2018 May GCEC Florida Currents

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

M AY 2018

Powering the Community Dillion Ussery, an apprentice line technician for Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, guides a power pole from the ground as Foreman Will Coatney hoists it from the digger. Read more about job opportunities at electric utilities and the role they play in communities on page 12.

Photo by Kristin Evans

Beware of Utility Bill Scammers PAGE 6    Get Ready Now for Hurricane Season PAGE 28 n

Gulf Coast

Members acknowledge that $3.96, plus actual postage, is the cost to publish 12 issues a year of Florida Currents (USPS8300). Published by Ruralite Services Inc., 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—the magazine serves the communications needs of consumer-owned electric utilities in Florida. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, OR 97123 and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Please send address corrections to 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124.

HOW TO CONTACT FLORIDA CURRENTS

Have a problem receiving your edition of Florida Currents? Utility members should contact the local utility office listed on the back cover.

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Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $15 (U.S.) per year; $25 (foreign) per year. Prepayment required. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for first issue. Be sure to identify which local edition you want to receive. Order online at www.floridacurrents.com.

Extra copies: $3 each, prepayment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year. Contact Ruralite Services.

Reprint permission: Direct all requests to Ruralite Services.

LET’S

POWER SAFETY

Be safe. Stay away from downed power lines and never touch anything in contact with one.

When you see a power line down, call 911 immediately.

We value your membership.

We value you. www.gcec.com (800) 568-3667

MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

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Inside

May 2018 Vol. 7, No. 7

Powering the Community 12

Electric utility jobs fuel local economies and the nation.

Also In This Issue Side Roads 10 In the Kitchen 16 Great Picture Hunt 18

Travel Journal 19 Festival Roundup 22 Outdoor Pursuits 24

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32

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Gulf Coast

Do You See Your Name Here?

If so, we have a check with your name on it! At the end of each year, after all operating expenses are paid, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative allocates capital credits to its membership. Capital credits are a prorated percentage of GCEC’s margins and are allocated to you, our member-owners, based on the amount you paid for electricity during the year. Based on the financial health of the cooperative, your board of trustees determines when capital credits are paid. Last year, $500,000 was credited to GCEC members residing on our lines during 1983 and 2016. However, we cannot return your money if we can’t find you.

Please Send New Address If you see your name or the name of someone you know listed here, please call our office and tell us the correct address.

XX Panama City: (850) 481-1188 XX Southport: (850) 265-3631 (800) 568-3667 XX Wewahitchka: (850) 639-2216 (800) 333-9392

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Adams, Mrs. Vester E. Addison, Alberta Albritton, Elmar Anderson, Fonda Anglin, Gordon and Mozelle Annette, Vandrew Armstrong, Kenny Armstrong, Sarah A. Bailey, William J. Barton, Arthur L. Basham, Chester C. Bateman, A.V. Bellamy, Kenneth Lamar Benjamin, Ly and Mrs. Betts, Debra S. Blair, Carolyn L. Boesch, Felicia D. Bottoms, Scott Anthony Botkins, Earl Bowen, Cecil W. Branch, Dewey Brinkerhoff, Betty C. Brinkmeir, Heather C. Buffkin, William R. Burch, Barbara B. Burdick, Douglas Burkey, Tina R. Bynum, Bobby J. Byrd, Allen M. Carnley, A.J. Case, Patti Carroll Cassiday, Roy L. Cassity, John M. Catlin, Kenneth E. Cauley, Elsie L. Cauley, Woodrow Jr. Causey, Debbie A. Causey, Brandon Cayson, Wayman A.

