Hurricane Preparedness Guide

Hurricane Preparedness Guide Atlantic Hurricane Season: June 1 to November 30

A message from your Cooperative CEO, Julius Hackett Keeping you safe during and after summer storms No one knows electrical safety better than the experts who practice it every single day. Tri County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) encourages you to practice safety with these reminders – for during and after a summer storm: Avoid wires and water — When lightning strikes a home during a storm, the electrical charge can surge through pipes and utility wires. That means you can get zapped if you’re touching water or any device that’s plugged in, whether it’s a landline phone or toaster.

Skip the makeshift shelter — During a storm, it’s tempting to take cover under a picnic

gazebo or golf cart, but in open-sided structures with no conductors to channel strikes, a bolt’s path of least resistance to the ground could be you. On top of that, these structures raise your risk of a lightning strike because of their height. Keep moving toward suitable shelter.

Portable generators — Take special care with portable generators, which can provide a good source of power, but if improperly installed or operated, can become deadly. Do not connect generators directly to household wiring. Power from generators can back-feed along power lines and electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, including co-op line workers making repairs.

It’s best to hire a qualified, licensed electrician to install your generator and ensure that it meets local electrical codes.

Flooded areas — Stay away from downed power lines and avoid walking through flooded areas. Power lines could be submerged and still energized with electric-

ity. Report any downed lines you see to TCEC by calling 800-999-2285 immediately.

Electrical equipment — Never use electrical equipment that is wet – especially outdoor electrical equipment, which could be a potential danger after a summer storm. Water can damage electrical equipment and parts, posing a shock or fire hazard.

May is National Electrical Safety Month. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, each year thousands of people in the United States are critically injured and electrocuted as a result of electrical fires, accidents and electrocution in their own homes.

Many of these accidents are preventable. There is much you can do to keep yourself and your community safe around electricity.

Contact us for additional electrical safety tips or if you would like us to provide a safety demonstration at your school or community event. Pause and take the extra time to plug into safety.

Before the Storm...

• Prepare your emergency water supply.

• Turn your refigerator and freezer to their coldest settings.

• Gather important information you will need to contact your cooperative in the event of an outage and update your contact information.

Hurricane Preparedness Resources Access these websites to complete your preparations for a coming storm: Tri-County Electric Co-op

www.tcec.com

The Florida Division of Emergency Management

floridadisaster.org

The National Hurricane Center

nhc.noaa.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

fema.gov

Ready (From the Department of Homeland Security)

ready.gov

After the Storm...

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

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

• Report any electrical outages in your area to (insert coop name).

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

To report an electrical outage in your area and to check your co-op’s storm status: Call

850.973.2285

Text

800.999.2285

Online

www.tcec.com Facebook.com/ TriCountyElectricFL

Powering Up After An Outage When the power goes out, we expect it to be restored within a few hours.

But when a major storm or natural disaster causes widespread damage, extended outages may result. Our line crews work long, hard hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest time possible. Here’s what’s going on if you find yourself in the dark:

Generate Safely - Safe Generator Operation Never connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system. There are only two safe ways to connect a standby generator to your equipment: Stationary An approved generator transfer switch, which keeps your house circuits Generator separate from the electric co-op, should be installed by a professional.

Portable Plug appliances directly into the outlet Generator 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 is DEADLY. Use a heavy-duty extension cord to connect electric appliances to the outlet on the generator.

Start the generator BEFORE connecting appliances.

Source: SafeElectricity.org

Developed jointly by the Energy Education Council & Rural Electricity Resource Council

#MoveOverFL

www.flhsmv.gov

Who is responsible for fixing what?

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.

Stay Engaged!

These local organizations are ready to help in the event of a weather emergency. They also provide a wonderful way to give back and support your community after a storm passes.

850.878.6080 redcross.org 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A04 Tallahassee, FL 32399 850.245.4111

Medical Essential Service

Visit www.tcec.com/content/medical-essential-service Medical Essential Service accounts are so identified to serve as a reference for determining priorities in the effort to restore service in the event of widespread or prolonged outages affecting the cooperative’s system. We do advise all members to provide for an alternate source of care or electricity in the event that electrical service in their location is interrupted.

You must obtain verification from your physician regarding your medical condition, type of equipment, and length of time the equipment is needed.

Examples of qualifying equipment include: oxygen concentrator, heart monitor, controlled medication, and controlled atmosphere.