Springtime brings flowers, sunshine, longer days — and storm season. Thunderstorms, high winds and flash floods can pop up with little warning. When storms and high winds damage power lines, our crews work hard to get the power back on as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.
Follow these five simple tips to help keep you safe, prepared and connected in the event of severe weather:
Plan Ahead
Develop a plan for you and your family. Identify a safe area, such as a basement or storm shelter and decide now what you’ll do if there’s an extended power outage. Be sure to contact family, friends and neighbors with young children, are elderly or have medical conditions to ensure they also have a plan.
Make an Emergency Kit
Get ahead of storms by putting together an emergency preparedness kit that includes (at minimum) non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, batteries, a battery-powered radio or television, portable cell phone charging bank, a blanket or sleeping bag, a first aid kit and any necessary medications.
Stay Away, Stay Alive
Remember, all downed lines are dangerous — they carry an electric current that can cause serious or even fatal injuries. If you encounter a fallen wire, keep yourself and others far away from it or anything it may be touching, and call 911 and AEP Ohio immediately. Click here to learn what to do if power lines land on your car.
Remember, Safety First
If the power goes out, remember to unplug electronics and appliances to protect them when the power is restored. Never operate lanterns, heaters, generators, fuel-fired stoves or burn charcoal without proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and fires.
Also, let us know if you’re using a generator — this helps protects you and our lineworkers as they work to restore power.
Stay in the Know
It’s easy to stay connected. Report outages and check restoration status by:
- Downloading the AEP Ohio mobile app
- Signing up to get text alerts sent straight to your smartphone
- Following AEP Ohio on Facebook and Twitter for updates
- Calling us at (800) 672-2231 if you have any questions.
You can also find more preparedness tips from Ohio’s Committee for Severe Weather Awareness here.
