Preparing for Winter Weather

Preparing for Winter Weather

Protect Yourself from Winter Weather

Winter weather can be extremely harsh to our members and to our power lines. Prepare! Don't let a winter storm or power outage take you by surprise.


Winter Weather Preparedness Tips


Generator Safety

Portable or permanently installed standby generators can come in handy during long-term power outages. However, if you do not know how to use them properly, they can be dangerous. The best way to ensure you and the cooperative's line crews stay safe when you are using a generator is to educate yourself and plan ahead.

Be Prepared for Power Outages


Cooperative members should be prepared for times in which extended power outages may occur. Especially during times of extreme weather conditions like ice storms and tornadoes.

Prepare.


Plan.


Stay Informed.


Learn how to stay safe during a power outage with these tips from 
SafeElectricity.org & Ready.gov.


Remember, during an extended outage a number of individuals will be needing assistance at the same time. Some ways to be prepared are as follows:

Gather emergency supplies...

such as candles, matches, flashlights and batteries, a battery-operated radio, a manual can opener and canned food.

Keep an adequate supply of...

non-perishable food and water on hand. Fill all bath tubs and large pots with water in advance of the storm.

Know the location of...

the fuse box or circuit breaker in your home.

Learn how to...

reset the circuit if necessary or change a blown fuse.

Have a backup...

heating source such as a wood stove, fireplace or portable heater. This will help keep you warm and water pipes from freezing.

Identify the most...

insulated room in advance. That's where you and your family can gather if you need to stay warm.

If you have someone in your home...

with medical equipment, have a plan to move them to a safe place if the power is off for an extended period of time.

Turn off the circuit breaker...

for your HVAC system and water heater(s) to reduce a high demand for electricity once the power does come back on. This will help prevent an overload that can cause it to go off again.

Leave the front porch light on...

so you and line crews have a visual indicator your electricity has been restored.

Find out ahead of time...

how to manually override an electric garage door.

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