Last Updated on January 13, 2015 5:02 pm
Employees of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are prepared to respond and are on high alert for the winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service for the cooperative’s service area.
Members are advised to be prepared and keep the PowerLine outage reporting number handy: 1-800-448-2383. Power outages can occur when ice accumulates on power lines or when tree branches break onto lines. The cooperative reminds the public to be cautious of downed power lines. If you see a line lying on the ground, assume it is energized and deadly. Steer clear and do not drive over it. Call your electric cooperative or 911 to report the situation.
At BlueRidgeEMC.com, members can find an online Storm Room under the News Tab complete with preparedness and safety tips, videos, and other resources such as the cooperative’s online outage map that shows any occurring outages with estimated times of power restoration.
Members can prepare for this winter weather event by being prepared {Video tip here} and making sure there’s a way to stay warm if the power does go out. Dress in layers and make an emergency kit that includes the following items located in a central area that each member of the household can locate quickly:
- Flashlights and fresh batteries
- Radio with fresh batteries if needed for weather and news reports
- Blankets, sleeping bags, quilts
- Extra water for drinking and cooking
- Nonperishable food items, along with disposable plates and utensils and a manual can opener
- A grill with extra propane or charcoal and lighter fluid for cooking (not to be used for indoor heating purposes due to dangerous carbon monoxide fumes).
- Battery operated clock
- For babies, extra formula and diapers
- Thermos to keep liquids warm
- A non-cordless phone–it’s likely to operate even when power is out
- First aid kit, including prescription medications
- Emergency telephone numbers such as Blue Ridge Electric's PowerLine, local emergency management, police and hospital
- If someone in the home is dependent upon electric-powered life-sustaining equipment, it’s a good idea to have an emergency evacuation plan or a standby power generator in place.
- Have electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops and tablets fully charged
For more information, visit www.BlueRidgeEMC.com. During widespread outages, the cooperative also provides information on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/blueridgeemc and Twitter: www.twitter.com/blueridgeemc.
