AKRON,
Ohio, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy
Corp. (NYSE: FE) electric company personnel are prepared to respond
to potential service interruptions caused by the remnants of
Tropical Storm Debby, which is forecast to bring heavy rains and
gusty winds to Maryland,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia beginning on Friday.
A video playlist of utility personnel discussing the
impact of wind storms on equipment and restoration efforts is
available on YouTube.
Company meteorologists have been tracking the storm for several
days. The system is expected to bring the following conditions:
- Heavy rain: Rainfall amounts of at least 1-3 inches
are expected throughout nearly all of FirstEnergy's service
territory in Maryland,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the eastern part of the
company's West Virginia service
area. Central and eastern Pennsylvania and most of Maryland could see higher amounts, totaling
3-5 inches. Portions of West Penn Power and Penelec's central
Pennsylvania service territory
could see localized areas of more than five inches of rain. Flash
flooding is a possibility.
- Gusty winds: Wind gusts of 25-35 mph, with isolated
gusts of 40 mph, are possible in Met-Ed's eastern Pennsylvania and Jersey Central Power &
Light's (JCP&L) New Jersey
service territories. Peak winds are expected between noon and 7:00 p.m. Wind gusts may mix
with periods of heavy rain.
- Severe storms: Isolated thunderstorms are possible
Friday afternoon and evening in JCP&L's New Jersey service territory, with any
developing storm having the potential to become severe, capable of
isolated damaging wind gusts of up to 55 mph. An isolated tornado
cannot be ruled out.
Wade Smith, President of
FirstEnergy Utilities: "The arrival of Debby's remnants on
the heels of the heavy rains and severe weather earlier this week
presents challenges for our crews. Soft, saturated ground makes it
easier for trees to fall without strong wind gusts. While we invest
in our electric system throughout the year to keep power flowing to
customers in all weather conditions, this combination carries the
potential for power outages. We are closely monitoring this system
and remain committed to taking every necessary step to ensure safe
and prompt restoration of electric service for our customers."
FirstEnergy's electric companies are implementing storm response
plans, which include:
- Implementing 16-hour-shifts for storm personnel with
around-the-clock coverage, including line, substation and forestry
personnel.
- Staffing additional internal operators, damage assessors and
analysts at distribution control centers to assist with high
volumes of outage calls.
- The deployment of additional contractor crews, including more
than 275 line workers and foresters in Pennsylvania and more than 150 in New Jersey.
- In New Jersey, flood
mitigation measures have been tested and enacted at substations in
flood-prone areas.
- Contacting emergency management officials, state officials,
regulators and local officials about the company's storm
preparation efforts.
Safety is FirstEnergy's top priority. Sustained winds and heavy
rain could slow restoration efforts, as crews cannot safely operate
bucket trucks when wind speeds exceed 40 miles per hour. Saturated
soil and flooding can also hinder access and create hazardous
conditions for crews as they work to make repairs to lines and
equipment damaged by fallen trees and branches.
After a major weather event, hundreds or even thousands of
damage locations, including broken poles and downed power lines,
are common. FirstEnergy personnel prioritize clearing hazards
like downed power lines, trees and blocked roads to ensure public
safety. Employees must also assess the damage to enable line crews
to access outage sites and initiate safe repairs. The formal
restoration process focuses on addressing widespread outages first,
before tackling more isolated issues.
How to Report Power Outages and Downed Lines
Customers who experience a service interruption due to the storm
are encouraged to report their outage by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS
(1-888-544-4877), texting OUT to LIGHTS (544487) or clicking the
"Outages" link on firstenergycorp.com.
FirstEnergy customers can sign up to receive email and text
message alert notifications for updates after they've reported a
power outage. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to
report outages, request updates on restoration efforts and make
other inquiries about their electric accounts. More information
about these communication tools is available
at firstenergycorp.com/connect.
Customers should assume all downed or low-hanging power lines
are energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away and use
extra caution where downed lines are tangled in trees or other
debris. Report downed lines ASAP by calling 911.
For updated information on the company's current outages, the
company's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe,
visit FirstEnergy's 24/7 Power Center
at firstenergycorp.com/outages. To learn more about navigating
the recently updated map, please visit
bit.ly/FEoutagemapupdates.
Customers Encouraged to Prepare in Advance of the
Storm
FirstEnergy encourages customers to plan for the possibility of
power outages due to the impending storm by following these
tips:
- Keep electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops and
tablets fully charged.
- Have a car charger on-hand to charge mobile devices if your
power is out. If you have a smart phone, this will ensure you have
access to online information sources.
- Keep a flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries handy in
the event of a power outage. Tune to a local station for current
storm information.
- If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of
bottled water and/or fill your bathtub with fresh water.
- Stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not
require cooking.
- Consider having a hard-wired phone available to report an
outage or emergency. A plain, hard-wired phone can operate on power
delivered through the phone line.
- View additional generator safety information.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form
one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems,
serving customers in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West
Virginia, Maryland and
New York. The company's
transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of
transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic
regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and
follow FirstEnergy and its operating companies on X, formerly known
as Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp, @ToledoEdison, @IlluminatingCo,
@OhioEdison, @MonPowerWV, @JCP_L, @Penn_Power, @Penelec, @Met_Ed,
@PotomacEdison, @W_Penn_Power.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.