (860) 947-2000 in the Hartford, Meriden and Danbury calling areas. Their automated phone system rapidly processes your report and also provides restoration information as soon as it’s available.

3. After a storm:

- Safety is CL&P’s first priority. Before crews respond to individual outages, they work to make an area safe by de-energizing any downed wires and removing all potential hazards, such as snapped poles or fallen wires.

- Have patience while the electricity is reconnected. The first priority is hospitals, police stations and other vital public services.

- Once public safety is protected, CL&P can begin to restore the power in your home.