In The Event A Storm Causes Outages

As your local TV, phone and internet company, we understand how important it is for you to stay connected. So, for up-to-the-minute coverage if and when a major storm hits, visit news12.com. If unpreventable service outages do occur, restoring your Optimum services will always be our top priority. Without power your Optimum services won't work at your home or business. But you can stay connected using these helpful tips.

• Have your Optimum ID handy, as it's key to staying connected. Don't have an Optimum ID? Click here to create one. Forgotten yours? No problem, click here.
• Forward your Optimum Voice home phone calls to any other phone by simply enabling the Call Forwarding "Back-Up Phone" feature. Click here for instructions.
  
• Access the internet at over 47,000 active Optimum hotspots. To find a hotspot in your area, click here.
• DVR Plus customers can still program their DVR Plus remotely and record shows even without having power. They'll be waiting for you once your service is restored. Simply click here.
• Watch some of your favorite shows and channels with TV to GO. Just visit www.optimum.net/tvtogo.

What You Should Know About Optimum Service Restoration

Optimum services require electrical power to operate. This includes power to devices in the home like TVs, set-top boxes and cable modems. It also includes power to the Cablevision network facilities and equipment located in your area.

If you lose electrical power to your home for an extended period of time, your Optimum services will not work.

If electricity to your home has been restored and you are still unable to access Optimum services it could be because the power that feeds our network in your area comes from a different source than the power that feeds your home. Or, restoring your service may require repairs, even down to the connection between your home and the nearest utility pole.

If you have power, but cannot access your Optimum TV, phone or internet, we need to know as soon as possible in order to restore your service.

With blizzard warnings all over the news, we need to be prepared. If you are prepared with food (items that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water) and water (one gallon of water per person per day for at least 5 days), an emergency can be an inconvenience instead of a disaster. Everyone has a personal responsibility to be prepared. Creating an emergency plan ahead of time for you and your family will help you stay organized if a major storm strikes.

Your emergency plan should include a communication system (see below), disaster supply kit (see below), and an alternate meeting place if your home is unsafe. Depending on the severity of the storm, you may need to evacuate where you live. When instructions are given to evacuate by the proper authorities, you will be directed to a temporary, emergency refuge that will provide a safe haven for the duration of the storm. However, it is recommended that you first try to seek refuge with a friend or family member located away from the affected area. You will likely be more comfortable on a friend's couch than on a cot in a shelter.

For residential customers, it is strongly recommended that you install a back-up battery for your Optimum modem, so, in the event of a utility power outage, your Optimum Voice service will continue to function. For business customers, keep your modem plugged into the outlet where it was installed by the technician at all times. We advise not to turn the modem on and off to ensure the battery remains fully charged at all times. Turning the modem on and off will degrade the capacity of the battery, reducing the time that the modem can operate in the event of a utility power outage.

Have at least one traditional corded, landline telephone in your home that does not require electricity to operate. During a power outage, provided there is a battery backup on your modem, simply plug the phone into a jack, and you'll have phone service. Cordless phones require a separate power source to operate. In addition to your home phone service, have a working mobile phone that is programmed with emergency contact numbers, such those of the police department, fire department, local hospital and close family members. If you have Optimum Voice service, you can also forward your calls to the mobile phone before a severe storm knocks out power. Note that during an emergency, more people are trying to use their mobile phones at the same time, so you may receive either a fast busy signal or slow dial tone when attempting to make a call. In this case, try sending a text message to the person you need to reach. During emergencies, text messages often go through quicker than voice calls because less network resources are needed.

Everyone should have an emergency supply kit in the event of a blizzard or major storm. Put the following items into a smaller, portable container, such as a backpack or duffel bag, in case you need to evacuate your home. Keep it by your front door or another exit in case of an emergency evacuation. Kits should sustain you and each member of your household for up to five days.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Use extreme caution with electric space heaters. Keep them at least a few feet away from anything flammable, such as drapes, bed sheets or blankets. Never place them on top of furniture or near water, and never let children play unattended around them.
• Keep a fire extinguisher close by the area in which you plan to use a space heater or kerosene heater.
• Use your fireplace, wood stove or other similar heater only if it is properly ventilated and does not leak gas into your home's indoor air space.
• Conserve heat and fuel, if necessary, by temporarily closing off heat to unused rooms.
• Eat regularly and drink plenty of water, but avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages, or try soups or broths.
• If you use an electric generator, make sure you keep it outdoors, never bring a generator indoors and connect appliances to it using only heavy-duty, outdoor-ready cords.
• If you experience a power failure, use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns instead of candles whenever possible.
• If you do use candles, never leave them unattended when lit.
• Wear warm clothing in multiple layers as needed.
• Monitor body temperature, both your own and your family members'. Because infants younger than a year old lose body heat more easily than adults, make sure they wear warm clothing and try to keep your home warm inside if you have an infant at home. If you cannot maintain a warm temperature inside your home, try to make alternative arrangements.
• For adults age 65 and over, maintaining body heat during severe cold can be a concern, thanks to their lower metabolism. Check the temperature in your home often during a winter storm, and check in frequently with older friends and neighbors to ensure they stay warm.
• Drip all faucets in your home continuously during severe cold, including kitchen and bathroom sinks as well as shower and tub faucets, to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
• Open cabinet doors around pipes (especially in bathrooms) to allow warmer air to circulate around water pipes.
• If your pipes have already frozen, don't try to thaw them out with a torch or other flame. Instead, use a hair dryer to slowly thaw them out.
• Use bottled water if instructed by your local emergency management authorities.

