Last Updated on January 5, 2017 5:11 pm
Lenoir, North Carolina (January 5, 2017) – Employees of Blue Ridge Energy are monitoring weather conditions and are prepared to respond should outages result from severe winter weather predicted for the cooperative’s service area of Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Wilkes and Alexander counties.
To report an outage, members should call the cooperative’s PowerLine at: 1-800-448-2383. Or, members can also report outages by using the new Blue Ridge mobile app available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
The following winter preparedness tips are provided to help members stay safe and comfortable in the event of outages:
- Create an emergency kit that includes the following items and is located in a central area that each member of the household can locate quickly:
- Flashlights
- NOAA Weather Radio (you may also be able to sign up in advance for notifications from your local emergency services)
- Fresh batteries
- Be sure cell phones and other electronics are charged or have fully charged battery back-ups
- 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 (not to be used indoors due to dangerous carbon monoxide fumes).
- Battery operated clock
- Thermos to keep liquids warm
- 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, have an emergency evacuation plan or a standby power generator in place