Chatoney, Bill Childree, Johnny L. Churchwell, Frank Clark, Mrs. Heyward Clark, Norman Jr. Clark, R.J. Cocking, Paul D. Comer, Minnie M. Compton, Kelley G. Connell, Mrs. A.J. Cooley, Kathy R. Corbin, Kenneth Costello, Richard Covington, Mark E. Cox, I. Dean Jr. Creary, Virginia L. Daniele, Philip B. Jr. Daniels, W.M. Darling, Stephanie R. Davidson, Richard D. Dean, Justin T. Debolt, Mary K. Denton, Lynnwood Diehl, Joseph Louis II Dorbie, Theodore S. Dolan, Opal Maxine Doty, James K. Douds, Kelsey Renee Doyal, Jessie M. Drury, Carolyn J. Duncan, Robert E. Eckenrod, James P. Edwards, Richard Elkins, Tina Farmer, Robert L. Finck, William R. Fleer, Pamela A. Fitzgerald, Matthew D. Flowers, Bessie L. Freeman, Kent

Gargus, G.W. Gauthier, Pierre-Lucy Gerard, Mary M. Gilliard, Kathy Glaze, Charles Glover, Barrie Goff, Linda L. Gossow, Wolf L. Graham, Craig A. Grassy Point Investments LLC Graves, James R. Jr. Hagler, Jack F. Haley, Catlyn C. Hamilton, Eugene Harding, Kimberley A. Hartsfield, Shawn L. Haun, Mike D. Hayes, Brenda Hays, Bobby G. Helms, Gary J. Helms, Jeanie L. Henson, Ron Holden, Edwin B. Holley, James S. Holloman, Luby F. Jr. Hooker, Albert Horton, Cheryl Rene Huggins, Johnny Hurst, Robert F. and Sara Hurst, William Stewart Hyland, Therese and Robert Jarrell, Carol Ann Jesus Open Door Tabernacle Jones, Joe J. Jones, Shannon D. Jones, Stan & Pam Kearce, James T.

Kelman, Morris Kilpatrick, Kelly A. King, Lawerence B. Kwiecinski, Patrick J. L.B.L. and C.S. Lambert, Alton Lanier, Lisa M. Leavitt, Shawna Lee Lee, C.R. Lillard, Richard F. Lillie, John W. Lokerson, Irene M. Lock, Dorothy Lee, John D. Magnolia Lodge Mann, Wanda J. Margheim, Paul D Marguardt, Linda M. Masters, Tracy L. Maulden, Peggy McCoy, Evelyn McDonald, A.W. and Clemencia McGhee, James M. McMullon, Millard McMurrian, M.M. McQuagge, H.S. Merchant, Dudley Merckle, Ronald L. Messick, Danny L. Miller, Forrest R. Miller, Gary W. Miller, Max Montalvo, Luis T. Morgan, Randall Morrell, Wallace J. Monte, Gregory A. Mullis, Max c/o Jo Ann Mullis Murray, Thomas Jr.

Myers, Harold A. Nesbit, Stephen O’Bryan, Kimberly K. Odom, Carlia A. Ogburn, Nathan L. Oliver, Mary E. Olney, James R. Osborn, Robert D. Panhandle Educators Credit Parramore, Susan S. Patnode, Kelly Marie Pegg, Daniel L. Perdue, Vernon Perez, Terry L. Petty, Clifford R. Pierson, Tylan S. Pilcher, E. Allen Plotke, Greg Prather, George D. Pruitt, Carrillia Pugaschow, P. J. Ramsey, Robert K.

Richards, Bradley P. Rider, Cynthia V. Roberts, Tarel C. Robinson, Stephanie Lynn Rogers, Diane Romberg, Dottie Jean Ruschmeir, Mrs. Steven Salmon, Joe Henry Savage, James Sheffield, V.G. Simmons, Georgia Singletary, Hosie Smith, Ben G. Smith, Donald S. Smith, Phillip C. Smith, Ray N. Snead, Curtis Southport Community Building Spencer, Helen L. St. John, Margaret A. Stanley, Andrew C.

