Staying ahead of a storm

Staying ahead of a storm

The first rule of storm response – always be prepared. Our team works hard all year round to prepare for storms and power interruptions in a safe and timely manner.

See below for some of the measures our team takes to prepare for storms, as well as tips to help you prepare your home for a storm or hurricane so you can protect your loved ones and your possessions:

• We manage vegetation to prevent trees and limbs from taking down power lines during storms.
• We inspect, maintain, and replace our poles as necessary.
• We monitor forecasts and start preparing early when a major storm is forecast.
• We stock up on supplies and fuel our vehicles to get them ready to roll.

• Prepare a storm kit with candles, matches, first-aid supplies, a flashlight, and a manual can opener.
• Maintain a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water, along with any medications you need. Stock up on batteries too.
• Visit your local operating company site, and register for outage alerts.
• Fuel up your vehicles and charge your electronic devices. Consider buying portable chargers and make sure they are charged.

More safety tips

Before the storm

• Use a battery-operated radio, TV, or NOAA weather radio to monitor weather forecasts and information from state and local officials.
• Maintain a plan to move family members to a safe location in case an extended power outage occurs or evacuation is required.
• Review insurance policies and include copies of the policies and other important documents in your emergency supply kit in a waterproof container.
• Pet owners should arrange to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets, friends’ or family members’ homes, or pet-friendly hotels.

After the storm

• Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs, or anything in contact with lines.
• If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you must get out due to a fire or life-threatening situation, jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground