At AEP Ohio, it’s our job to keep the lights on, while always being prepared for the unexpected. Staying ready for severe weather allows us to restore power quickly and safely if unplanned outages occur. Below is a breakdown of how we prepare for and respond to storms:
We monitor the weather and consider how it could impact electric service.
Our emergency preparedness manager, Cherie Long, works closely with AEP’s team of three meteorologists to stay ahead of anything that may be coming. Preliminary weather reports are typically available about five days in advance. Within a few days of any severe weather, official alerts are issued as forecasts solidify. When this happens, you’ll likely start hearing from us via email or on social media to start preparing in case severe weather strikes.
We activate our emergency response plan.
In the days preceding a storm, Cherie prepares our storm management team to convene at a moment’s notice. AEP uses the Incident Command System – a proven operational structure – to strictly follow the plan’s protocols. This ensures we’re able to respond and get the power back on as quickly and safely as possible. Employees are assigned key oversight roles, and highly structured meetings are held regularly before the storm arrives (and throughout the entire restoration process).
We call for reinforcements when needed.
Using AEP’s detailed weather reports, Cherie and our team analyze the predicted path of a storm and potential damage to determine whether additional help may be needed beyond what AEP Ohio can handle on our own. AEP Ohio can rely on support when needed from our sister operating companies at AEP as well as other regional utilities through our mutual assistance program. In return, our crews help other utilities in times of emergency.
We stand at the ready to respond.
Every storm is different, and most are unpredictable. In preparation, crews stock their trucks with extra materials, tools, storm gear, drinking water and other safety equipment that might be needed. Local crews always respond to outages in their area first before deploying to help in other areas of our service territory.
We respond swiftly.
As soon as it’s safe to do so, employees fan out across the affected area to quickly assess the damage. This initial report gives our operations team a better idea of what resources are needed to get the power back on as quickly as possible.
A more detailed assessment phase comes next, including an exact count of the specific pieces of equipment that will be needed for every repair. Assessment is often the most time-consuming step in the process and is critical to ensuring customers receive accurate restoration times. Downed trees, inaccessible roads, hazardous conditions and debris can hamper our assessment and restoration timeline. Once the full picture comes into view, estimated restoration times are sent to customers as quickly as possible. To receive them, be sure we have your most recent contact information at AEPOhio.com/Account.
We work until the power is back on for every customer.
When crews have restored power to the majority of customers in their community, they then move on to provide additional support in other hard-hit areas in our service territory. Our team doesn’t stop until every customer’s power is restored.
To get outage updates, estimated restoration times and see photos of our crews in action, please follow us on Facebook or X.
how would I make a notification about a tree that may fall on a power line
Hi Marsha, thanks for reaching out. You can give our forestry team a call at 614-883-6987 or fill out the form located here on AEPOhio.com/Trees.