Storm season is about to hit Everett, Washington and Snohomish PUD has passed along some preparation tips.
Prior to storm season, the PUD trims trees and brush away from power lines to cut down on potential outages. The utility also makes improvements to its electrical distribution system throughout the year to maintain a high level of reliability.
To aid in storm restoration, the PUD develops pre-set agreements with contractors and mutual-aid crews from around the region and stocks up on key supplies, including wire, poles, transformers and other equipment.
The safety of PUD employees and customers is a top priority during storms. Remember to stay at least 30 feet away from fallen power lines and never use a combustible heating source such as a gas grill or portable generator indoors. Always use extreme caution when using candles or lamps inside, and keep them away from furniture, drapes and other flammable materials.
September is National Preparedness Month and the PUD encourages customers to create an emergency preparedness kit to help them stay safe and comfortable during power outages. Pack a kit with flashlights, batteries, matches, drinking water, food bars, blankets, a battery powered radio and first aid kit. For a complete list of what to pack, visit www.snopud.com/winterprep. If customers have special medical needs and are dependent on power, the PUD advises them to consider purchasing a generator or prearrange to go to family, friends or another safe place with power.
During a power outage, dress warmly and choose a small room with few windows as your emergency living quarters. PUD customers can call 425-783-1001 or visit the online Outage Map (www.snopud.com/outagemap) to report outages. Reports of fallen power lines or other life-threatening situations should be made to 911.
Use the PUD’s Outage Map to track outages throughout the utility’s service territory. The PUD’s Outage Map uses color-coded boxes to indicate outage areas and details each outage’s cause, number of customers affected and estimated time of restoration. During storms, stay informed of PUD restoration efforts by following the utility’s Facebook and Twitter accounts and monitoring local TV and radio stations. For more outage preparedness tips and links to the PUD’s Outage Map, visit www.snopud.com/outages.
September 13, 2019
Everett