Downed Power Lines Can Be Deadly: Think Safety

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 (February 1, 2008) – Today’s icy weather has led to several downed power lines across Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s service territory. The cooperative wants members to know that downed power lines can still be energized.

Any contact with a downed power line can result in injury or even death.

For your safety, Blue Ridge Electric asks you to report downed power lines immediately to the cooperative. You should stay far away from downed lines. And try to keep others far away until line technicians arrive.

If a power line falls on your vehicle while you’re inside, you should stay in your vehicle until emergency personnel can assist.

No one except a trained line technician should ever try to remove or handle a downed power line.

Downed power lines usually result in power outages. If Blue Ridge Electric members experience an interruption in service, they should report it by calling the cooperative’s Powerline at 1-800-448-2383.