Prepare now for Hurricane Season

Hurricane season officially started on June 1.  NOAA is predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, with up to 21 hurricanes in the latest forecast.  Up to six of those storms are expected to be major hurricanes, with winds of 111 miles per hour or higher.

“As a top tier co-op, service reliability is in our mission,” said Jimmy Liverman, the co-op’s vice president of operations.  “While we try to keep the lights on 24/7, outages do occur and are normal during hurricane season. We want member-owners to be prepared this upcoming season.”

Here are simple steps to prepare and stay safe this storm season:

  • Outline a communication and evacuation plan for your family. If you have pets or any livestock, include them in your plan.
  • Create an emergency kit that includes:
    • Important documents sealed in a watertight plastic bag
    • Cash
    • Enough non-perishable food, water and medication for at least three days
    • First-aid kit
    • Battery-powered radio
    • Flashlight
    • Extra batteries
    • Personal hygiene items
    • Extra clothes and blankets
    • Food and other supplies for pets
  • Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/RoanokeElectric and Twitter at @twitter.com/Roanoke_ec to stay informed about outages and other storm information.
  • Download our app by texting ‘Roanoke’ to 797979 and keep our outage reporting number handy: 1(800) 358-9437 or text ‘OUTAGE’ to 352667.
  • Bookmark our live outage map at http://outage.roanokeelectric.com/#viewer-menu-parent to see a real-time look at power outages across our service territory.
  • Sign up for local weather alerts. You can also visit ready.gov for tips on preparing for natural disasters, as well as real-time weather and traffic information.

This year, it is also important to stay tuned to the latest health and safety guidelines from the CDC and local officials, and to adjust your preparedness plans accordingly to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.