A strong windstorm will enter Central Maine Power’s service area Sunday evening, bringing strong, southerly winds and heavy rains to coastal and interior parts of the state through the overnight. Tree damage is likely, and CMP has secured and pre-staged additional resources to restore power if customers are impacted by damaging winds, the company said in a Dec. 10 news release.
 
“Over the course of the evening, line and tree crews will be dispatched to locations across our service area,” said Jon Breed, spokesperson for Central Maine Power, in the release. “What is unique about this storm is that winds will be coming from the south. Because Maine’s trees grow to withstand New England’s more common northeasterly winds, we are concerned that tree-related damage could be more significant than normal.”
 
In addition to the forecasted wind and rain, meteorologists anticipate a dip in temperatures on Monday. This could lead to icing and dangerous road conditions in some areas. 
 
“In the wake of last week’s snowstorm, our crews responded to 24 vehicle accidents involving utility poles. We urge everyone to exercise caution if on the road on Monday,” Breed continued.
 
In addition to power outages, CMP will also coordinate with local emergency management agencies should road closures or coastal flooding occur. For safety reasons, CMP crews are prohibited from raising bucket trucks when windspeeds are greater than 30 mph.
  
Customers can report outages quickly and easily, and track restoration times, using the CMP mobile app. Download from the App Store or text APP to 267.898 for a downloadable link. Customers may also enroll in Outage Alerts to stay informed in the event they lose power.

Customers may find storm preparation tips and a checklist on the CMP website.

CMP reminds customers to remember the following if they have lost power:

• Stay away from downed lines. No line is safe to touch.
• Turn off or unplug major appliance and sensitive electronics.
• Never use ranges or outdoor stoves to heat your home.
• If you need shelter or food, reach out to 211 for available resources

If you lose service:

• For fast outage reporting, use the CMP mobile app or visit Outage Central.
• Keep sensitive electronic appliances such as computers, TVs and stereos plugged into a surge protector, or unplug them. They could be damaged if a power surge occurs when electricity is restored.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. For information about food safety, visit http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/refridg_food.html.

For customers with generators:

• Hire a licensed electrician to install permanent generators and transfer switches.
• Properly ground all portable generators.
• Carefully read and observe all instructions in your generator’s operating manual.
• Never run a generator indoors, or even in an open garage.
• If your carbon monoxide detector goes off – get out of the building immediately and call 911.
• Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it’s running.
• Refer to CMP’s web page on generator safety.