Mass. utility crews prepared for power outages

FOXBORO, Mass. (WHDH) -- Utility crews prepared for driving wind and snow to cause power outages throughout the region.

Friday morning, lights were on in Foxboro and snow had only just begun to fall. For many New England residents, it’s not the snow that worries them, but the power outages. Foxboro went without power for days after Hurricane Irene and about 75 percent of the town had no power after Superstorm Sandy. In those two storms, residents dealt with warmer temperaturess but if they lose power and heat in Friday’s blizzard, it promised to be cold.

Utility companies said they're prepared. National Grid had crews and trucks on the road and NStar emergency center in full operation. Crews were in areas they expected to be hit hardest so workers would be able to get to damage as soon as possible. Customers hope crews are able to restore power quickly if there are issues because of the storm.

“I hope they're doing enough to get ready because there were, from what I’ve heard, a lot of complaints last time about them not responding fast enough,” said resident Larry Morse.

Crews that deal with tree removal from other states were also standing by, ready to move into Massachusetts as soon as the storm came through. One of the expected problems is the wind. Crews can't get any of the power lines restored if we're dealing with gusts so even if they're in place, they have to deal with the conditions of the storm as they come in, and wait until it’s safe to repair damage and return power to residents.