Be Prepared: Severe Weather May Cause Outages
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (November 18, 2003) – Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is on alert status due to severe weather predictions for strong winds, heavy rain, and thunderstorms forecast for Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning across its service territory of Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties.
Blue Ridge Electric is monitoring weather conditions via satellite and crews are on stand-by in the event of possible outages. Crews are also double-checking equipment and supplies that enable them to restore power as quickly as possible in the event of outages.
Blue Ridge Electric encourages members to think safety and be prepared. If members experience an outage, report it by calling the cooperative’s automated outage reporting system, Powerline, at 1-800-448-2383, or your local Blue Ridge Electric office.
Blue Ridge Electric offers the following tips for keeping safe and comfortable during an outage:
Keep the following emergency supplies on hand:
- Fresh batteries and a battery operated radio for the latest weather reports and power restoration updates.
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- If you have a well, bottled water and water for cooking
- Nonperishable food
- Manual can opener
- Wind-up or battery operated clock
- Extra blankets, sleeping bags, quilts
- Paper plates, cups and utensils
- A grill for cooking (along with extra charcoal and lighter, or extra propane). Be sure to use the grill outside your home to avoid a safety hazard or dangerous fumes.
- If you have a baby in the home, be sure to keep a thermos handy for keeping baby formula warm. Also have extra baby items such as diapers and formula in your home.
- A first aid kit and a list of emergency contact numbers
Prevent a Hazardous or Deadly Situation
- If you use a portable generator, make sure generators are safely connected. Back-feed into the utility system from improperly installed generators can harm or even kill a line technician who may be working on the lines to restore power. Improperly installed generators can also damage appliances. Be sure a qualified, licensed electrician installs a double-pole, double-throw transfer switch to connect the generator to the electrical system, which required by the National Electrical Code. The generator connection must also meet local ordinances. Contact a licensed electrician for more information.
- If you see downed power lines, stay away! Downed power lines can still be energized and therefore deadly. If you see a downed line, notify Blue Ridge Electric immediately. In addition, never touch anything that is in contact with a downed power line and never drive your vehicle across a downed power line. If a power line falls over your car while you are driving, stay inside your car until you receive appropriate help.
Blue Ridge Electric serves over 66,000 members in northwest North Carolina. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, provides propane, heating fuels, and commercial gasoline from offices in Lenoir, Boone, and West Jefferson.
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