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New Post: Gusty nor’easter sparks spinouts and power outages across state -A wind-whipped snowy, rainy nor’easter spawned dozens of spinouts and a least one jack-knifed trailer on the state’s treacherous roadways while downed trees and limbs sparked local power outages and caused other complications across Massachusetts. Speed limits on highways in the western and central parts of the state remain set at 40 miles an hour... A wind-whipped snowy, rainy nor’easter spawned dozens of spinouts and a least one jack-knifed trailer on the state’s treacherous roadways while downed trees and limbs sparked local power outages and caused other complications across Massachusetts. Speed limits on highways in the western and central parts of the state remain set at 40 miles an hour as the nor’easter continues to roar across the state. Power outages totaled 27,787 at about 9:30 this morning, according to the outage map compiled by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. More than 27,000 residents were without power Thursday morning as a spring nor’easter whipped across the state. (Screenshot, MEMA) MassDOT reports that over 1,000 pieces of snow and ice equipment are out scraping the highways with many times more that number deployed by cities and towns. A downed tree has blocked the tracks on the Mattapan Trolley. MBTA crews are working to clear the mess from the tracks near Cedar Grove. While they work, shuttle buses are in place between Ashmont and Mattapan. The whipping winds have also prompted the MBTA to cancel morning ferry services. The T said it expects to have the boats running again around noon. The Massachusetts State Police reported responding to scores of spinouts on Routes 90, 290, 90, 9, and 495 in a post overnight. “If you do not need to be on the roadways, avoid doing so,” State Police advised. The National Weather Service, in an update posted this morning, said the rain, sleet and snow, along with gusty winds will be winding down through the day. “It will feel more like early February today rather than early April with temps in the mid 30s, and wind chill values in the mid 20s,” the agency said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Rain, sleet and snow continue to impact the region early this morning. There was even some thunder snow/sleet currently impacting parts of western MA. pic.twitter.com/z0pdoS3fAH — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) April 4, 2024 Wind gusts across the state consistently hit marks above 40 miles an hour and into the 60s at locations on the coastline. A Revere Beach observer registered a gust a 60 miles per hour, according to the weather service, and the wind sock flapped in 55 mile an hour gusts recorded at Logan Airport. Snow and sleet totals ranged between 1-2  inches in most parts of the state, with higher totals out west and in Central Mass. An 8-inch reading was recorded in Hawley, in Franklin County.  Ashburnham, Hubbardston and Lunenburg, all in Worcester County, each

New Post: Gusty nor’easter sparks spinouts and power outages across state -A wind-whipped snowy, rainy nor’easter spawned dozens of spinouts and a least one jack-knifed trailer on the state’s treacherous roadways while downed trees and limbs sparked local power outages and caused other complications across Massachusetts. Speed limits on highways in the western and central parts of the state remain set at 40 miles an hour... A wind-whipped snowy, rainy nor’easter spawned dozens of spinouts and a least one jack-knifed trailer on the state’s treacherous roadways while downed trees and limbs sparked local power outages and caused other complications across Massachusetts. Speed limits on highways in the western and central parts of the state remain set at 40 miles an hour as the nor’easter continues to roar across the state. Power outages totaled 27,787 at about 9:30 this morning, according to the outage map compiled by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. More than 27,000 residents were without power Thursday morning as a spring nor’easter whipped across the state. (Screenshot, MEMA) MassDOT reports that over 1,000 pieces of snow and ice equipment are out scraping the highways with many times more that number deployed by cities and towns. A downed tree has blocked the tracks on the Mattapan Trolley. MBTA crews are working to clear the mess from the tracks near Cedar Grove. While they work, shuttle buses are in place between Ashmont and Mattapan. The whipping winds have also prompted the MBTA to cancel morning ferry services. The T said it expects to have the boats running again around noon. The Massachusetts State Police reported responding to scores of spinouts on Routes 90, 290, 90, 9, and 495 in a post overnight. “If you do not need to be on the roadways, avoid doing so,” State Police advised. The National Weather Service, in an update posted this morning, said the rain, sleet and snow, along with gusty winds will be winding down through the day. “It will feel more like early February today rather than early April with temps in the mid 30s, and wind chill values in the mid 20s,” the agency said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Rain, sleet and snow continue to impact the region early this morning. There was even some thunder snow/sleet currently impacting parts of western MA. pic.twitter.com/z0pdoS3fAH — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) April 4, 2024 Wind gusts across the state consistently hit marks above 40 miles an hour and into the 60s at locations on the coastline. A Revere Beach observer registered a gust a 60 miles per hour, according to the weather service, and the wind sock flapped in 55 mile an hour gusts recorded at Logan Airport. Snow and sleet totals ranged between 1-2  inches in most parts of the state, with higher totals out west and in Central Mass. An 8-inch reading was recorded in Hawley, in Franklin County.  Ashburnham, Hubbardston and Lunenburg, all in Worcester County, each

