Hurricane and Storm Preparedness
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Neighbors in Florida and southeast Georgia aren’t the only ones who can be affected by a hurricane. Our area is not immune to being affected by major storms, and we are entering prime hurricane season.
After seeing how Hurricane Helene hurt our neighbors to the southeast last year, we want to ensure our Members prepare early and take all warnings seriously.
We've listed a few things you can do now to get your home and family ready should we experience a major storm.
Have a Plan:
Develop an emergency family plan with meeting points, communication methods and evacuation routes.
Print out and share your plan with all family members.
Prepare or update an emergency kit for your family and pets. Suggested items include:
Battery-powered NOAA radio
Flashlight and extra batteries
Cellphone with car charger, battery pack or solar charger
First-aid kit, including prescription medications
1 gallon of water, per person, per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation (1 gallon equals roughly eight 16-ounce bottles of water)
Nonperishable, ready-to-eat food and a manual can opener or foods with pop tops (think peanut butter crackers, instant potatoes, nuts, dry cereal, canned goods)
Sleeping bags or warm blankets for each person
Formula and extra diapers for infants/ toddlers
Wipes and garbage bags
Personal hygiene items
Pet food and extra water for your pet
Copies of important documents, such as IDs and insurance policies, in a waterproof, portable container
Closed-toe shoes
Air horn or whistle to help notify emergency personnel of your location, if needed
Cash, as some establishments are not able to take credit card payments when they’re out of power
Steps to Restoring Power
When a major outage occurs, our crews restore service to the greatest number of people in the shortest time possible until everyone has power.
1. High-Voltage Transmission Lines
These lines carry large amounts of electricity. They rarely fail but must be repaired first.
2. Distribution Substations
Crews inspect substations, which can serve hundreds or thousands of people.
3 Main Distribution Lines
Main lines serve essential facilities like hospitals and larger communities.
4. Individual Homes and Businesses
After main line repairs are complete, we repair lines that serve individual homes and businesses.
Before and After
Before a Storm:
1. Update your emergency kit (see page 1).
2. Stay tuned to severe storm information from the National Weather Service.
3. Fill spare containers with water.
4. Turn your refrigerator to its coldest setting. If the power goes out, this will keep foods fresher longer. If your freezer is relatively empty, fill plastic soda bottles or other plastic containers with water and put them in the freezer. During an extended outage, transfer some of the containers to the refrigerator.
5. Consider alternate heating sources as a backup to electric heating.
6. If you or a family member depends on life support, make alternate arrangements for power if it is critical to sustain life. Consider purchasing a backup generator and make sure to only operate it using manufacturer’s instructions. Only use generators outdoors! Do not connect a generator directly to the home’s circuit unless there is a transfer safety switch to isolate the power. This can hurt lineworkers if generators are hooked up incorrectly, as electricity can backfeed into the power grid.
After a Storm:
Report Outages and Downed Power Lines to Carroll EMC
Storm debris can hide dangers like downed power lines. Use caution in any cleanup effort.
Treat all downed power lines as live and dangerous. Always assume fallen power lines are energized and stay away from them or any items they’re touching. Never attempt to move a power line. Never touch a person or object that is in contact with a power line. Call 911.
If power lines come down on or around your vehicle, call for help and remain in the vehicle. If the vehicle is on fire and you must exit the vehicle, jump out like a bunny with both feet together until you are at least 10 feet away.
Unplug everything inside your home. As electricity is restored, it may create power surges that can destroy electronics. Leave one light switched on so you know when power has been restored.
Don’t use candles. Flashlights and battery-powered lights produce more light and won’t cause accidental fires. Plus, you don’t want to light a candle if a gas line has been damaged nearby.
Important Food Safety Reminders
Keep the refrigerator door closed. The less you open your refrigerator and freezer doors, the longer your food will stay cold. A fridge keeps food safe for up to four hours. A full freezer keeps food safe for up to 48 hours.
Use a cooler if the power is out for more than four hours.
Monitor temperatures with a thermometer. Food must stay below 40 degrees to stay safe.
If it smells, looks or feels off—throw it out!
After power returns, frozen food is safe if it still contains ice crystals or has stayed under 40 degrees.
Don’t refreeze or cook food that got too warm.
Losing a fridge or freezer full of food is costly and inconvenient. Use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s guide to learn more about foods you can keep or should throw out after a power outage: www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/foodsafety-during-power-outage.
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Replace your cooling system’s filter regularly to maintain strong airflow and boost energy efficiency. A clean filter means your system doesn’t have to work as hard, saving energy and lowering your utility bills. Factors like allergies and pets in the home can impact how often filters should be replaced.
Check the filter every month and replace it as needed. Changing filters regularly also reduces wear and tear on your cooling system, helping extend the life of the unit.
Source: energy.gov
Unclaimed Capital Credits
Unclaimed capital credits are simply those checks of excess operating revenue that have not been claimed by Members. The cooperative shares a list of Members whose checks were issued but were returned undeliverable or have otherwise been unclaimed.
Carroll EMC is trying to locate former Members whose 2019 capital credits checks were unclaimed. Be sure to check the lists at carrollemc.com/ capitalcredits to see if you are eligible for a patronage capital allocation. To claim a refund, contact us at (770) 832-3552. The last possible date to claim these funds is October 3, 2025.
155 N. Hwy 113
Carrollton, GA 30117
member.services@carrollemc.com carrollemc.com (770) 832-3552
PRESIDENT/CEO
Tim Martin
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alvin Ginn, Chairman
Donnie Brannon, Vice Chairman
Ronnie Jordan, Secretary/Treasurer
Don DeFoor
Eddie Gore
Nan Philpot
Lynn Joyner
Emmett Harrod
Delores Goldin
Carroll EMC Annual
Meeting at Carrollton o�ce
Carroll EMC offices will close Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
Please use the PaySite kiosks, mobile app, text-to-pay, website or automated phone payment system to make a payment during this time.
Carroll EMC has personnel on standby 24/7, year-round. Even on holidays, Carroll EMC is prepared for storms and outages.
OFFICE HOURS
Carrollton
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Buchanan
Monday and Tuesday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
24-HOUR OUTAGE LINE
To report a power outage, call (770) 832-3552, option 1.
Remember: If you have multiple accounts, you will need to enter your account number for that location.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
EDITOR Kelly Jimenez WRITER Brittany Shadix Carroll EMC
Bright Ideas Grant Applications Open August 15
Operation Round Up is an elective program where Carroll EMC Members’ electric bills are rounded up to the next highest whole dollar amount each month. This spare change is collected from all Carroll EMC Members who choose to participate, and the funds go to the Carroll EMC Foundation.
Through the foundation, many grants and scholarships are awarded. One set of these is the Bright Ideas grants for local area teachers. If a teacher has a “bright” idea for an educational project for their students, they can apply to receive up to $1,000 for a grant to fund this project. The Carroll EMC Foundation Trustees blindly review all applications and select winners for each funding cycle. Projects can benefit students in pre-K through 12th grade and should incorporate creative and innovative ideas.
Applications can be found online at
and are open August 15-October 14.