With severe storms expected to bring high winds that could down trees, power outages are possible Tuesday.
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If you didn’t prepare to lose power, but you have, here are some tips from Consumer Reports to help keep you and your family safe.
- Before your phone dies, write important information down on paper like emergency numbers.
- To conserve your phone’s battery power, close any apps running in the background and turn on low power mode. Depending on your device, this will do anything from disabling your voice assistant to dimming the display.
- If you have a generator, never turn it on inside -- not even in your garage. The carbon monoxide it emits can kill you.
- Unplug electrical equipment like your computer and TV. They can be damaged by a surge when the power comes back on. Leave a light switch turned on so you know when the power is back.
- If you keep the doors closed, a refrigerator will maintain a safe temperature below 40°F for about four hours. A full freezer will stay cold for 48 hours -- 24 (hours) if it’s half full.
- Use your grill to cook any raw food before it goes bad. Make sure to do this outside -- not in your garage or any other closed space. You’ll still need to chill the food or you can share it with the neighbors -- but at least it’s not in the trash.
Utilities prepared to respond
Georgia Power and JEA teams are in place and ready to respond to outages as conditions clear after severe thunderstorms that are expected to bring high wind and heavy rain.
JEA said its headquarters will remain open Tuesday to serve customers and that the primary focus for its teams during severe weather events is the safety of its crews and community members.
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JEA offered some tips for customers to keep in mind Tuesday:
- Outages: Some customers may experience power outages during the storm. JEA encourages all residential and commercial customers to visit jea.com/outage or call 904-665-6000 to report and track outages. Customers also can text “OUT” to MyJEA (69532) to report their outage.
- Restoration: In the event of outages, getting power back on for everyone will be JEA’s number one priority. The utility said it will work as quickly as safety permits to restore power. The number and extent of the outages will determine how long that takes, so JEA asks for patience.
- Downed Lines: The storms also may cause downed power lines. We urge residents to keep clear of any downed wires and to report any instances by calling 904-665-6000.
- Outdoor Furniture: With the forecast of severe winds, please secure or bring inside any outdoor furniture or other loose items.
In Georgia, as the storm conditions subside making it safe and efficient to work, Georgia Power crews will enter and remain in the field around the clock working until every service for every impacted customer is restored, the utility said.
Georgia Power reminds customers to keep safety first during severe winter weather and offers the following tips and tools.
Safety After The Storm (Find More Tips Here)
- Never touch any downed or low-hanging line. Always assume power lines are energized. Report the location of any downed or low-hanging line to Georgia Power. You can also contact local authorities or 911.
- Never try to make your own electrical repairs to Georgia Power equipment.
- Never pull tree limbs off power lines as they could be energized.
- Never go into areas with debris or downed trees. Dangerous power lines may be buried in the wreckage.
- Avoid stepping in puddles and standing water after a storm as they may be touching hidden, downed power lines and be electrified.
- Never walk into areas where crews are at work. If you’re driving near work crews, obey road signs and proceed cautiously.
Tools You Can Use to Stay Connected & Informed
- Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact number is up to date to receive the latest information.
- Outage & Storm Center – Available at www.georgiapower.com/storm, customers can visit this site to check their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
- Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times.
- @GeorgiaPower on X (Twitter) – Follow @GeorgiaPower on X for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.