(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y. – National Grid will distribute dry ice and bottled water today to support customers affected by the damaging winter storm that impacted portions of upstate New York. More than 104,000 of 174,000 impacted customers in central and western New York have had service restored after a wintry mix of rain and snow, and winds in excess of 70 mph impacted the regions. The weather caused downed wires, trees, tree limbs, pole damage and other hazards.
Dry ice and bottled water distribution is a component of National Grid’s response. The company has deployed more than 3,500 line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety workers to assess and repair damage to the electric system, and they will work around the clock until the last customers are restored.
Distribution locations were selected for their accessibility by customers in communities impacted greatest by the storm. Customers are asked to bring a cooler or paper grocery bags to transport dry ice to their homes, and company personnel will provide information about its proper handling.
Dry Ice Distribution Sites open January 10-11, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Chautauqua County
Dunkirk Fire Training Center
665 Brigham Rd.
Dunkirk, NY 14048
Erie County
Town of Eden Police Dept.
2795 East Church St.
Eden, NY 14057
Additional distribution sites and times may be announced depending on community needs. New sites will be listed on National Grid’s Outage Map, on the company’s X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts, and announced to media via press releases.
What is dry ice?
Dry ice is manufactured by freezing carbon dioxide at very low temperatures until it reaches a solid form. Handle the dry ice very carefully — use gloves, a cloth, etc. to protect your hands while working with the dry ice. It is important to avoid any direct contact with the skin.
When transporting dry ice in your vehicle, remember that carbon dioxide buildup can be hazardous in a closed space. Rolling down windows and ensuring your vehicle’s ventilation system is not set to recirculate are two ways of preventing this buildup in the car. Additionally, always keep small children and pets at a safe distance from dry ice.
Using dry ice safely
Keep dry ice wrapped tightly in newspaper, paper bags, or towels when not in use to extend its shelf life and remain safe. To preserve refrigerated (not frozen) foods, place the dry ice at the very bottom of coolers, refrigerators or other insulated containers. Do NOT put food in direct contact with the dry ice.
To preserve frozen goods, set the dry ice on top of the frozen items. Do NOT allow foods directly the dry ice. Be sure to layer insulating material, such as cardboard or Styrofoam, between the dry ice and perishable items.
Dry ice is not edible; NEVER add it to a beverage or edible item.
When wrapped in an insulating container, small quantities of dry ice have an effective cooling time of roughly 24 hours. Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible also helps to preserve the food and further extend its cooling life.
When dry ice is unavailable, or if available quantities are only sufficient for preserving your frozen food, look into purchasing regular ice cubes, available at convenience stores, gas stations or other markets. For effective cooling techniques, place bags or containers of ice throughout the refrigerator or cooler. As with the dry ice, avoid direct contact with food.
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