Storm Guide
Scroll down or click on the appropriate link below for information on the following topics:
- Before a Storm - Be Prepared
- Home Medical Devices
- During a Storm - Be Informed
- Reporting an Outage
- How RMLD Prepares for and Responds to Storms
- The Recovery and Outage Restoration Process
- Homeowner Responsibility
Before a Storm – Be Prepared
- Make an emergency kit. CLICK HERE for MEMA’s Emergency Kit Checklist.
- Have plenty of non-perishable food, drinking water, and pet food on hand.
- Have first aid supplies and prescriptions on hand.
- Have flashlights, spare batteries, candles, and matches available.
- Fill your car’s gas tank in case pumps aren’t working.
- Charge your cell phone, tablet, and laptop to full capacity.
- If your water supply could be affected by a power outage, fill your bathtub with water to flush toilets. DO NOT use this water for drinking.
- Turn your refrigerator/freezer up to the coldest setting to keep food cold if the power goes out. Remember to reset to normal once power is restored.
- If you have a generator, make sure you know how to safely use it and that you have a sufficient amount of gasoline on hand. NEVER install or run a generator inside.
- Find out if your town intends to open shelters and where they will be located.
- Be prepared with books, puzzles, cards, and board games to keep the family entertained.
During a Storm – Be Informed
Where to Find Outage Information:
- Area outages and, if possible, estimated time of restoration (ETR) will be tweeted. Follow us on Twitter at @readinglight.
If you lose power:
- Minimize opening and closing your refrigerator/freezer as much as possible to keep the cool air inside. During cold weather, you can put food in a sealed container (to prevent animal access) and put the container outside to keep food from spoiling. Only do this if it’s safe to go outdoors.
- Unplug your electrical devices (TV, DVD player, microwave, computer, stereo, etc.) that are not plugged into surge protectors. When power is restored, wait a few minutes to plug devices back in.
- Follow the safety instructions of local authorities.
Downed power lines:
- Report downed power lines to RMLD or local emergency personnel immediately.
- Always keep your distance and never drive over downed power lines.
- Do not touch anything that may be in contact with downed power lines such as trees, fences, guardrails, etc.
Reporting an Outage
If you’re able, check Twitter or our website before reporting an outage as we may already be aware of it. If the outage has not already been reported:
- Call RMLD at 781-942-6598 or 781-944-1340. Please be patient as there may be several people calling at once.
- CLICK HERE to report an outage online.
How RMLD Prepares for and Responds to Storms
RMLD serves Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, and Lynnfield Center. RMLD takes the following steps to prepare for and respond to storms:
- Closely monitor weather forecasts and conditions before and during storms.
- Review emergency plan including proper staffing.
- Communicate with local town officials and emergency personnel before, during, and after storms.
- If outages occur, restore power to our customers quickly and efficiently. RMLD prioritizes safety for its workers, the public, and the assets of the electric system.
The Recovery and Outage Restoration Process
We understand that it’s important for our customers to know when their power will be restored. As soon as the storm begins we are continually assessing damage to help provide customers with increasingly precise restoration information. It’s important to note that priorities can shift quickly in storm response based on how conditions progress and as new damage is discovered, so it can be difficult to accurately determine an estimated restoration time in some instances.
When power goes out, our recovery work begins as soon as conditions are safe for our professionals.
Homeowner Responsibility
RMLD owns and is responsible for the service line that connects your home to the electrical distribution system, and the meter. The homeowner owns the electric service entrance cable from the point where it attaches to your house (at the weatherhead) to our meter, and from our meter into your home or business. The homeowner is also responsible for the meter base which houses the meter, and the home’s ground which works to protect home equipment, appliances, etc. Maintenance and inspection of the home electrical system is recommended every five years. Click here to watch RMLD’s Homeowner Responsibility video for additional information.
