Central Maine Power is preparing for a strong winter storm that will enter its service area Tuesday night, Jan. 9, and last through the day on Wednesday, the company said, in a Jan. 8 news release.

“This storm is predicted to bring heavy, wet snow to Maine’s coast and strong winds into interior parts of the state,” said CMP. “Storm response and tree care crews are pre-staging and will be ready to respond to outages if they occur.”

Jon Breed, spokesperson for Central Maine Power, said: “Most utilities in New England are preparing for some kind of impact from this storm, and CMP is no different. We have been monitoring this winter storm since late last week and have already secured additional line and tree crews, which will be pre-staging Tuesday night.  We have seen several winter storms this season, with tree damage and motor vehicle accidents being some of the most common causes of power outages. With another storm on the way, we urge caution if anyone needs to travel on Wednesday as conditions will likely be hazardous throughout the day.”

During last weekend’s snowstorm, CMP saw 13 motor vehicle accidents lead to power outages.

In every storm, CMP assists 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 appliances 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.