News

By: Brad Castor, President/CEO

Springtime brings many favorite activities like cooking outdoors, working in the yard or garden and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. Unfortunately, spring and summer can also create the perfect conditions for severe storms.

Rich Mountain Electric crews are always prepared and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When severe storms cause power disruptions, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness.

• Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonperishable food, including canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (such as diapers and toiletries).
• Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies, including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer.
• Ensure your First Aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current.
• Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV.
• Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location.

In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from potential power surges and will also help prevent overloading circuits during power restoration. That said, do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.

If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely.

Severe storms can occasionally bring down power lines. If you see a downed line, always assume it’s energized and never approach it. If flooding occurs, never walk through areas where power lines could be submerged.

Advance planning for severe storms can reduce stress and anxiety caused by the weather event and lessen the impact of the storm’s effects.

Report outages by calling (877) 828-4074 or (479) 394-4140. Visit ready.gov for additional resources.