New Post: Gusty nor’easter sparks spinouts and power outages across state -A wind-whipped snowy, rainy nor’easter spawned dozens of spinouts and a least one jack-knifed trailer on the state’s treacherous roadways while downed trees and limbs sparked local power outages and caused other complications across Massachusetts. Speed limits on highways in the western and central parts of the state remain set at 40 miles an hour... A wind-whipped snowy, rainy nor’easter spawned dozens of spinouts and a least one jack-knifed trailer on the state’s treacherous roadways while downed trees and limbs sparked local power outages and caused other complications across Massachusetts. Speed limits on highways in the western and central parts of the state remain set at 40 miles an hour as the nor’easter continues to roar across the state. Power outages totaled 27,787 at about 9:30 this morning, according to the outage map compiled by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. More than 27,000 residents were without power Thursday morning as a spring nor’easter whipped across the state. (Screenshot, MEMA) MassDOT reports that over 1,000 pieces of snow and ice equipment are out scraping the highways with many times more that number deployed by cities and towns. A downed tree has blocked the tracks on the Mattapan Trolley. MBTA crews are working to clear the mess from the tracks near Cedar Grove. While they work, shuttle buses are in place between Ashmont and Mattapan. The whipping winds have also prompted the MBTA to cancel morning ferry services. The T said it expects to have the boats running again around noon. The Massachusetts State Police reported responding to scores of spinouts on Routes 90, 290, 90, 9, and 495 in a post overnight. “If you do not need to be on the roadways, avoid doing so,” State Police advised. The National Weather Service, in an update posted this morning, said the rain, sleet and snow, along with gusty winds will be winding down through the day. “It will feel more like early February today rather than early April with temps in the mid 30s, and wind chill values in the mid 20s,” the agency said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Rain, sleet and snow continue to impact the region early this morning. There was even some thunder snow/sleet currently impacting parts of western MA. pic.twitter.com/z0pdoS3fAH — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) April 4, 2024 Wind gusts across the state consistently hit marks above 40 miles an hour and into the 60s at locations on the coastline. A Revere Beach observer registered a gust a 60 miles per hour, according to the weather service, and the wind sock flapped in 55 mile an hour gusts recorded at Logan Airport. Snow and sleet totals ranged between 1-2  inches in most parts of the state, with higher totals out west and in Central Mass. An 8-inch reading was recorded in Hawley, in Franklin County.  Ashburnham, Hubbardston and Lunenburg, all in Worcester County, each

Strong storms overnight rolled through the west side of Michigan. More storms are predicted today throughout the state. Please stay safe. Here are ways to check outages and some safety tips from Consumers Energy The public can check the status of outages at https://lnkd.in/gcHX9Jgz. They can also sign up to get outage alerts and restoration times sent to a phone, email or text message, Text ‘REG' to 232273 or visit https://lnkd.in/gR2S6TQR. Consumers Energy urges the public to keep important safety tips in mind: Be alert to crews working along roadsides. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past. Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and to report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines actually slows down the restoration process for everyone. Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas Consumers Energy will trim or remove trees interfering with electric restoration activities. Once safe to do so, clean-up of debris from tree trimming or removal during a storm emergency is the responsibility of individual property owners. In some cases, the mast that holds the electric service wires to a home or business may have been damaged or torn away. Crews will reconnect the wires to a home, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or a cable.

DISASTER PLANNING: EVs a "+" & '-': Spending many of my years in an urban city located on one of the more distant rocks at the end of the world's supply chain...having an EV was both a boon and bust for any major disaster that might hit Honolulu...initially our EV would be a major problem (refilling its battery from the public power grid vs an ICE with a full tank of gas) but if the disaster went longer than a week then it would likely be a benefit as I could use my web of connections to find a friend with a home PV system to recharge it...plus riding 1 of our 1000+ bikes at our solar powered stations. Then the "toilet paper and pasta and rice supply chain" would be my next problem to solve! https://lnkd.in/e7G-rkDZ

