Stay away from downed wires, report outages & more tips from NYSEG

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WBNG) — Many areas are still experiencing the effects of yesterday’s severe storm, with hundreds of people still without power across the Southern Tier.

As crews work to clean up the damage and restore power, NYSEG shares some tips for staying safe.

Always stay away from downed wires.

• Stay at least 30 feet away from a downed power line.
• If a downed wire comes in contact with your vehicle, stay inside and wait for help.
• If you must get out of the car because of fire or other danger, jump clear of the vehicle and avoid any contact with the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
• Jump out of a vehicle and land with both feet together and hop with feet together or shuffle away; do not run or stride away.
• NYSEG customers should call 1-800-572-1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous situations.

During a power outage:

• Contact neighbors to see if their power is out too. A loss of power may be the result of a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
• Report outages by calling NYSEG at 1-800-572-1131 or via NYSEG’s website.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of the fridge and freezer doors.

NYSEG’s restoration priorities:

NYSEG’s priority is to respond to reports of downed power lines to keep the public safe. Once public safety work is complete, the company will:

• Asses the damage to the electric delivery system
• Develop a detailed restoration plan
• Make repairs as quickly as possible

For additional information, including generator safety information, restoration priorities and emergency resources, visit the Outage Central page on NYSEG’s website.

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