CULLMAN, Ala. – As residents prepare for yet another round of thunderstorms and high winds following Monday’s storms and Tuesday’s early morning flooding in parts of the county, the Cullman Electric Cooperative (CEC) is prepared to respond if needed to restore power if the next round of storms Wednesday force lines down.
CEC Manager of Communications & External Affairs Brian Lacy said that no issues were caused during the first wave of storms; however, that hasn’t deterred CEC from preparing for outages across the county. One key to keeping the power on is by reporting outages.
“The key here is reporting your power outage. Do not assume the co-op already knows or that your neighbor has reported an outage,” Lacy said. “Once an outage is reported, our outage management system identifies your location, and combined with other reported outages can determine the scope of the outage.”
While most outages are reported by members, Lacy said the outage management system helps prepare linemen for the trouble ahead. Once on scene and with the situation assessed, the CEC will then have a clearer picture of how long an outage may continue.
“Some outage causes can be determined using this data, but often it still requires a crew being dispatched to the location to find the specific cause of the outage. Once the cause is known, crews can obtain the needed materials and begin construction repairs,” he said. “Depending on the type of repair, the location, the ongoing weather and the number of other outages, it can take a few hours– or in severe weather events– much longer, to restore power to everyone.”
Proper preparation prevents poor outcomes when it comes to safety precautions. Lacy had a few tips on how to stay prepared, before, during and after the storm.
“First, make sure you have a way to stay weather aware, such as a weather radio or a reliable weather app on your phone. Know where the safe space is in your home, and if you live in a manufactured home, know where the nearest community storm shelter is and how long it takes to get there. Have an emergency kit that includes water, batteries and some canned goods,” he said.
To report an outage, call 256-737-3201 or 800-242-1806 or text #OUT to 85700. Confirm your address, and your outage will be registered in the CEC‘s outage management system.
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