Long Island, NY - September 16, 2015 - Severe weather is a regular occurrence in the northeast United States, particularly over recent years. During National Preparedness Month in September, National Grid continues its efforts to improve emergency plans and encourages customers to do the same.

“Safety is our top priority year round,” said Ken Daly, National Grid New York President. “This month in particular, we’re reminding our customers of the importance to plan for emergencies so they know what’s needed to take care of themselves and their families, and to help others in their communities.”

To help customers prepare for emergencies, National Grid offers the following tips:

Build an emergency supply kit. Include basic tools and survival items such as water, nonperishable food, first aid materials, prescriptions, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio. For a complete list of recommended Emergency Supply Toolkit items, visit www.ready.gov.

Consider location-based plans. Emergencies and disasters can occur anywhere, so have a plan and supplies for the places you and your family frequent. These include home, work, school, vehicles, places of worship, shopping areas and entertainment locations like theaters and arenas. Questions to consider: how will you get to a safe place? How will you contact one another if separated? Visit here to download, complete and share the Family Emergency Plan.

Plan for known risks. Identify the potential risks or hazards where you live. Residents in areas with significant snowfall may plan for snowstorms, while those who live along the coast may be more affected by hurricanes. Also, you should understand and plan for the possibilities of having to stay put for a while or evacuate. For more information on risk planning, visit here.

Know your community’s plan. Find out how your local government communicates with residents in an emergency. Possibilities include radio/TV broadcasts, telephone, door-to-door notifications or a community siren. Get informed now so you can stay informed when it counts.

Stay connected to National Grid. Customers can go here on a mobile device or download the National Grid mobile app from iTunes or Google Play, to view outage maps, report or check the status of an outage and view restoration information by area. The app and mobile site also features important safety tips, frequently asked questions and contact information for National Grid’s customer service team. Customers also can get storm information through:

• Broadcast Text Alerts: Opt-in by texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). Once customers opt in and verify their location, they will receive state-specific updates.
• Email Alerts: After signing up, customers can find several self-service options, including easy access to outage reporting, e-billing and more. Customers can opt out of email alerts at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of all National Grid emails.
• Social Media: Follow National Grid on Twitter and search for National Grid on Facebook for news specific to your service area or National Grid in general.
• Outage Central: National Grid provides real-time details on restoration efforts, safety tips and more through its Outage Central webpage. Here, customers can sign up for text and email alerts, stay informed through Facebook and Twitter and report or check on power outages. Also included is the video, “Power Outages: Preparation and Restoration,” featuring a comprehensive look at the steps National Grid takes to prepare for and prevent outages.

Seek other mobile resources. The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Association offer downloadable mobile apps for first aid, finding shelter and disaster assistance. Visit Red Cross and FEMA for more information or to download apps. To view the American Red Cross “Be Red Cross Ready module,” visit here.

Get involved. Act before disaster strikes. Find opportunities to support community readiness through volunteering with disaster preparation and relief efforts, taking part in the community planning process and showing support by donating funds or goods which may help the needs of your community in times of disaster.

In addition to emergency preparedness efforts and working around the clock to restore power during an emergency, National Grid works closely with the American Red Cross to prepare our communities. As part of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, National Grid coordinates with the Red Cross and first responders to address the basic needs of its customers during an emergency, such as food, shelter and water. The Annual Disaster Giving Program allows the Red Cross to help communities prepare for, and recover from, natural disasters. With the support from National Grid and other companies, the Red Cross is able to respond to nearly 70,000 disasters each year.

For more information on National Preparedness Month, and how you can get started with a plan and emergency toolkit, visit www.ready.gov or Red Cross. Customers can reach National Grid directly through its toll-free customer service line at 1-800-642-4272.

About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.

Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).