Storm Preparation

Just in case there is an outage.

The Tri-Cities is 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 1-888-582-2176.