Nova Scotia Power is preparing for the winter storm that is forecast to arrive in Nova Scotia Sunday.

NS Power will activate its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at 10 a.m. Sunday, (JANUARY 20) to manage storm response.

“There is a lot of variability in the forecasts, so we continue to monitor weather predictions and plan for contingencies,” said Matt Drover, Nova Scotia Power’s storm lead. “In preparation, we will be positioning powerline crews and forestry teams across the province, and we’re staffing up our Customer Care Centre. We will be well prepared for whatever this storm brings.”

The EOC provides centralized coordination for outage restoration planning and response, as well as liaison with the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office (EMO). It is staffed with employees representing all aspects of the company.

Present forecasts are predicting periods of strong winds, snow, freezing rain, and rain.
Nova Scotia Power encourages customers to plan for their safety.

Some tips include charging electronic devices, ensuring backup generators are installed properly outdoors, and having an emergency kit that includes flashlights, a
battery-powered radio and fresh water.

If you lose power, turn off and unplug electrical equipment, such as televisions
and computers to prevent damage when power is restored.

Visit nspower.ca/stormready for a full list of safety and storm preparedness tips.

Nova Scotia Power is proactively coordinating with electrical inspectors to streamline the repair process for customers who may incur damage to their meter mast as a result of the storm. If a customer’s electrical equipment becomes damaged, customers need a certified electrician to make repairs before Nova Scotia Power can safely restore power.

In situations where there are multiple power outages, Nova Scotia Power restores power in phases to ensure critical services like hospitals can stay open before beginning work in other areas.

Larger outages on transmission lines and in
substations are restored ahead of smaller outages to restore electricity to the greatest number of customers. The phases
are as follows:

Phase 1 – Restoration of public safety issues and emergency situations
Phase 2 – Restoration of NS Power critical infrastructure such as transmission lines and substations
Phase 3 – Restoration of Emergency Management Office (EMO) critical infrastructure such as hospitals, shelters, and essential provincial and municipal services
Phase 4 – Restoration of main electrical feeders servicing communities and neighbourhoods

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Source : Media Release