Meteorologists are watching a cold front march across the Midwest today, and Duke Energy officials are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for the next couple of days. While nobody is predicting frozen precipitation here, things could get a little dicey as blustery winds and single-digit lows combine to make for extreme winter conditions.
Duke District Manager Tanya Evans said Thursday that high winds early Friday could create issues in the area, and utility crews stand at the ready to restore power if outages occur.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Blaze said an Arctic cold front will blast through the area Friday morning and temps will plunge as the day goes on.
The combination of the arctic air mass and the strong winds will result in very cold wind chills across the region from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
As winter weather approaches, Duke Energy suggests that residents prepare in advance for outages.
“While there is never a good time to be without power, we recognize that the possibility of outages over the holidays is particularly worrisome for the customers and communities we serve,” said Jason Hollifield, Carolinas storm director. “Our crews are prepared and will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power when outages occur.”
High winds and saturated ground may lead to downed trees, limbs and power lines. These winds can also impede Duke Energy workers’ ability to assess storm damage and restore power, and any outages that occur early Friday could linger into the evening as high wind gusts are forecast throughout the day.
Duke’s 24-hour hotline is 800.559.3853.
Below is a list of suggestions to consider before, during and after a storm:
| Before the storm
· Create (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable time later. The kit should include everything an individual or family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines, water, nonperishable foods and other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm hits. · Keep a portable radio or TV or a NOAA weather radio on hand to monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and local officials. · Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of storms to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well. · Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with special needs – to a safe, alternative location in case an extended power outage occurs, or evacuation is required. · Pet owners should arrange to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets; friends’ or family members’ homes; or pet-friendly hotels. After the storm · Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines. · If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground. Outage reporting After a storm hits, restoring power as safely and quickly as possible is our top priority, while keeping our customers informed. · Customers who experience an outage during a storm can report it the following ways: · Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device. · Use the Duke Energy mobile app – Download the Duke Energy App from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play. · Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). · Call the automated outage-reporting system, at: 800.POWERON (800.769.3766). · Visit our interactive outage map to find up-to-date information on power outages, including the total number of outages systemwide and estimated times of restoration. Understand how Duke Energy restores power Our crews are ready to respond should outages occur. Learn more about the restoration process following damaging winds. |