Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:30 p.m.

Dear Members of the Community,

As of 6:30 p.m., PSNH reports that about 224,000 customers are without

power, a decrease from the 313,000 customers reported at 8 a.m. today.

Power Restoration: Progress is Steady

With the support of about 180 PSNH and contract line crews and over 120

tree-trimming crews, more than 500 outage troubles have been repaired in

communities throughout the state. (An outage trouble is defined as all of

the repairs on a section of line that must be made to restore customers’

power).

PSNH’s restoration efforts were fortified today with the addition of over

35 crews from NStar and Connecticut Light & Power. The company’s power

restoration workforce will be enhanced further tomorrow with over 120

additional crews from Maryland, Ohio, and Canada, who have been traveling

today and will be arriving throughout the evening and early morning.

Understandably, customers who have been without power are anxious to know

when it will be restored. At this time, PSNH is unable to provide precise

answers to individual locations, given the magnitude of the damage and

debris that must be removed before wires and equipment can be reconnected

or replaced. PSNH continues to expect that it will take several days before

power to all customers is restored, and I strongly encourage customers

without power to make alternative arrangements for shelter.

Public Safety - A Top Priority

As the restoration effort is underway, public safety continues to be a top

priority. Customers are asked to refrain from cutting trees and branches

that are on top of or touching power lines. Always assume downed wires are

energized, and notify PSNH of their location immediately. Please remind

children outside to avoid any wire that is on the ground or hanging near

the ground, and to notify a grownup if a downed or loose wire is seen.

The town has established a shelter at the Oyster River High School and it will remain open though mid day on sunday and possibly longer if needed.

Friday December 12, 2008 8:30 PM

Dear Members of the Community,

Our various Town departments have been active since around 10 p.m. Thursday,12/11/08, addressing the ice storm and subsequent widespread power outage experienced by Durham and the region. While on Friday morning we had about 98% of the Town without power, it has been restored to UNH and downtown Durham, as well as to scattered areas throughout the community. Anticipating the outside temperature to drop to around 15 degrees this weekend, we worked with the Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Oyster River Cooperative School District to open a regional shelter at the Oyster River High School offering shelter, food, and warm showers. It opened at around 3 p.m. Friday, 12/12/08, and will remain open until no longer needed. Public Service of New Hampshire estimates 3-4 days until power is fully restored.

Although on Friday morning approximately 20 roadways were closed, all major arteries to the community have now been reopened. Many roads remain partially blocked. The Public Works Department has engaged the assistance of the Orion Tree Service which has worked closely with Town crews throughout the day Friday. A tree clearing crew will return Saturday morning to continue clearing debris from roadways. The Police Department has been active, as has the Fire Department with ongoing calls for service and assistance.

Two important recommendations for residents: 1) Stay clear of downed power lines as they may be active and should be considered extremely dangerous. 2) If installing a portable generator, be certain to install it according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Improperly installed and/or ventilated generators can cause fires and omit CO2 into the household which can cause deaths.

If residents are in need of assistance, they should contact the Durham Police Department at 868-2324.