Currents-June 2022

JUNE 2022

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 to Nov. 30!

CURRENTS June 2022

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Steady in the storm

Most Floridians don’t need to be reminded of the risks that hurricane season poses. Throughout the year we enjoy ample sunshine and a temperate climate, and in return we know that there will be a few months when we need to prepare for torrential downpours and impossibly strong winds.

At this time last year, we got a taste of that with Tropical Storm Elsa. More than 12,000 SVEC consumers lost power due to the storm, representing nearly half of everyone we serve. Despite the scale of the outage, we were able to restore power in just 24 hours.

The speed of that response was thanks to two key factors. The first is the cooperative principles, which call on cooperatives to help each other in moments of need. Our crews worked hard when Elsa blew through our area, but they never would have been able to restore power so quickly without the help of other cooperatives that came to our aid.

Just a few months later, we had the opportunity to pay it forward when SVEC crews traveled to Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle to pitch in on restoration efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Fred and Hurricane Ida. These mutual-aid efforts are all part of the cooperative model and I can’t tell you how much peace of mind it brings us to know SVEC will never be without a helping hand if we need it.

The second factor is our own preparation. We work hard throughout the year — not just when hurricane season arrives — to make sure our system is ready to stand up to the

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abuse of a major storm. We inspect thousands of pieces of equipment each year, including poles, lines and lightning arrestors, and replace them if necessary. We also continually trim our rights-of-way to make sure lines are clear of trees and look for other ways to make our system more resilient to storms.

And we’ve added another resource to our arsenal. Last September, we completed construction of a storm yard at our headquarters that can serve as a base for mutual-aid crews, as well as a site for additional equipment after storms. It’s a new asset that we hope we won’t have to use any time soon, but it will be invaluable when we do need it.

All of these preparations are showing results. Last year, SVEC achieved a new record for reliability, with the average number of times a member was without power for five minutes or more totaling less than two. That’s a testament to the hard work our employees put in and a comfort as we approach our busiest time of year.

While we do everything in our power to make sure our system is prepared for storms, it is just as important that each of our members takes time to protect themselves and their loved ones. That’s why we have put together this hurricane prep guide for our members. I hope each of you will take some time to look through it before the storm clouds gather. When they do, you can trust that SVEC will be ready to take action. 

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2022. 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.

© COVER: harvepi,no roniechua, Vector adirT tion Satoshi Kina /Adobe Stock

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

Suwannee Valley Currents

STORM KIT CHECKLIST

A family storm kit is essential in planning for a disaster At a minimum, your storm kit should include the following items:

• Water (1 gallon per person per day for seven days) • Nonperishable food • First-aid kit • At least two weeks’ supply of medication and medical supplies used regularly • Specialty items for infants, small children, the elderly and those family members with a disability • Seasonal or rain gear and sturdy shoes or boots • Clothing • Vehicle • Keep your motor vehicle tanks filled with gasoline

Pet care items • • • •

Pet food and water Proper identification A carrier or cage Muzzle and leash

• Water and food bowls • Medications

Special needs items

• At least a seven-day supply of nonperishable, packaged or canned food and beverages, snack foods, juices, baby food, and any special dietary needs • Flashlight — Do not use candles and be sure to have enough batteries • Battery-operated or hand-cranked radio, a NOAA weather radio • Cash — Banks and ATMs may not be available after a storm.

• Bank account and credit card numbers • Insurance cards • Medical records • Other personal documents • Nonelectric can opener • Paper plates • Napkins • Plastic cups

• Utensils • Set of car, house and office keys • Items should be kept in a waterproof container • Important phone numbers including family, friends, county emergency management, doctors, banks, schools, veterinarian and SVEC’s outage reporting number, 800-752-0025

Access these websites for information on how to prepare for hurricane season: YOUR CO-OP

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 the forecast places your home in an area likely to be affected.

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.

Suwannee Valley Currents

SVEC-COOP.COM

floridadisaster.org

nhc.noaa.gov

fema.gov

ready.gov

June 2022 | 3

LET US KNOW! Outages are bound to happen, but there are several convenient ways to report them if you ever find yourself in the dark.

SmartHub

Our outage management system uses caller ID to quickly identify your service location by your phone number.

This makes reporting easier for you, and allows us to reduce response times.

Make sure we have your current phone number on file before you call in an outage or sign up for outage texting.

Use the SmartHub mobile app

TO REPORT AN OUTAGE:

WEBSITE

Go to our website, log in to your account and click on the “My Profile” tab.

TEXT

Text “out” to 800-752-0025.

To enable this option, you must first authorize it by texting “SVEC” to 800-752-0025. The TEXT option is only available to members with fewer than five accounts.

800-752-0025

Call us to report the outage

NOTE: If asked to provide your meter number, here’s where to find it.

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Suwannee Valley Currents

Safe Generator Operation

MOVE OVER

For stopped emergency and utility vehicles

IT’S THE LAW • MOVE OVER A LANE for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles and tow trucks.

• IF YOU CAN’T MOVE OVER, slow to 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.

• IF THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT is 20 mph or less, slow down to 5 mph.

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June 2022 | 5

© trongnguyen, Leonid Smirnov, DigitalGenetics, cphoto, ungvar, trongnguyen, Destina, markskalny / Adobe Stock

• NEVER connect a standby generator directly to your home’s electrical system. There are only two safe ways to connect a standby generator to your equipment: • STATIONARY GENERATOR: An approved generator transfer switch, which keeps your house circuits separate from the electric co-op’s, should be installed by a professional.

• PORTABLE GENERATOR: Plug appliances directly into the outlet provided on the generator.

• SET UP AND RUN YOUR GENERATOR in a well-ventilated area outside the home. Make sure it’s out and away from your garage, doors, windows and vents.

The carbon monoxide generated can be DEADLY. • USE A HEAVY-DUTY EXTENSION CORD to connect electric appliances to the outlet on the generator.

• START THE GENERATOR BEFORE connecting appliances.

Am I responsible for fixing that?

If your electrical components are damaged, you may be responsible for repairs. Identify your type of service connection below to learn what your responsibilities are. You may need to complete repairs before power can be restored to your home. Always remember to practice safety and if you have questions, call SVEC.

-

NOTE: Member is

also responsible for any pole with a meter attached to it.

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Suwannee Valley Currents

Powering up after an outage When a storm passes, SVEC crews work long hours to restore service to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest time possible. Here’s a breakdown of the steps we take to make sure power is restored safely and efficiently.

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

Main Distribution Feeders

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

Distribution Substations

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

Tap Lines

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

Service Lines

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

Suwannee Valley Currents

June 2022 | 7

After the storm...

What’s next?

The storm has passed, and it’s time to deal with the aftermath. Use this list as a reference for keeping yourself and your family safe.

• • • • • • •

Report any electrical outages in your area to SVEC. Use protective gear, like gloves, during any cleanup.

Stay far away from any downed power lines.

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

Give emergency and utility vehicles the right of way to allow for faster recovery.

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

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

Keep up-to-date on power restoration svec-coop.com/ storm-updates @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.)

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 immediately.

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Suwannee Valley Currents