Duke Energy reminds us all to please stay alert, and be prepared in case of outages and other severe weather hazards.
Keep an eye on the forecast
The Reporter recommends checking Paul Poteet’s forecast on our website, www.ReadTheReporter.com, or on Poteet’s own online home, www.PaulPoteet.com. Poteet offers local Hamilton County forecasts as well as current weather radar and information on weather advisories and warnings.
Prepare an emergency kit
Make sure you have flashlights, a first-aid kit and other necessities ready. Learn more about what you should keep on hand. A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
Try to assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency. You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.
You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days.
Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.
Plan ahead for individuals with special medical needs
Keep specialized items such as wheelchair batteries, oxygen and extra medications on hand in case of a power outage.
Get outage alerts
With outage alerts, Duke will notify you by text, voice message or email when you have an outage. They also send status updates and estimated restoration times. Sign up and manage contact information online. Or simply send a text with the message REG to the phone number 57801 to receive outage alerts by text.
Stay away from downed power lines
Stay away from downed or sagging power lines, and do not touch anything that is on or near a power line (i.e., trees or tree limbs, cars, ladders).
Keep children and family pets away from areas where lines may have fallen (backyards, fields, school yards, etc.).
If a power line falls across a car that you’re in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
Report all power line hazards to Duke Energy or your local emergency services department or agency.