Stokes, Gena T. Studevant, Hulda Sutherland, Sarah T. Sutton, Kaylie B. Taylor, Emma A. Taylor, Leonard F. Terry, James M. The Brand Baking Co. Thomas, Theresa A. Tillerson, Frank Howard Toney, Richard E. Trageser, Heather C. Trinkle, Robert A. Tucker, David F. Tucker, Leroy Jack Turner, Victoria Faylene Tyser, Andre F. Vary, Mrs. Robert H. Vicek, Raymond L. Vlahos, Carol B. Wade, Maurine L. Walker, Harold R. Jr. Watson, James O.

Weeks, Jerry Welch, Kenneth Wester, Bernard O. and Mrs. Wewa Bakery Whitehead, David Whitehead, Edna M. Williams, Clayton Eugene Williams, Donna M. Williams, Edward Joseph Williams, Fred E. Williams, Mrs. Iva Williams, Jesse Lee Williams, Shelia A. Williford, Frank T. Wilson, Mary D. Wood, David A. Word, Janice B. Workman, Roy Worley, Cathy Wright, Dylan Patrick Wright, Wanda R. M AY 2 0 1 8

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Beware of Utility Bill Scammers Never give financial information to unsolicited callers

Check With GCEC To Verify Identity If ever in doubt about the identity of someone claiming to be a Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative employee, call the co-op at 265-3631, 481-1188 or 639-2216 to confirm the employee’s identity.

If you receive a call from someone trying to bully you into making immediate payment on your account through a prepaid debit card or by providing your bank or credit card information over the phone, contact law enforcement. n

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What would you do if you received a phone call from someone threatening to disconnect your electricity unless you paid a certain amount by a specific time? Would you pay the money to avoid losing power?

Think twice before trusting the voice on the other end of the phone, especially since scammers are targeting electric consumers.

Last month, at least three Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative business members received calls from someone claiming to be affiliated with GCEC. One was a female identifying herself as Amy Williams. Another was a male identifying himself as a technician named Tony Gomez.

Scammers are capable of manipulating the number displayed on caller ID to show the electric utility’s office number. In the latest scam, they used the telephone number (888) 815-6814 and answered it as Gulf Coast Electric. The phone number constantly changes in these scams.

The callers try to obtain identifying information, such as an account number and address. They state that the account is blocked, and to avoid interruption in service, the member must go to a local Dollar General store and buy a prepaid MoneyPak card using cash.

They instruct the member to scratch the back of the card to unveil the code and call them back with the number to make a payment on the account. They then empty the card of its value.

As different con techniques appear in headlines, scammers find new approaches to continue this criminal behavior.

In some instances, the scammers have requested and received the bill holder’s personal credit card information.

These criminals also have distributed fraudulent emails to collect money from unsuspecting consumers. The emails often appear as monthly bills from an electricity provider and may contain links to untrustworthy sites.

The Florida Public Service Commission has created a list to remind consumers how Florida electric utilities are required to manage payments and customer service.

GCEC does conduct reminder courtesy calls to members who are going to have their power disconnected due to nonpayment. However, unlike scammers, GCEC employees will not be demanding, use threats or pressure you into giving them your bank account number if you are not comfortable doing so.

You will never be asked by GCEC to load a prepaid credit or debit card, such as a Green Dot MoneyPak card. If you are, assume it is a scam and contact law enforcement.

If someone comes to your home claiming to be a GCEC employee, call us to verify that they are, in fact, an employee. GCEC employees do not collect payments in the field.

Attempts by scammers to con innocent people are unpredictable, and the messages are often inconsistent. GCEC encourages members to use extreme caution when giving out information over the phone. If at any time you doubt the true identity of the person you are speaking with, hang up and call one of our office numbers. n

We’d love to feature your recipes!

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative will be preparing a cookbook of selected reader-submitted recipes in honor of the co-op’s 80th anniversary in 2021. Here are the details and guidelines:

• Any category is eligible (appetizers, side dishes, main dishes, desserts, beverages).

