Currents-June 2021

JUNE 2021

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

2021 HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 to Nov. 30!

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS June 2021

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

SVEC is ready for storm season.

Are you?

If anyone needed a reminder of what a busy hurricane season can look like, they certainly got it in 2020. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracked 30 named storms and 12 that eventually made landfall, wreaking havoc across the Southeast.

While our own system was fortunate to avoid a direct impact from any of these storms, many of our consumer-members know what it’s like to not be so lucky. It’s why we were happy to be able to send crews to help electric cooperatives in Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana get back on their feet after Hurricane Sally, Hurricane Delta and Hurricane Zeta swept through their systems.

It’s also why all of us at Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative work hard every day to make sure our system is ready when the next big storm comes our way. Over the last few years, we have made significant improvements that have allowed us to prevent many outages and quickly restore power when they do occur.

In just the last year, we performed more than 4,000 equipment inspections and replaced 530 poles. We also repositioned more than 1,000 lightning resistors to improve reliability. That kind of diligent maintenance helps prepare our system to stand up to powerful storms when they come through.

In past years we have also implemented new equipment upgrades, like sturdier tree wire for extra protection from contact with tree limbs, and 2 | June 2021

relocated lines from heavily forested areas to head off service interruptions before they happen. Those investments continued to pay off in 2020, as we achieved a reliability rate of 99.96%.

Technology like our Advanced Distribution Management System makes it possible to respond to some larger outages without dispatching a crew to restore power by hand, giving them more time to focus on other parts of the system. Meanwhile, automated switches allow SVEC to isolate some outages when they happen and restore power in minutes.

All of these improvements have made our system more resilient in the face of hurricanes. But no amount of preparation can prevent all outages when severe storms hit. That’s why we review our Emergency Response Plan every year, and think about new ways to improve it. And if we find ourselves in need of help, we’re always ready to call on our cooperative neighbors for some extra manpower.

It’s just as important for each of our consumer-members to take the same care when it comes to preparing for hurricane season. I encourage each of you to look through this hurricane preparation guide and make a plan to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the event of a major storm.

I hope and pray that this coming storm season will see us come through unscathed again. If not, we’ll be ready. 

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2021. It is distributed without charge to all consumermembers of the cooperative.

WE BELONG TO THOSE WE SERVE Business Office: 800-447-4509 11340 100th St. Live Oak, FL 32060 Lobby Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday Drive-thru Kiosk Open 24 Hours 24/7 Power Outage Reporting 800-752-0025 svec-coop.com facebook.com/sveccoop @SVEC_COOP_FL Instagram.com/sveccoop SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

On the cover:

Suwannee Valley Currents

HURRICANE

PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES

Access these websites to complete your preparations for hurricane season:

BE PREPARED!

YOUR CO-OP MAKE A PLAN

PREPARE YOUR HOME

THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Learn about hurricane hazards, what to do when a warning is issued in your area, and how to prepare for a storm.

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER Follow the path of any active hurricane to determine if your home is forecast to be in an impacted area.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) Apply for assistance after a storm hits, and learn about flood zones in your community.

READY (FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY) Make a plan, build a preparedness kit, and more with tips from this site.

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SVEC-COOP.COM

floridadisaster.org

nhc.noaa.gov

fema.gov

ready.gov

June 2021 | 3

Before the storm...

• Prepare your emergency water supply.

• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings.

• Use storm shutters or board up windows to protect your home from high winds and debris.

• Secure or store loose yard items like patio furniture or garbage cans.

• Consider purchasing flood insurance, as regular home insurance may not cover flood damage.

• Keep important documents like insurance information updated in case they are needed for emergency response.

• Make sure SVEC has your current contact information.

• Gather important information you will need to contact your co-op in the event of an outage.

• Make sure vehicles have full tanks of gas and are operating properly in case an evacuation is needed.

4 | June 2021

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During the storm...

• Take refuge in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.

Always stay indoors.

• Use flashlights, not candles, during any power outage.

• Stay away from floodwaters, as they may contain sewage or dangerous animals such as poisonous snakes.

• Only use generators if they are outside and away from windows.

Report an outage: SmartHub 800-752-0025

Safety Sam says...

Stay indoors during storms!

In the event of a storm or hurricane, stay indoors — away from windows and/or glass.

Suwannee Valley Currents

June 2021 | 5

After the storm...

• Use protective gear, like gloves, during any cleanup.

• Avoid any power lines, as they may still carry electricity.

• Never attempt to remove tree limbs or branches from power lines.

• Report any electrical outages in your area to SVEC. • Give emergency and utility vehicles the right of way to allow forfaster recovery.

