Mt. Gilead, OH, June 12, 2013 at 2:00 pm: From a recent posting on Accuweather for central Ohio; "There is a likelihood of severe thunderstorms featuring damaging winds, hail and flash flooding from South Dakota to Illinois, Pennsylvania and West Virginia from Tuesday night to Wednesday night. Part of this area could be hit by an intense thunderstorm complex, known as a derecho. This particular pattern of thunderstorms has the potential to bring large complexes of thunderstorms spanning a 1,000-mile swath. These complexes often bring incidents of 60-mph wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes and flash flooding on a local to regional basis. The pattern can also bring a handful of incidents of tornadoes and large hail." If you have not already done so, please make preparations for a possible power outage. We will continue to provide updates as this storm progresses via our website, press releases and Facebook posts. Consolidated Electric offers the following tips for dealing with a power outage: • Downed power lines can be extremely dangerous! A downed power line could be energized. To avoid serious injury or even death, stay clear of all downed power lines. Keep others, including your pets, away from the line and do not try to touch, move or repair a downed power line. If you encounter a downed power line, call CEC at 800-421-5863. • If you are an electric member of CEC and if you experience a power outage, please call our outage reporting service at 866-567-2753. • If you are a natural gas or propane member of Bright Energy or Consolidated Gas and if you experience a gas emergency or damage to your service, please exit the area and move to a safe distance before placing a call to our control center at 866-946-6600. • If you have a smart phone or the ability to receive texts during a power outage, sign up for our outage texting service. Call our office first to register your cell phone number, 800-421-5863. • For an up-to-the-minute outage map and outage count, please visit outagewatch.consolidatedelectric.coop/ • Add CEC to your website favorites or become a fan of CEC on Facebook to find outage updates. • If utilizing an emergency generator, it is very important to operate your generator properly to avoid dangerous backfeeding that could potentially injure you and/or a utility lineworker. • Be extra cautious if you go outside to inspect for damage after a storm. Downed or hanging electrical wires can be hidden by trees or debris and could be live. Never attempt to touch or move downed lines. Keep children and pets away from them. Make sure you always have a well-stocked home emergency supply kit that includes flashlights, portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable food and a manual can opener. • Check with elderly or disabled relatives and neighbors to ensure their safety. • If you are in need of assistance please call 211 for information on community assistance such as food, water, shelter and cooling stations. If you have an emergency please call 911. • Ensure that your Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors are working correctly and have fresh batteries. Check your outside fuel exhaust vents, making sure that they are not obstructed. Never use cooking equipment intended for outside use indoors as a heat source or cooking device. • If your water supply could be affected by a power outage (a well-water pump system), fill your bathtub and spare containers with water. Water in the bathtub should be used for sanitation purposes only, not as drinking water. Pouring a pail of water from the tub directly into the bowl can flush a toilet. • During an outage, do not open the refrigerator or freezer door. Food can stay cold in a full refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and in a well-packed freezer for 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-packed). If you have medication that requires refrigeration, check with your pharmacist for guidance on proper storage during an extended outage. • In order to protect against possible voltage irregularities that can occur when power is restored, you should unplug all sensitive electronic equipment, including your TV, stereo, VCR, microwave oven, computer, cordless telephone, answering machine and garage door opener. Be sure to leave one light on, so you will know when power is restored. • Review the process for manually opening an electric garage door. Thank you in advance for your patience, Consolidated Electric Cooperative
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:11:57 +0000
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