Winter Storm Preparations

• CLICK HERE for the National Grid Power Outage Map.

The first 72 are on you!

What do we mean by that?

Stay off the roads for the first 72 hours - go out only in an emergency. Let the storm pass!

Get food, water, medication, gas, wood, cell phones & lap tops charged, batteries and snacks that do not need refrigeration.

I have been in touch with National Grid:

Preparations are underway

• Hospital and nursing homes were assigned a help team
• Contractor crews throughout New England have been identified
• 130 line crews
• 100 internal staff to cut and clear trees
• 200 overhead line crews
• 300 tree crews (significantly more than Super-storm Sandy)

They informed us of their "safety first" policy. If winds exceed 40 MPH they have to pull crews out of bucket trucks and will resume restoration when winds dies down.

Winds are expected to be as high as super-storm Sandy.

I can't emphasize enough to stay off the roads.

I have been in contact with RIEMA:

They will have 6 strike force units mobilized (State police - RI DOT & National Grid) to clear the roads. They will add to that number after the storm passes.

The regional shelter for North Smithfield is Cumberland High School. It will be open at 8:00 AM tomorrow morning.

• Numbers to have on hand:
• Police 762-1212 for non-emergency
• 911 emergencies only
• Fire 762-1135 for non-emergencies
• NS EMA Emergency Operations Center (24 hours)
  767-2206 or 767-2208

Paulette D. Hamilton
Your Town Administrator