• Original recipes, please (no recipes out of other cookbooks).

• Must be typed or neatly printed.

• Include the name of the person submitting the recipe and their hometown.

• Submit recipes with bill payment, drop off at one of GCEC’s three offices (Wewahitchka, Southport or Panama City), mail to Kristin Evans, P.O. Box 8370, Southport, FL 32409 or email to kevans@gcec.com.

New Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative Apprentice Line Technicians

Luke Gates

Ron Groom

Josh Harbuck

Brett Satterfield

Andrew Taylor

Dillion Ussery M AY 2 0 1 8

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Gulf Coast

2018 Miss Tupelo Pageant May 12, 2018 Saturday - 6pm CST at Wewahitchka High School Benefits: Wewahitchka Gator Track Team For More Information: Mary Holley 832-7006

ARMED FORCES DAY

MAY 19, 2018

MAY 19, 2018 TUPELO HONEY FESTIVAL

Tupelo Blood Drive May 19, 2018 Saturday 10 am – 3 pm For More Information: Richard Register, One Blood 850-557-6061

SATURDAY, 9:00AM – 4:00PM CST 111 Lake Alice Park Drive, Wewahitchka, FL 32465

Arts & Crafts Festival

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Home of the Country’s finest Tupelo Honey, farmers from the area will have booths of honey in packages, along with food vendors, arts & crafts, and live entertainment by Dickey Merritt & The Original Bama Jam right on the banks of mossy Lake Alice.

EMPLOYEES CLUB OF THE CITY OF WEWAHITCHKA P.O. Box 966 Wewahitchka, FL 32465 850-639-2605 850-340-3002

Benefits: Scholarships for Graduating 2017 Seniors For More Info: Michael Gortman 850-340-3002

Email: info@tupelohoneyfestival. com

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Gulf Coast

Trading Post For Rent Two-bedroom, one-bathroom home on Gap Lake in Sunny Hills. Completely furnished.

Private dock, great fishing and view. Great for retired couple. $1,000 a month, power furnished. (850) 773-2730.

Horse barn with five stalls, paddock and about 4 acres of pasture in Wewahitchka, one block from the old courthouse. Lease by the stall, with discount for multiple horses. (740) 334-0341.

Three-bedroom, two-bath home on large, wooded lot on quiet, low-traffic street in Lynn Haven. Open floor plan, two-car garage. $1,295 a month. (850) 271-0289.

Three-bedroom, two-bath recently remodeled home in the Overstreet area. Lakefront, quiet, private, no neighbors. Five minutes to Mexico Beach. $750 a month; first and last month’s rent as deposit. (850) 648-4214.

For Sale 42” nearly new riding mower. Only used twice. $950. (850) 648-4214.

Two twin lift bed mattresses. (850) 630-4230.

Two cemetery lots in Evergreen Memorial Gardens on Highway 231, north of Panama City. $4,000 each or both for $6,000. (850) 763-9898.

Tow dolly in good shape, $475. (850) 762-8386.

2014 Shasta travel trailer 25’ x 8’ with hitch and load levelers. $16,000. (850) 703-2058.

Waterfront 3.45-acre lot off Highway 386. 1,700 feet from the highway to the water. Deep water will accommodate any size boat. Six minutes to Mexico Beach. End lot, private. (850) 648-4214.

2008 Chevy Impala four-door. Asking $5,000.

(850) 639-5815.

Baby furniture. (850) 819-2046.

27-ton Troy Bilt wood splitter. Honda motor vertical/horizontal split, runs good, $650. Poulon Pro 20” chainsaw, $50. (850) 890-1391.

Bowflex Power Pro. $200. (850) 774-2840.

Candles handmade to order in Bay County.

More than 100 fragrances to choose from. Can be shipped. (850) 640-4072. Leave message.

FSBO. Two adjacent lots, about 2.5 acres on paved road, 10 miles north of Wewahitchka, 45 minutes from beaches. Borders the Chipola River and Cypress Creek. Cleared and ready to build.

