Electrical Safety Tips for Before During and after a Hurricane
Your home might not take a direct hit, but take some simple preventative
steps to protect your family as well as your appliances and electronics during
this hurricane season.
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Before a Storm |
Trim trees that pose threats to power lines. If this
is risky to undertake, call GRENLEC for assistance. |
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Install surge protectors if possible,
to provide greater protection for your appliances and help prevent
damage from lightning. |
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Pay attention to weather changes. Lightning often precedes rain,
so don't wait for raindrops to fall before going indoors. |
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When a storm is Approaching |
Unplug your appliance power cords and cables from
outlets. This protects them from power surges. |
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Remember, lightning can travel through wiring and
water pipes |
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Avoid using a corded telephone or any electrical appliance. |
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Turn
off the air conditioner if you have one. |
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Leave refrigerator on and set to coldest setting to help
perishables last longer. |
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Food will stay frozen between 36 and 48
hours in a fully-loaded freezer, 24 hours in a half-filled one. Try
not to open the doors unless absolutely necessary. |
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During a storm |
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Listen to your local radio for outage and weather
information. |
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If power goes off unplug you refrigerator. |
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Check to make sure all appliances are unplugged. |
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River Sallee Cooperative Credit Union - St. Patrick's |
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After the storm |
Keep away from downed power lines. Some energized
wires spark and snap, others do not, but both are dangerous. |
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Assume all wires on the ground are
electrically charged. This includes cable TV feeds. Post hurricane
debris can hide fallen power lines. Be careful. |
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Report downed or damaged power lines to
GRENLEC on 237# 0r 440-5901. You may also call emergency services. |
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If your home has sustained flood or
water damage, and you can safely get to the main breaker or fuse
box, turn off the power. |
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Remove standing water, wet carpets and
furnishings. Air dry your home with good ventilation before
restoring power. |
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Have a licensed wireman check your home for damage to the
installation before using electricity again. |
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GRENLEC has a Top priority power restoration plan.
In the
event of a damaging storm, the Company will restore power first to critical
facilities such as hospitals, police and fire departments, water supply pumps
and other emergency facilities. From there, we will begin restoring electricity
to our commercial and industrial centers, followed by residential areas. This
unfolding, methodical approach ensures that the community's highest-priority
needs are met as soon as possible.