MAYS LANDING, N.J. - The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the region that calls for snow, sleet, rain and gusty winds that could affect the company's service territory tonight through the weekend. Atlantic City Electric continues to reach out to customers to encourage them to prepare for the possibility of multi-day power outages as a result of Winter Storm Jonas.

Atlantic City Electric contacted individual customers who have registered with the company as needing electricity for critical medical equipment and advised them to review their plans and to take appropriate action as necessary to ensure their safety and well-being.

Atlantic City Electric will work around the clock to restore any outages as safely and quickly as possible, however, customers should prepare for the possibility of service interruptions which could last several days depending on the damage to the electric system.

In addition to internal crews available 24 hours a day throughout the weekend, Atlantic City Electric has overhead line contractors and tree crews for a total of approximately 460 line personnel available to assist in any restoration effort. For the safety of the overhead line personnel, if sustained winds reach 35 mph, work that requires raising a bucket/arm boom will be interrupted until it is safe for the crews to continue.

Atlantic City Electric coordinates with state, county and local emergency management officials during severe storm events. If requested, Atlantic City Electrical personnel will staff local Offices of Emergency Management that are activated. Our call centers are staffed and prepared for this event. 

High winds and heavy, wet snow can weigh down tree limbs and bring them into contact with power lines causing power outages. Wet snow can also adversely affect saturated soil and allow trees already weakened by previous storms to fall onto power lines and equipment, causing power outages. Outages can also occur due to drivers skidding into utility poles along icy and snow-covered roads.

Safety is our No. 1 priority. We urge our customers to stay clear of working crews and any wires hanging loose from poles or lying on the ground. Customers should always assume that downed wires are energized and avoid them. Customers are asked to immediately report a downed wire by calling 1-800-833-7476.

Customers should check their emergency supply kits and be prepared in case they do lose power. Emergency kits should include a battery-powered radio, flashlight, a first-aid kit, extra batteries, special needs items and medications, cash, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers. Customers should also keep at least a three-day supply of nonperishable foods and bottled water and have an adequate supply of prescription medicines or infant supplies available. Also, identify a safe alternate location in case of multi-day outages and tune to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.

In the event of a power outage, gather in a central room where you have alternative heat. At night, cover windows with drapes or blankets to minimize heat loss. During the day, open blinds to let sun warm the space. If the indoor temperature drops to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or below, open your faucets slightly so they constantly drip to prevent pipes from freezing. If candles and heaters are used, never leave unattended and watch children and pets that could knock them over.

If a portable generator is needed, follow the manufacturer's instructions and use only when necessary. Never run a generator indoors or inside an attached garage. Be sure to place the generator outside where deadly exhaust fumes will not enter into the home. Do not connect a generator directly to the home's wiring. If a generator is plugged into the electrical circuits of a home, power can back-feed into Atlantic City Electric's lines, which can injure or kill utility workers fixing downed power lines. It also can cause downed lines to re-energize.

We also ask customers to let us know if they lose their power. They can report outages by calling 1-800-833-7476, visiting www.atlanticcityelectric.com or through our mobile app, available for download at www.atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp. It's important that customers report their outages and request a call back to verify their power has been restored.