• If evacuated, monitor reports to determine when it is safe to return home.

• Document any property damage with photos. Contact your insurance company about any damage sustained.

• Contact friends and family to let them know you are safe.

Safety Sam says...

Get updates on power restoration svec-coop.com/storm-updates

Stay away from downed power lines!

Downed power lines can energize the ground up to 35 feet away! If you encounter a downed power line, notify SVEC.

6 | June 2021

@SVEC_COOP_FL Facebook.com/sveccoop WQHL 98.1 FM, Live Oak &

WJHC 107.5 FM, Jasper

(Tune in from 8 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.)

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Powering up after an outage

After a storm, SVEC crews work long hours to safely restore service to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest time possible. Here’s what’s going on if you find yourself in the dark.

High-Voltage Transmission Lines These lines serve thousands of consumer-members and must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate.

Main Distribution Feeders

Distribution Substations

Each substation serves hundreds or thousands of members, so repairing equipment here can restore power to many households at once.

Repairing damage to feeder lines can bring the lights back on for entire communities or housing developments.

Tap Lines

Check our updated outage map — Visit SVEC’s

improved outage map at outages.svec-coop.com or on the SmartHub mobile app to track ongoing repairs in your area.

These smaller supply lines come next. They deliver power to transformers outside businesses, schools and homes.

Individual Homes

Homes that are still without power may require repairs to the service line between a transformer and the residence.

Staying informed Effective hurricane preparedness plans begin with knowing an approaching storm’s potential risk. Small deviations in a storm’s track or slight changes in strength can dramatically increase or decrease the effects you might experience.

Monitor weather reports via local and national media sources, including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationbased websites like the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service. Listening to a NOAA weather radio is also recommended.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Lines of communication Emergencies like hurricanes highlight the importance of good communication, including staying on top of rapidly changing weather conditions and executing evacuation plans.

June 2021 | 7

DISASTER SUPPLY KIT CHECKLIST A Family Disaster Supply Kit is essential in planning for a disaster.

Your Disaster Supply Kit should include the following items.

¨ Water (1 gallon per person per day for 7 days) ¨ Nonperishable food ¨ Sterile gauze pads ¨ Flashlight and batteries ¨ NOAA weather radio ¨ First aid kit ¨ At least two week’s supply of medication, medical supplies used regularly, and a list of allergies ¨ Information about where you receive medication, the name of the drug, and dosage ¨ Medical records and primary care physician contact information ¨ List of the style, serial number and manufacturer information of needed medical devices ¨ Service animal I.D., veterinary records, and proof of ownership ¨ Supplies for your service animal ¨ Special needs items Be sure to include specialty items for infants, small children, the elderly, and those family members with a disability.

¨ Clothing

Include seasonal or rain gear and sturdy shoes or boots.

¨ Vehicle

Keep your motor vehicle tanks filled with gasoline

8 | June 2021

First Aid Kit

¨ First Aid Manual ¨ Sterile adhesive bandages of different sizes ¨ Sterile gauze pads ¨ Hypoallergenic adhesive tape ¨ Triangular bandages ¨ Scissors ¨ Tweezers ¨ Sewing needle ¨ Moistened towelettes ¨ Antiseptic ¨ Thermometer ¨ Tube of petroleum jelly ¨ Safety pins ¨ Soap ¨ Latex gloves ¨ Sunscreen ¨ Aspirin or other pain reliever ¨ Anti-diarrhea medicine ¨ Antacid ¨ Laxative ¨ Activated charcoal

Special needs items

Enough for at least up to seven (7) days, nonperishable packaged or canned food and beverages, snack foods, juices, baby food, and any special dietary needs.

¨ Non-electric can opener ¨ Paper plates ¨ Napkins ¨ Plastic cups ¨ Utensils

¨ Flashlight

Do not use candles and be sure to have enough batteries.

¨ Radio

Battery operated or hand cranked radio, a NOAA weather radio

¨ Cash

Banks and ATMs may not be available after a storm.

Important Documents

¨ Insurance cards ¨ Medical records ¨ Bank numbers ¨ Credit card numbers ¨ Copy of Social Security card ¨ Copies of birth and/or marriage certificates ¨ Other personal documents ¨ Set of car, house, and office keys Items should be kept in a waterproof container ¨ Important phone numbers

Maintain a list of important phone numbers including county emergency management office, evacuation sites, doctors, banks, schools, veterinarian, and a number for our town contact.

Pet care items

¨ Pet food and water ¨ Proper identification ¨ Medical records ¨ A carrier or cage ¨ Muzzle and leash ¨ Water and food bowls ¨ Medications

Suwannee Valley Currents