Utilites prepare for deep snow, winds

CHAMBERSBURG - Utilities began positioning crews Monday for winter storm Stella, which could drop as much as two feet of snow locally.

West Penn Power’s latest internal weather forecast predicts 10 to 16 inches of snow in the Franklin County region.

“It could potentially be our biggest snow of the season,” West Penn Power spokesman Todd Meyers said. “The good news is: We’re looking for this snow to be dry in your area. If this stays dry we should be in pretty good shape. A dry snow doesn’t cling to branches and wires.”

"Due to the nature of this storm, we are not anticipating widespread outages, but we are fully prepared for whatever comes," said Duane Kanagy, communications manager for Adams Electric Cooperative, which serves some homes in the region.

READ: Chambersburg officials advise residents: Stay home

First Energy, West Penn’s parent company, plans to use its own crews and contractors to respond to outages, Meyers said. Crews from western Pennsylvania have been packed up for several days and going to areas that are expected to get the worst of the weather.

“You’ve got to be nimble and flexible,” he said. “It’s going to be a widespread snow event.”

Meyers said the utility is sending additional tree trimming contractors to Chambersburg/Waynesboro area to help if trees come down in storm. A contracted seven-man line crew was deploying to the Chambersburg area Monday to help regular local West Penn Power crews.

“A unique challenge with a winter storm is being able to gain access to the outage locations, especially when large snow accumulations hamper travel,” said Mark Julian, vice president, Utility Operations, FirstEnergy. “As part of our assessment process, once we know the extent of the storm damage, we can deploy additional crews and resources from our less affected utilities to areas that were hit the hardest.”

READ: PennDOT ready for 2 feet of snow, drifting

AccuWeather at noon on Monday forecast 12 to 24 inches from the storm with thunder and lightning accompanying the snow in some locations. It will be an unusually cold storm for the middle of March for many areas.

"In some locations in Pennsylvania, New York state and New England, snowfall from this storm could be the biggest March snowstorm since that of the 1993 March blizzard," according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.

About 28,000 homes in southeastern Franklin County lost power on March 4, 1993, during an ice storm accompanied by 70 mph winds.

This time, winds are expected to become a factor on Wednesday when they blow at 35 to 45 mph, according to Meyers.

“We’re prepared to chain up,” Meyers said. “It looks like 2 a.m. (Tuesday) before the snow really begins to fly. It may be difficult for our linemen to get to certain areas. If school buses are not going, that’s often the case for us as well.”

The two feet of snow that winter storm Jonas dumped on the region in January 2016 was dry.

“There were fewer outages than during a typical weekend with no snow,” Meyers said.

Vehicles were not on the road for a couple of days and the utility experienced fewer car-pole crashes, he said.

During severe weather, West Penn Power customers who are without power can call 1-888-544-4877 to report the outage or click the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com. For updated information on the company’s current outages, FirstEnergy’s storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.

Adams Electric maintains a Storm Central page at adamsec.coop and an online outage map with real-time power outage data. The map shows how many Adams Electric members are without power in any specific ZIP code or municipality throughout its service territory of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Perry and York counties. During power interruptions, these outage numbers are refreshed approximately every 10 minutes so you can check back for the latest numbers.

Downed wires

West Penn Power urges people:

• To immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department.
• To never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity.
• To use extra caution in areas where downed wires may be tangled in downed tree branches or other debris.

Power outages

Dave Phillips, a spokesman for State Farm, offer these tips about preparing for and dealing with power outages:

Before an outage

• Have a place in your home where flashlights, a battery-powered radio and extra batteries can be found easily.
• If you know the outage is coming, set aside extra water and buy or make extra ice. You can use the ice to keep perishable items cool.
• Make sure the battery in your smoke detector is fresh. Test the smoke detector on a monthly basis.
• Keep an appliance thermometer in the freezer.  According to Food Safety News, if the freezer is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder when the power returns, all the food is safe.

During an outage

• If possible, use flashlights instead of candles for emergency lighting. Candles used in unfamiliar settings can be dangerous fire hazards.
• Leave one light on so you know when the power returns.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer. This will help keep your food as fresh as possible.
• Use generators safely. If you have a portable generator, only run it outdoors with adequate ventilation. Never use a generator indoors or in attached garages. The exhaust fumes contain deadly carbon monoxide.
• Listen to the radio for updates.

"Your homeowner policy may cover spoiled food and other damages as a result of power outages, subject to the deductible," Phillips said. "Check with your insurance company to see if your homeowner policy covers damages resulting from outages.

Jim Hook 717-262-4759