When major storms knock out power, Pella Cooperative Electric line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines. We encourage members to also practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during major storms and outages. Here are a few items for a checklist of safety:
- Follow Pella Cooperative Electric on Facebook and Twitter for outage updates. We update our social media channels in the event of any power outages that affect a large number of people.
- In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from a power surge, and will also help prevent overloading the circuits during power restoration.
- If you plan to use a small generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Every generator should also be equipped with a double throw switch, so it doesn’t backfeed onto the electrical grid, causing safety issues for our line crews.
- After the storm, always assume downed power lines are live and dangerous.
- Make sure you’re signed up for NOAA emergency alerts.
- Set aside basic household items you would need during a power outage, including flashlights, batteries, a power bank to charge your cell phone, and a battery-powered radio.