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Severe weather can strike quickly and create a variety of dangerous situations. With this in mind, Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) suggested the following the safety tips:
Power lines
Always consider a power line to be energized even if it is on the ground. Do not touch a downed line or try to move it in any way. Call the police or your power company as soon as possible.
Generators
An electric generator can be helpful during a power outage. However, there are still safety issues to consider. Be sure to disconnect your house from the power company’s system. Doing this will ensure that your generator cannot feed electricity back into the system and protect workers who are working to restore service, as well as prevent the flow of electricity into nearby homes. Store fuel for generators in cool, well-ventilated spaces to lessen the chance of fire. Operate generators in ventilated spaces to guard against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Storm Checklist
Although power company crews will work around the clock to restore service, it is possible power may be out for an extended period after a particularly severe storm. To make outages as painless as possible, take a few minutes to assemble an emergency kit before you need it.
The following are some basics items to consider for your kit:
- Flashlights
- Battery-operated radio to hear weather forecasts and news bulletins
- First-Aid kit
- Supply of water and non-perishable food
- Specialty items, such as prescriptions, baby food and warm clothing
What to Do if The Power Goes Out
Call your electric provider. If you are an UPPCO customer, please call 800-562-7809 24 hours a day.
UPPCO customers can receive timely outage updates via Twitter @UPPCOstorm.
Outage information and storm safety tips can also be found at www.uppco.com.
