RI Energy Warns About Upcoming Storms and High Winds
Rhode Island Energy (RIE) announced on Sunday that it is prepared for stormy weather expected to hit Rhode Island Sunday evening through Tuesday.
RIE warns that the storms will bring gusty winds, heavy rain, and potential thunderstorms to the region.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE — SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
The primary concerns associated with this storm include potentially hazardous wind gusts of up to 60 mph along the coast and 55 mph inland, along with heavy rainfall and potential thunderstorms.
Elevated wind gusts can damage trees and bring down power lines, causing outages in affected areas. Inclement weather is forecasted through Tuesday evening, with calmer weather anticipated on Wednesday.
“We have been tracking this storm for several days and have secured additional crews and personnel who stand ready to respond to any impacts the weather may bring,” said Kathy Castro, Vice President of Electric Operations at RIE. “In the event of outages, our crews and support teams will be working around the clock to restore service as quickly and safely as conditions allow.”
RIE has prepared for the storm by securing additional crews and personnel as part of the company’s emergency response operations and preparedness activities. This includes overhead and underground line workers for distribution and transmission restoration, tree-trimming crews, wires-down personnel, and substation workers. As forecasts evolve, the company will continue to assess resource needs and communicate with local officials, first responders, and life support customers
Crews will begin the restoration process when it is deemed safe to conduct work. For example, it is not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts.
