Storm Preparation

Just in case there is an outage.

Our winters are notorious for strong winds that may cause the power to go out. Benton PUD has line crews on call around the clock, 24/7, ready to restore power as quickly as possible.

Here are some simple things you can do to be prepared:

• Essential supplies to have on hand:

› flashlights and batteries	› glow-in-the-dark sticks	› a lantern
› portable radio and batteries	› windup clock	› matches
› mylar blanket	› can opener

• If you see a down line, DO NOT touch it and stay far from it. It could carry enough electricity to be fatal. Call Benton PUD immediately.
• Keep flashlights ready and in an easy place to find. A flashlight in the bottom of a closet may be hard to find in the dark.
• If your phone is cordless, it relies on power to work. To assure phone service, have one phone that doesn’t need power or uses batteries.
• Avoid opening your refrigerator or freezer. The contents should be good for at least 24 hours if the door is kept closed.
• When the power goes out, try to remember what was turned on at the time and turn those items off. It's especially important to turn off anything that has a heating element, such as the electric range, an iron, or a toaster oven. They could cause a fire when the power is restored. Turning switches off not only helps prevent fires; it will help us restore power faster. If too many items are on when the power is restored, the electric system could be overloaded and go out again.
• If you need power for medical reasons it is important to have a plan in case of an outage. Be prepared to go someplace that has power or to the hospital.
• If you use a portable generator it must be connected through an approved transfer switch that is isolated from Benton PUD's system. Please call us if you have questions about generators.
• If you do have an outage, please do not call 911 to report it. 911 should be used only for an emergency. Call Benton PUD at 582-2176.