Safety Tips for Outdoors

• Wear multiple layers of clothing to stay warm, as well as a hat, scarf, mittens, a water-resistant jacket and boots.
• Make sure you stay as dry as possible, as water against the skin from wet clothing can chill the body quickly.
• If you need to de-ice or refuel your car, or use a snow blower, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin. These will cause your body to lose heat outdoors more quickly.
• Don't ignore shivering. If you shiver persistently while you're outdoors, it's a sign that you need to return inside.
• Avoid over-exerting yourself while shoveling snow or performing any other hard work or heavy lifting. Extreme cold puts extra strain on your heart and cardiovascular system, so heed your doctor's advice if you have experienced any signs of heart disease or high blood pressure in the past. If don't have to do outdoor chores in the cold, wait until the storm passes and the outside temperature warms up.
• Avoid ice wherever possible. It's extremely easy to fall on ice-covered pavement, sidewalks, stairs and curbs, and many winter weather injuries occur every year on icy surfaces like these. Use rock salt or other de-icing chemicals to keep your porch, driveway and sidewalk as free of ice as possible, or spread sand to reduce the risk of slipping.

Travel Safety Tips

• Stay on main roads and highways, and stick to the flattest roads you can. Avoid hills and roads with sloping surfaces wherever possible.
• Drive only during daylight hours, and avoid driving alone if you can.
• Bring blankets with you to keep warm in case you become stranded. Also bring bottled water or warm beverages, to avoid becoming dehydrated.
• Let family members know where you're going and when you're expected to return.
• If a snowstorm or blizzard forces you to stop, pull off the highway and turn on your hazard lights. If you have a distress flag or sticker, hang it from your radio antenna or apply it to your window. Remain in your car, where rescuers are most likely to find you.
• If you're stranded for an extended period of time, run your engine for about 10 minutes every hour to stay warm. Open a window slightly for ventilation while the car is running, to prevent any carbon monoxide buildup. Remove any snow that builds up on your car's exhaust pipe.
• If you have to spend the night in your car, turn on the interior overhead light so rescuers or work crews can see you.

• Stay away from downed or sagging power lines, and do not touch anything that is on or near a power line (i.e. trees or tree limbs, cars, ladders).
• Keep children and family pets away from areas where lines may have fallen (backyards, fields, school yards, etc.).
• If a power line falls across a car that you're in, stay in the car.
• Report all power line hazards to your power company or your local emergency services department or agency.

Ways to Stay Informed

Helpful Resources:

What To Listen For:

Freezing Rain: Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees and power lines.

Sleet: Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.

Winter Weather Advisory: Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. When caution is used, these situations should not be life threatening.

Winter Storm Watch: A winter storm is possible in your area. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for more information.

Winter Storm Warning: A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area.

Blizzard Warning: Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.

Frost/Freeze Warning: Below freezing temperatures are expected.

Local Utility Information

New York
For Nassau and Suffolk Counties	www.lipower.org/stormcenter/outages/outagemap.html
For Rockland, Waldwick/Ramsey, Nanuet, Tuxedo, and Warwick	apps.coned.com/stormcenter_external_oru/default.html
For Bronx, Brooklyn, and Westchester	apps.coned.com/stormcenter_external/default.html
New Jersey
For Essex, Mercer, Middelsex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passiac, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren Counties	outages.firstenergycorp.com/nj.html
For Bergen, Hudson, Orange, Passaic, Pike, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties	apps.coned.com/stormcenter_external_oru/default.html
Connecticut
For Fairfield, New Haven, Bridgeport, Milford, and Litchfield	www.uinet.com/
For Norwalk and Stamford	www.cl-p.com/outage/mobile.aspx