Preparing for an Outage
When storms, ice or heavy snow bring down limbs and power lines, safety is a consideration indoors and out. Make sure you know how to weather the storm. When outside, stay away from downed power lines. A power line does not need to be sparking or arcing to be energized. Equipment near power lines can also be energized and dangerous.
Lines that appear to be “dead” can become energized as crews work to restore power, or sometimes from improper use of emergency generators. Assume all low and downed lines are energized and dangerous. If you see a downed or sagging line, contact your utility. Motorists should never drive over a downed line as snagging a line could pull down a pole or other equipment and cause other hazards. Be careful approaching intersections where traffic or crossing lights may be out. If you plan to use a generator, know how to operate it safely.
Before a storm, you should have supplies on hand:
- Always keep a battery-powered radio or TV, flashlights, and a supply of fresh batteries. You should also have water and non-perishable food.
- When power goes out, it often comes back in spikes. This can damage electronics. Keep your electronics safe by unplugging them when the power goes out. Leave one lamp or switch on as a signal for when your power returns.
During a winter storm:
- To prevent water pipes from freezing, keep faucets turned on slightly so that water drips from the tap. Know how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.
- Never use a charcoal grill to cook or heat with inside the home. Burning charcoal gives off deadly carbon monoxide gas. Charcoal grills should only be used outdoors.
- If you live with a child or elderly person, you may need to take them somewhere with power so they can stay warm. If you are healthy enough to stay home safely, there are ways to stay warm: stay inside and dress warmly in layered clothing.
- Close off unneeded rooms.
- When using an alternate heat source, follow operating instructions, use fire safeguards and be sure to properly ventilate.
When outages occur, Central posts updates to its social media pages. The Central Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/MyCentralCoop. The SmartHub app also lets members view their electricity use, pay their bill and report an outage from a computer or smart phone. Members can sign up for SmartHub by visiting http://MyCentral.smarthub.coop.