East Coast utilities prep for Hurricane Sandy aka 'Frankenstorm'
Burned by long power outages last fall, utility companies are prepping for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, which is expected merge with a winter storm and create what forecasters are branding "Frankenstorm." As many as 50 million people could be effected by Sandy.
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Bob and Cathy Osiecki, retired teachers from Portland, Conn., stocked up on water, flashlights and batteries at a Home Depot in nearby Glastonbury in case their power went out again.
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"After last year, everyone is just nervous," Cathy Osiecki said. "We'll have to wait and see. We can always use the water, always use the flashlights."
In Vermont, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture is advising farmers to harvest crops still in the fields. For those who need power for milking cows or cooling milk tanks, the agency warns to prepare for power outages by making sure generators are working.
Farmers also are advised to purchase sufficient fuel to operate generators and equipment.
In New Jersey, where the storm is expected to come ashore, Jersey Central Power & Light has told employees to be prepared for extended shifts. The utility was criticized for its response to Irene.
In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick has given utilities until Friday to submit plans for the storm. When asked during Thursday on WTKK-FM whether utilities would be ready, Patrick responded, "They'd better be."
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency says residents should get ready by clearing gutters, securing outdoor furniture, trimming overgrown tree branches and shrubs and clearing storm drains.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday noted some uncertainty in the forecasts and said the city was striking a tone of calm preparedness.
"What we are doing is we are taking the kind of precautions you should expect us to do, and I don't think anyone should panic," Bloomberg said. The city has opened an emergency situation room and activated its coastal storm plan.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. is putting workers on standby and making plans to bring in crews from other states. So is PPL Corp. in Pennsylvania. In western Maryland, Potomac Edison is denying new vacation requests until storm repairs are made.
RECOMMENDED: Five ways to prep for a hurricane
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Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Mark Pratt in Boston, Michael Rubinkam in Harrisburg, Pa., and Karen Matthews in New York.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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