Potential for Power Outages This Weekend With Hurricane Irene

The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) announced in a press release on Wednesday that it is pre-mobilizing several hundred linemen and support staff from outside of BGE’s service area to supplement its resources.

Some of these resources are expected to begin arriving in BGE’s service area this evening, with more likely to arrive on Thursday and Friday, according to the news announcement.

BGE customers should prepare for the possibility of widespread, extended outages due to heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour knocking down whole trees and large tree limbs onto power lines. An event of this magnitude could leave some customers without power for multiple days, said BGE in the news announcement.

The current track of Hurricane Irene has its peak impact on BGE’s service area from Saturday afternoon through early Sunday morning. Customers could begin to experience outages on Saturday and may experience multiple outages even after the storm has cleared the system on Sunday due to weakened trees and tree limbs that may not fall until after the storm has left the area. 

Should BGE customers experience storm-related outages, they are encouraged to stay informed of BGE’s restoration efforts via www.bge.com, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.

BGE is planning to contact customers via an automated phone message and advises families to have a plan in place to protect themselves and their property. The elderly and physically challenged or dependent should have alternate arrangements for medical equipment in case of an extended power outage.

Customers using generators should follow the manufacturers’ instructions and be sure to locate generators in well-ventilated areas. Additionally, customers are encouraged to visit BGE’s onlineStorm Center for important information on how to prepare for an approaching storm.”

Customers should have basic items on hand in advance of a storm, including the following:

• Flashlights – not candles
• Fresh batteries
• Battery operated clock radio
• Corded telephone
• Fully charged cell phone
• Non-perishable foods
• Blankets

Customers are always reminded to stay away from downed power lines and to report them immediately by calling 1-410-685-0123.  Power outages should be reported by calling BGE’s automated system at 1-877-778-2222. 

Customers also should consider filling the fuel tanks of their vehicles in the event a power outage affects service to neighborhood gas stations.

For customers who rely on well water, filling a bathtub with water in advance of severe weather is strongly encouraged. 

BGE's restoration priorities are public safety issues and critical facilities, such as 911 centers, hospitals and pumping stations. Then restoration is generally scheduled so that the greatest number of customers can be restored as quickly and as safely as possible. However, in cases of extended power outages, consideration is also given to customers who have been without service for the longest.