Monticello, NY – Residents requiring electrical devices to meet otherwise life-threatening medical needs can do more than simply recognize September as National Preparedness Month, notes Sullivan County Public Safety Commissioner Rick Sauer.
“This past March, Winter Storm Riley knocked power out for some 24,000 people in our region, and May’s powerful windstorm darkened more than 27,000 homes and businesses,” he says. “This left some of our citizens without access to crucial medical supplies, like oxygen, for days on end.”
While they can’t guarantee faster power restoration, utilities are required to maintain a list of people who are reliant on electric for medical reasons.
“This information can prove invaluable to utilities and emergency responders during widespread outages such as were experienced earlier this year,” said District 5 Legislator Terri Ward, chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. “And during planned outages, life-support-dependent customers are notified in advance so they can plan around the temporary loss of electricity.”
Find out more by contacting your respective utility:
- NYSEG: www.nyseg.com
1-800-572-1111
1-877-434-4100
- Central Hudson: www.cenhud.com/specialassistance
845-452-2700