NAEC advises winter storm prep

NAEC is preparing for the possibility of outages from the rain, ice, snow and sleet in the forecast for this week. We encourage members to do the same.

Information released Tuesday, Feb. 22, by the National Weather Service’s Little Rock office included the possibility of 1.5 to 2 inches of rain, less than 1 inch of sleet/snow and about 0.5 inches of ice accumulation for NAEC’s territory through Friday morning.

All NAEC personnel will be on hand, and additional line and right-of-way crews are on standby. In addition, NAEC maintains a stock of poles, transformers and other equipment and works with our suppliers in case more are needed.

Members need to maintain an emergency kit stocked with food, water, prescriptions, flashlights, battery-powered radio and extra batteries. Those who rely on electricity-dependent medical devices need to have a plan in place in case they experience an extended outage.

Here are additional ways to prepare for a power outage:

Stay warm – Plan to use a safe alternate heating source, such as a fireplace or wood-burning stove, during a power outage, but exercise caution. Never leave the heating source unattended. If using gasoline-, propane- or natural gas-burning devices to stay warm, never use them indoors. Remember that fuel- and wood-burning sources of heat should be ventilated properly. Always read the manufacturer’s directions before using.
Stay fed – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend having several days’ supply of food that does not need to be cooked. Crackers, cereal, canned goods and bread are good options. Make sure to have a manual can opener. In addition to food, five gallons of water per person should be stored.
Stay safe – When an outage occurs, it usually means power lines are down. It is best not to travel during winter storms. If traveling is unavoidable, bring a survival kit along, and do not travel alone. Always assume any downed lines are live. Stay as far away from downed lines as possible and report the situation to NAEC dispatchers by calling 870-895-3221 or a local law enforcement agency immediately.

Members who experience an outage may report it to the dispatch center by using the NAEC mobile app or form on the Outage Viewer or by calling 870-895-3221. In the event of widespread outages, phone lines will be busy and may be down.

Keep informed during widespread outages by visiting this website, NAEC Facebook page or NAEC Twitter account. NAEC personnel also send restoration updates to local radio stations and newspapers.

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