The Public Utility Commission Friday offered safety tips to residents as Winter Storm Riley continues to move across the state. Should you lose power during a storm, consider the following:
-- Call your utility hotline to report outages - Do not assume that the utility already knows about your outage or that others have already called.
-- Do NOT touch or approach any fallen lines.
-- Stay away from objects or puddles in contact with downed power lines.
-- Do NOT try to remove trees or limbs from power lines.
-- Use a phone that does not require electricity, such as a cellular phone or corded phone. Cordless phones won’t work without electricity.
-- Do NOT call 9-1-1 to report power outages. Those calls take dispatchers away from other emergencies and can also slow a storm response because you're not talking directly to the utility.
-- SPECIAL NOTE: If you have a downed power line or another hazardous situation, call 9-1-1 and then contact your utility.
The PUC offered additional tips to help stay safe until power is restored:
-- Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns for emergency lighting. Do not use candles or other potential fire hazards.
-- If you use a generator, do NOT run it inside a home or garage. Also, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator, not your home's electrical system, which could shock or injure utility crews working on nearby power lines. Additional generator tips are available online.
-- Turn off lights and electrical appliances (except for the refrigerator and freezer). When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary "surges" or "spikes" that can damage equipment.
-- After you turn the lights off, turn one lamp on so you will know when power is restored. Wait at least 15 minutes after power is restored before turning on other appliances.
-- Check on elderly neighbors and those with special needs who might need additional assistance.
The PUC noted that consumers using natural gas appliances can also be impacted by storms:
-- Electric power outages can affect gas furnaces and other appliances. If they do not function properly when power is restored call a professional for service.
-- If you smell natural gas, get everyone out of the building immediately. Leave the door open and do NOT use phones, switch lights or turn appliances on or off, or take any other action while inside the building. After you are safely outside, call 9-1-1 from your cell phone or neighbor’s home.
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