September marks the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, when conditions are most favorable for tropical storms and hurricanes to develop. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a below-average season for this year, with the possibility of 8 to 14 named storms, but it only takes one bad storm to threaten reliability. Hurricane season may be when most members think about storms, but your cooperative starts preparing long before severe weather appears in the forecast.

All year-round, Wake Electric works across all our departments to strengthen the electric system, identify potential hazards and prepare to respond when severe weather strikes by:

• Inspecting poles and equipment. Annual ground and drone inspections help identify signs of rot, damage or aging equipment that may not otherwise be visible. Finding these issues early allows us to address them before high winds and heavy rain put additional strain on our infrastructure.
• Managing trees and vegetation. Regular right-of-way clearing helps reduce the risk of trees and limbs contacting or bringing down power lines during severe weather.
• Preparing crews, vehicles and materials. Trucks, tools and equipment are routinely inspected and maintained, while essential materials such as poles, wire and transformers are kept stocked and ready for use.
• Coordinating mutual aid. Wake Electric works with neighboring cooperatives in the state that can provide additional crews and equipment during major outages. If needed, support can also be requested from cooperatives nationwide.

Even with extensive preparation, hurricanes and severe summer storms can still bring down trees, break poles, damage equipment and make roads unsafe for crews. Restoration after storm damage can be a complicated and time-consuming process, which is why your cooperative is committed to keeping members informed throughout the process.

Members can stay prepared ahead of summer storms by downloading SmartHub and making sure their contact information is up to date. This helps ensure timely outage updates and restoration timelines are sent directly to you. Should widespread outages occur, Wake Electric also provides updates through our website and social media channels.