AES Ohio preparing for winter storm, offering tips if outages occur

MIAMI VALLEY — AES Ohio says it is is preparing for this week’s winter storm, and crews are ready to respond if outages occur.

Additionally, AES Ohio is urging people to put safety first and avoid unnecessary travel during dangerous conditions. It protects their crews as repairs are made and also cuts down on the possibility of vehicles sliding into power poles and taking out electrical supply.

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People can also plan ahead by creating emergency kits, discussing emergency back up plans if they rely on electrically powered medical equipment and knowing where their fuse boxes or circuit breakers are located, AES Ohio said.

AES Ohio released the following winter preparedness tips ahead of the storm:

Before the storm:

• Be sure to have your emergency storm kit readily available. Prepare your kit with an emergency radio (battery powered or solar charged), mobile device chargers, flashlights, first aid kit, non-perishable food items, water, face coverings, hand sanitizer, batteries and other necessities.
• Develop an emergency plan that addresses any special medical needs or medications you or your family members have. Call your local emergency management office to discuss necessary arrangements.
• Be prepared. Bookmark the AES Ohio’s Outage Center on your mobile device for quick access to report outages and get updates on our outage map. If your power goes out, report your outage immediately. Don’t rely on your neighbors to report your outage.

If your power goes out:

• Turn off all appliances, including your furnace, space heaters, water heater and water pump. Leave on one lamp to know when power has been restored. That way, you can avoid a circuit overload and another outage that may result when power is restored to all appliances at once.
• Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed. Food will stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours.
• Open your blinds during the day, cover windows with drapes at night and gather in a central room where there is an alternative heat source, such as a fireplace. Provide ample ventilation and ensure plenty of distance from your home or work when using portable generators.
• If the indoor temperature drops to 55°F or below, open your faucets slightly so they constantly drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Remain patient. Every electric company – including AES Ohio – has a detailed plan for restoring electricity as quickly and safely as possible after a power outage. Typically, one of the first steps a company takes—to prevent injuries and fires—is to make sure that power is no longer flowing through downed lines. Restoration then proceeds based on established priorities.

Customers can report downed power lines and outages by clicking here or by calling 877-4OUTAGE (877-468-8243).

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