Engineers from Electricity North West are on standby as Storm Gerrit hits the region today with strong winds likely to cause power cuts.
Emergency response plans have been stood up, the energy firm said, so teams can be ready to respond if the network is damaged.
Some areas will experience gusts throughout the day, but peak gusts are expected from 6pm and overnight.
Storm Gerrit is the fourth major weather incident Electricity North West has responded to this month and incident manager, Mark Mercer, said: “We’ve been monitoring the forecast daily and adapted our preparations to ensure we’re ready for when the bad weather hits.
“We cut trees all year to clear them from power lines, but strong winds can still cause damage and blow other debris into the network which can cause power cuts.
“The key thing during a storm is to keep everybody safe. If you see any damaged equipment, then stay well clear as it could still be live. Call us on 105 and we will send engineers to make it safe, or if there’s a life-threatening situation call 999.”
Electricity North West also said it offered extra support to customers who may find power cuts more difficult through its Extra Care Register. For more information and to register yourself or a friend or family member for free, visit www.enwl.co.uk/extracare.
It added people can prepare ahead of possible power cuts by charging phones and laptops, getting blankets and torches ready and speaking with neighbours or family members so you know what to do
