Be Prepared for Severe Weather: How to Report an Outage

For Immediate Release

Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; or E-mail: Renee Whitener

Lenoir, North Carolina (January 16, 2008) – Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation urges members to be prepared for severe winter weather predicted for tonight and lasting possibly into the weekend in some areas.

Be ready to report a power outage if electric service is interrupted due to ice, heavy snow or car accidents that sometimes affect power poles. The fastest way to report an outage to Blue Ridge Electric is by calling Powerline, the cooperative’s automated outage reporting and account information system, at 1-800-448-2383. Have your account number, address, and telephone number of the affected location nearby in case it’s needed.

Blue Ridge Electric employees are on high alert due to the pending weather forecast. Linemen and customer service representatives will be on call as needed, ready and prepared to respond to outages at any time of the night or day.

The cooperative’s work management center, which monitors the computerized equipment of the electric plant system including substations and power load, is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Stay safe and comfortable during a power outage by preparing ahead of time. If someone in your household is on oxygen or other life support equipment, have a contingency plan that includes battery back-up for equipment and how to re-locate to a safe place such as your local emergency management center if needed.

Additionally, have the following emergency supplies on hand:

Flashlight
Radio (to listen to weather updates and local news for outage restoration efforts)
Fresh batteries for the radio and flashlight and other needs
Charcoal or propane grill with charcoal and lighter or a supply of propane
Non-perishable food
Manual can opener
Blankets, sleeping bags, quilts
Wind-up or battery operated clock
Paper plates and plastic utensils
Gallon jugs filled with water for drinking and cooking. These also come in handy if you use a well for your water supply.
Formula and extra diapers for babies
Thermos for keeping drinks and baby formula warm
Extra medications you take regularly

If you see downed power lines, think “safety first”:

Stay far away from downed or dangling power lines. Assume that any line is conducting electricity and therefore dangerous or even deadly. Contact Blue Ridge Electric immediately if you see a downed power line. Try to keep others away from downed lines if possible. Finally, never drive a car over a downed power line. Call for help and wait for professional, emergency personnel to assist you.

Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned cooperative utility serving more than 70,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, and Alexander counties. Find more information at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com.