As a resident of North Carolina, the impact of Storm Helene hits close to home, especially as I live just a couple of hours from some of the hardest-hit areas. The storm has caused significant damage to infrastructure, leading to prolonged power outages and disrupted services in nearby communities. Recovery efforts are ongoing and will require substantial time and resources. From an economic perspective, disasters like Storm Helene highlight the profound implications for local economies and infrastructure investments. Estimates suggest total losses may reach between $225 billion and $250 billion, severely impacting the energy sector, utilities, agriculture, and industries such as tourism and technology. Utility companies are primarily focused on restoring power lines and repairing damaged transformers, poles, and substations. The need for essential materials is crucial for effective recovery. Key items include: 1. Power poles and transformers for infrastructure restoration 2. Conductors and compression splices to reconnect damaged lines 3. Insulators for safe electrical function 4. Generators to provide temporary power 5. Repair trucks and equipment for field repairs In light of increasing storm severity, building safety stock, conducting regular stock reviews, and implementing accurate forecasting are vital strategies for maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing supply chain risks. Safety stock mitigates unforeseen events, while regular reviews allow us to adapt to market changes and maintain optimal inventory levels. Additionally, effective forecasting based on historical data is essential for informed purchasing decisions and reducing stockout risks. While this week has been challenging for many, it underscores the importance of preparedness. Communities and organizations must enhance their resilience and develop robust response plans to better handle future emergencies. 🩷 Marcela McClain

CUB is closely monitoring We Energies' $200M proposal to prevent storm outages. “It’s clear that the storms have gotten more intense, and we certainly recognize that,” he said. “But the devil’s always in the details in terms of how much is gonna be warranted in terms of an increase.” Content estimates that We Energies’ requested rate increase would translate into a 18.5 percent increase for residential customers over two years. “The compound effect of the two increases is the fact that customers just experienced a double digit increase,” Content said. “The impact is really increasing customers’ bills by almost a third in just a span of three to four years.” CUB is dedicated to ensuring these costs are justified and fair to consumers, who have already faced significant rate hikes recently. Read more about our stance on this proposal: https://lnkd.in/dyr7r_BK

Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis cautioned both residents and first responders about the heightened fire hazard posed by EVs, hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell products. His warning follows incidents from previous storms where floodwaters triggered battery fires, including 48 incidents related to Hurricane Helene. Lithium-ion battery fires can occur days or even weeks after exposure to saltwater. Given this, residents in surge zones were advised to move EVs and other battery-powered devices to higher ground to reduce the risk of fire. After the storm, any submerged vehicles should be relocated away from homes to prevent fires. Lithium-ion batteries are not only dangerous when they come into contact with salt water. They are also the fastest growing cause of fire. With our certified RACLAN boxes, the risk of a destructive fire, as well as contamination by hydrofluoric acid, is eliminated. Anything that is dangerous to people, animals and the environment does not leave the box. For more information about our RACLAN boxes, please contact our premium partner for North America Lithium Containment Solutions https://lnkd.in/dkdcPCvx

The Next For Texas Power Grid CenterPoint Energy will speed up its plans to trim trees, replace utility poles and increase communication with its customers ahead of future storms in Southeast Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Aug. 1. Abbott said he met with CenterPoint executives for over two hours Aug. 1 and ordered them to complete the bulk of their proposal by the end of the month. The governor directed the utility company to overhaul its policies July 14 and threatened executive action if they did not make changes. “Their proposal was inadequate,” Abbott wrote on social media Aug. 1. “More must be done, and it must be completed faster.” What you need to know CenterPoint will clear tree branches and other vegetation from 2,000 miles of “higher risk” power lines by Aug. 31, according to the proposal. The company originally planned to complete this project by the end of the year. Since the storm, CenterPoint has nearly doubled its vegetation management crews to about 1,000 workers. CenterPoint will also use “damage modeling” to more efficiently dispatch vegetation workers after future storms, according to the plan. The company is expected to replace about 1,000 utility poles by the end of August, which was also originally scheduled for the end of the year. The plan says CenterPoint will meet with emergency management officials and representatives of local critical care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, about their emergency preparedness plans by Aug. 9. Abbott’s meeting with CenterPoint follows a tense week of legislative hearings over the utility’s response to Hurricane Beryl. Members of a special Texas Senate committee grilled CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells for hours July 29, and House lawmakers from the Greater Houston area shared how the days long power outages affected their communities July 31.

The power grid go underground after last week storm? That is the question. At cost of 10 times that of above ground wires. What’s the return on investment for life insurance policies? For resiliency, preparedness, and risk mitigation for business and life continuity? After the storm outages, should Houston’s power grid go underground? https://lnkd.in/gwyXwHZQ