By Anonymous |
Power lines iced-over

Forecasts are calling for below-average temperatures in our area beginning in January. It’s important to prepare your emergency kit and have a plan in place before winter storms and temperatures arrive.

NGEMC crews are on standby 24/7/365 and are committed to safely restoring power as quickly as possible; however, in extreme circumstances, restoration may take time. Being prepared makes all the difference.  

Check your emergency kits: 

  • One gallon of water per person per day for several days
  • Several days of non-perishable food in your kits
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio
  • Charged battery banks for cell phones and other essential electronics
  • Flashlights
  • First-aid kits
  • Extra batteries
  • Plastic sheeting, scissors, and duct tape
  • Essential medications
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Warm clothing and blankets
  • Car safety kit 

Make a plan: 

  • Take note of emergency shelters in your area or other facilities you can relocate to in the event of an extended outage during extreme cold.
  • Make a plan to reach these facilities safely, including having a way to contact EMS and considering any medical needs that require power.
  • Talk to elderly loved ones about their emergency plan. 
  • Learn the signs of hypothermia. 

Prepare your home: 

  • Cover exterior faucets and insulate exposed pipes.
  • Keep anything flammable at least three feet from all heating sources.
  • Always plug space heaters directly into an outlet and don’t leave them unattended.
  • Never use an oven to heat your home.
  • Consider prepping paved areas outside your home before freezing weather and clearing driveways of any snow accumulation. Be alert and look for ice on porches, stoops, stairs, paved areas, and driveways.
  • Install a carbon monoxide detector for added safety.

Stay safe during storms and outages:

For more ways to prepare, visit Ready.gov.

Winter