Storm Update: LIPA ‘we’re prepared’ for outages
5:30 p.m.
The Long Island Power Authority is warning that the nor’easter expected to hit the area tonight will bring “heavy rain and damaging winds with gusts potentially reaching 60 mph,” and may cause some power outages.
The storm’s worst is expected to come overnight, LIPA says.
“This type of weather has the potential to cause power outages across Long Island,” a LIPA release issued at 5:30 p.m. states.
LIPA and National Grid, which have been accused of not being prepared for superstore Sandy, which left people without power for more than a week at the end of October and beginning of November, now say they are prepared for this storm, with extra line crews, tree trimmers, and support personnel to address any outages. However, LIPA says they will suspend any overhead line work during high winds for the safety of their workers.
Assuming you have a way to contact LIPA, via a smart phone or landline phone, there are several ways to report power outages to LIPA, the company states.
Customers can visit LIPA’s online Storm Center at www.lipower.org/stormcenter from a computer or mobile device to report an outage and receive power restoration updates.
In addition, people can report outages via text messaging, by texting OUT to myLIPA (695472), the company says. Outage can also be reported by phone to 1-800-490-0075.
3:15 p.m.
The post-Christmas nor’easter that has led to winter storm warnings in other parts of the region is expected to hit the East End this evening, bringing with it heavy winds and pounding rain.
The rainfall, which could start as early as 4 p.m., is expected to intensify throughout the night and could continue into Thursday morning. Snow and sleet are also possible.
A high wind warning, with gusts of up to 60 MPH, is in effect between 4 p.m. Wednesday until 6 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. A coastal flood advisory is in effect for this evening until 10 p.m. and a coastal flood watch has been issued for Thursday morning, according to the weather service.
Online flight trackers list close to 1,000 currently canceled flights throughout the country, mostly through areas in the path of the storm.
