When ice or heavy snows bring down power lines, stay safely away from the downed lines and use these tips to weather the storm: 

• Keep a battery-powered radio or TV, flashlights and a supply of fresh batteries. You should also have water, blankets and non-perishable food.
• When power goes out, it can come back in spikes. This can damage electronics. Keep your electronics safe by unplugging them. Leave one lamp or switch on as a signal for when your power returns.
• 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.
• 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.

Central posts outage updates to social media. Search for MyCentralCoop to stay up to date with the latest outage information.