Put Safety First During Winter Weather

Wake Electric is prepared to respond to any winter weather impacts, and you should also take steps to prepare before a storm appears in the forecast. Winter in North Carolina brings the potential for snow and ice and with that, the possibility of outages increase as power lines are weighed down by wintry precipitation. Be prepared by making safety a priority during power outages:

• Winter storms can bring down trees and power lines. Please remember to stay away from any downed lines (including power, telephone or cable) and call 911 to report them immediately.
• Do not touch any object that is in contact with downed power lines — especially objects that can transmit electricity such as water or metal.
• Never drive your car over power lines. If a power line falls over your vehicle while you are driving, stay inside your vehicle until you receive appropriate help.
• If you use a portable generator, isolate it from our power lines. Generators that are not isolated can feed back into the utility company’s electrical system and possibly electrocute anyone coming into contact with those wires.
• Be extra careful when using kerosene heaters and fireplaces.
• Limit refrigerator and freezer door openings to prevent food spoilage.
• Never use outdoor grills or gas-powered generators inside or in attached garages. This could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly.
• Turn off large appliances that come on automatically as well as appliances you were using when the outage occurred. Disconnect sensitive electronics to avoid damage from surges or lightning strikes.
• In extreme weather, it’s better to keep off the roads unless it’s an absolute emergency. If you must travel, please be careful passing power restoration crews working. Because of the location of many power lines, utility employees frequently work along roadsides.
• If you see crews working in your area, please don’t go near them. They are working in dangerous
• Your distraction could present a hazard to you and the crew and slow power restoration progress.

To learn more about how you can be prepared for inclement weather and power outages, visit: ncstormcenter.coop