Quiet and peaceful; no neighbors. Deeded restrictions. Underground utilities, deep well and many fruit trees. $69,900. (850) 648-4214. ½-acre corner lot. (850) 639-2220.

Acre+ on river in Eufaula. Fully covered deck and two-bedroom mobile home. It has only flooded once in 14 years. Can provide pictures.

Will sell or trade for property in Wewahitchka.

(254) 978-1950. Hearing impaired; please text.

Magic Chef mini refrigerator, $40. Troy-Bilt 21” self-propelled mower, $125. (850) 814-7188.

Beautiful antique tall pitcher. Heavy cut crystal.

More than 150 years old. Asking $1,000. (850) 340-1501.

Wanted

Miniature donkeys. Jacks and Jennys, black, brown, gray and paints. All ages. $300 and up.

Make great pets. Also standard donkeys. Betty, (850) 899-7424.

Retired veteran seeks farmer-hunter partnership.

Will invest in farm/land improvements in exchange for hunting privileges on land in the Vernon-Wausau area. (850) 481-1805.

Quarter horses. Ride well on trails, gentle, good for lessons. (850) 773-1957.

Real Estate Four+ commercial acres on Highway 20, across from a campground. $45,000. (850) 674-8636.

Trading Post is a FREE service to members of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative. GCEC reserves the right to edit or reject ads.

PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE. Please circle the category that applies:

For Rent

For Sale

Real Estate

Free

Miscellaneous

Trade

Wanted

Items:

Name:

Phone:

Address:

City/zip:

Mail your ad to: The Trading Post; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409; return with your electric payment; or email ad information to tradingpost@gcec.com. ** Due to press deadlines, please expect up to 60 days from submission for your advertisement to appear.

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Gulf Coast

Notify County Agency of Any Special Needs

Emergency Management Agencies Serving GCEC’s Six-County Service Area XX

Bay County Phone: (850) 784-4000 Fax: (850) 784-4010

XX

Calhoun County Phone: (850) 674-8075 Fax: (850) 674-4667

XX

Gulf County Phone: (850) 229-9110 Fax: (850) 229-9115

XX

Jackson County Phone: (850) 482-9678 Fax: (850) 482-9683

XX

Walton County Phone: (850) 892-8065 Fax: (850) 254-9638

XX

Washington County Phone: (850) 638-6203 Fax: (850) 638-6316

Registry is used for resource planning during emergencies According to Chapter 252.355 Florida Statutes, “In order to meet the special needs of persons who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering because of physical, mental, cognitive impairment or sensory disabilities, the division, in coordination with each local emergency management agency in the state, shall maintain a registry of persons with special needs located within the jurisdiction of the local agency.”

This registration helps the local emergency management agency identify those in need of assistance and plan for resource allocation to meet those needs.

Persons with special needs may preauthorize emergency response personnel to enter their homes during search-andrescue operations, if necessary, to ensure

their safety and welfare following disasters.

This registration must be updated annually. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative helps local emergency management agencies get the word out about this program.

If you or someone you know has a special condition affecting eyesight, hearing, speech, walking, breathing or an emotional condition and would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering, please contact your local emergency management agency.

The level of care given in specialneeds shelters goes above the basic firstaid care available to shelters open to the general population.

All information provided is kept strictly confidential. n

Right-of-Way Trimming Continues Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative will clear rights-of-way in the Bayou George, Crystal Lake and Fountain areas in May. GCEC has about 2,600 miles of distribution line. If vegetation comes into contact with power lines, it can interfere with your electric service and cause a dangerous situation. Vegetation must be cleared from power lines to provide reliable electric service and prevent a hazardous condition.

When a person signs up to be a member of the cooperative, there is an agreement between the member and GCEC to allow right-of-way maintenance. The agreement gives GCEC the legal right to remove from the right-of-way anything that could interfere with safe, reliable electric service for all members.

