Utility crews gear up for power outages

BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) -- With the powerful winds expected in the upcoming storm, utility crews are gearing up for power outages.

Connecticut Light and Power tells News 8 its storm command center will be up and running at 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning.

On Wednesday there were a number of conference calls and crews getting ready, watching the weather forecast.

Power companies are also encourages customers to get ready. Do you have flashlights, bottled water and other things you may need in case the power goes out? CL&P says based on information they have gathered on the impending storm, power outages are a real possibility.

"The forecast is saying high winds and heavy wet snow. Those can cause problems. The wind or the wet snow pushing on the trees and the trees pushing on the power lines, which could potentially cause some problems so we are waiting, we are preparing and we are ready to go," said Mitch Gross of CL&P.

The CL&P spokesman also wants to remind customers if winds get up to 40 miles per hour, crews can't go up in those bucket trucks so if the power goes out in the storm, they are asking folks to be patient.