Be prepared for ice storms and winter power outages!
Outdoor safety: Stay alert, dress warmly and limit your time
During extremely cold weather, try to stay indoors. Keep any trips outside as brief as possible, and keep the following tips in mind to protect your health and safety.
Safety first: Pay attention to your surroundings
- Stay away from downed power lines and equipment. During severe winter weather, power lines may be downed from falling branches or other hazards. There is no way for you to know if the line is energized or not. Call 1-800-686-2357 to report downed lines or equipment.
- Keep your distance from working crews. Work sites can have any number of hidden dangers for the public, and distracting crews can cause accidents to happen.
- Look up. The most dangerous part of a storm is often just after it has passed. Extreme cold temperatures make many materials like wood and metal brittle, and the extra weight of snow and ice accumulation on power lines and trees can make them snap. Ice is particularly harmful to electrical lines and can increase the weight of branches by 30 times. In fact, 1/2” of ice accumulation on power lines can add 500 pounds of extra weight, so be sure to stay clear of falling ice or debris from above.
Indoor safety: Heat and light your home safely
- Candles are hazardous. If your power goes out, use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles, if possible. Candles can lead to house fires.
- Turning on the stove for heat is not safe. Have at least one of the following heat sources in case the power goes out: extra blankets, sleeping bags or warm winter coats; fireplace that is up to code with plenty of dry firewood or a gas log fireplace; portable space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements (used according to instructions).
- Use space heaters with great care: Keep any portable space heaters away from any flammable materials, like curtains or blankets.
- If using a generator, do so safely. Generators should be located outdoors and at least 20 feet from any window, door or vent and in a space where rain and snow will not reach them. Do not use the generator or appliances if they are wet, and do not store gasoline indoors where the fumes could ignite. Read more about generator safety.
- Conserve heat: Avoid unnecessarily opening doors or windows; close off unneeded rooms; stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors; close draperies or cover windows with blankets at night.