The co-op realizes most people regard trees as an asset, but if the cooperative’s right-of-way clearance is not maintained, tree limbs and other growth coming into contact with power lines could increase the number of power outages. GCEC tries to work with landowners to preserve landscaping when maintaining rights-of-way.

However, federal law requires GCEC to eliminate hazardous conditions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as GCEC works to bring you quality, reliable service. n

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Gulf Coast

Get Ready Now for Hurricane Season Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 6-12

It only takes one storm to change your life and community. Tropical cyclones are among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. If you live in an area prone to tropical cyclones, you need to be prepared. Even areas well away from the coastline can be threatened by dangerous flooding, destructive winds and tornadoes from these storms.

The National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center issue watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather.

Hurricane Preparedness Week is your time to prepare for a potential land-falling tropical storm or hurricane. Use these daily tips and share them with friends and family to ensure they are prepared.

a hurricane. If you are, figure out where you would go and how you would get there if told to evacuate.

You will need to leave immediately if told to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Identify someone—perhaps a friend or relative who does not live in an evacuation zone or unsafe home—and coordinate with them to be your evacuation destination.

Be sure to account for your pets, as most local shelters do not permit them.

Put the plan in writing for you and those you care about.

Good online resources include http:// flash.org/hurricane-season/evacuationzones/find-your-evacuation-zones.pdf and http://hurricanes.gov/prepare.

Sunday, May 6, 2018 Determine Your Risk Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. The impact can be felt hundreds of miles inland. Significant impacts can occur without it being a major hurricane.

Hurricanes bring many hazards, including storm surge along the coast, inland flooding due to heavy rainfall, tornadoes, strong winds, rip currents and large waves.

Good online resources include http:// weather.gov/hurricanesafety and http:// hurricanes.gov/prepare.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 Assemble Disaster Supplies If a hurricane strikes, you will need supplies not just to get through the storm, but for the potentially lengthy recovery period that could follow.

Get your supplies before hurricane season begins. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of one week. Electricity and water could be out for at least that long.

You will need extra cash, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. You also will need a portable crank or solar-powered USB charger to charge your cellphone.

Gas up your vehicle and have cash on hand if a storm warning is issued.

Good online resources include www. ready.gov/kit and http://hurricanes.gov/ prepare.

Monday, May 7, 2018 Develop an Evacuation Plan Make sure you have a hurricane evacuation plan. The first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you are in a home that would be unsafe during 28

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Wednesday, May 9, 2018 Get an Insurance Checkup Call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or replace your home.

Don’t forget coverage for your car or boat. Remember, standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding.

Whether you own your home or rent, you need a separate policy for flooding.

If not available through your agent, use the agent locator at www.floodsmart. gov. Act now because flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.

Take your insurance documents with you if you evacuate.

A good online resource is www.fema. gov/what-mitigation.

2018 Hurricane Season Expected to be Active Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project calls for the number of named storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic in 2018 to be slightly above historical averages, but less than last year, which included U.S. landfall from Harvey, Irma and Maria.

The prediction is for 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The 30-year average is 12 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. A major hurricane is Category 3 or stronger.

The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, but occasionally storms form outside those months, as happened last season with April’s Tropical Storm Arlene.

The CSU outlook is based on more than 30 years of statistical predictors, combined with seasons exhibiting similar features of sea-level pressure and sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans. n

Hurricane Irma ripped up the sidewalk as it uprooted a large tree, which crashed onto a home in Wauchula.

Photo by Pam Blair

Thursday, May 10, 2018 Strengthen Your Home If you plan to ride out a hurricane in your home, make sure your house is up to hurricane building code specifications.

Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand high winds.

Trim trees on your property and collect loose outdoor items.

Find a safe location for your vehicle.

Good online resources include www. fema.gov/what-mitigation and http:// hurricanes.gov/prepare.

