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Storm Room
Click here to view our new online Outage Mapping feature!
 Blue Ridge Electric strives to keep you informed and "connected" in the event of severe weather, outage, or emergency. The links below offer information on how to prepare for a storm or emergency, including safety tips and restoration procedures.
The links to your right also provide you quick access to the latest regional and national weather information and links to federal assistance organizations.
How to Report an Outage
- Outages: To report or inquire about power outages, call PowerLine at
1-800-448-2383.
- You may also contact your local district office.
- Downed power lines can still be energized—and therefore dangerous. If you see a downed power line, please call your local district office immediately.
Be Prepared . . .
Be prepared for bad weather and informed on restoration procedures by reviewing the following:
Food Safety and Power Outages . . .
USDA offers the following recommendations for maintaining food safety while the power is out.
- Never taste a food to determine its safety!
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperatures.
- Each time the door is opened, a significant amount of cold air is lost.
- The refrigerator will keep food cold safely for about four hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed.)
- Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40° F or below.
- Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for two days.
- If the power has been out for several days then check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40° F or below then the food is safe.
- If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer then check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals then the food is safe.
- Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after four hours without power.
- When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
24/7 Food Safety Hotline: 1.888.764.6854
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