Friday, May 11, 2018 Help Your Neighbor Neighbors rely on each other after a disaster, but there are many ways you can prepare together before a hurricane approaches. Help neighbors collect supplies they will need before the storm.

Assist them with evacuation if they are ordered to do so, or check on them after it is safe for you to head outside.

Learn about the actions you and your neighbors can take to prepare and recover from hurricane hazards.

A good online resource is https:// community.fema.gov/action/ plan-with-neighbors.

Saturday, May 12, 2018 Complete a Written Plan The time to prepare for a hurricane is before the season begins, when you have the time and are not under pressure.

If you wait until a hurricane is on your doorstep, the odds are that you will be under duress and will make the wrong decisions. Take the time now to write down your hurricane plan. Know where you will ride out the storm.

Get your supplies now. You don’t want to be standing in long lines when a hurricane watch is issued. The supplies you need will probably be sold out by the time you reach the front of the line.

Being prepared before a hurricane threatens makes you somewhat more resilient to the impacts of wind and water.

It could mean the difference between being a hurricane victim and a survivor.

Good online resources include www. ready.gov/make-a-plan and http:// hurricanes.gov/prepare. n M AY 2 0 1 8

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FL-154

Offices 722 West Highway 22 P. O. Box 220 Wewahitchka, FL 32465 (850) 639-2216 or (800) 333-9392

9434 Highway 77 P. O. Box 8370 Southport, FL 32409 (850) 265-3631 or (800) 568-3667 6243 East Highway 98 Panama City, FL 32404 Phone: (850) 481-1188 www.gcec.com

CEO/General Manager John Bartley

Trustees President Waylon Graham Vice President Jimmy Black Secretary Eddie Jones Treasurer Rupert Brown Doug Birmingham Robert Byrd Gary Cox Kinneth Daniels Betty Moore Trustees normally meet the third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. CST. The board meets at the Wewahitchka office in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and the Southport office in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September and November).

The mission of GCEC: Fulfilling the changing needs of our membership and communities by providing cost effective, reliable and safe utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce.

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GCEC President’s Message

Safety Above All Else Safety is a universal word mentioned often and used loosely.

Communities large and small and companies across all industries are committed to safety. Unfortunately, when it really counts, steps to keep the public, workers and loved ones safe are often ignored in the interest of expediency or convenience.

However, safety is a serious issue, especially when it comes Waylon Graham to electrical safety. At the end of the day, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative strives to deliver affordable and reliable electricity to member-owners.

Equally important, we want workers to return home safely to their loved ones. This requires ongoing focus, dedication and vigilance.

Working with electricity is an inherently dangerous job, especially for lineworkers.

GCEC has established and follows safety protocols based on leading national safety practices for the utility industry. Lineworkers wear specialized equipment when working next to or with power lines. There are specific protocols they follow when dealing with electricity. Our safety team has regular meetings where they discuss upcoming projects from a safety perspective. We encourage crew members to speak up and hold each other accountable for safety.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, each year thousands of people in the United States are critically injured and electrocuted as a result of electrical fires and accidents in their own homes. Many are preventable.

May is National Electrical Safety Month. This month and every month, observe these tips to keep yourself and your community safe around electricity: • Make sure cords are not frayed or cracked. Don’t use an extension cord with more than one appliance or on a permanent basis. Make sure the rating on the cord is at least the same number of watts needed by the product plugged into it.

• Don’t overload outlets. Never force a plug into an outlet or cut the ground pin off a three-prong plug. Use safety covers on unused outlets accessible to children.

• Keep electrical equipment away from water. If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker, have it repaired or replace it.

• Don’t attempt electrical do-it-yourself projects unless you are qualified to do so.

• Report downed power lines, unlocked substations or transformers that look amiss.

Be mindful when it comes to electrical safety. Pause and take the extra time to plug into safety. n

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day.