N.C. Electric Cooperatives Prepared For Matthew, Encourage Safety

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Carolina's electric cooperatives stand ready to restore any outages that may occur as a result of Hurricane Matthew. Line crews from electric cooperatives serving coastal communities, as well as cooperatives serving inland areas of eastern North Carolina, are stocking repair materials, checking equipment and fueling trucks.

Although Hurricane Matthew is forecasted to stay offshore, a significant portion of southeastern North Carolina could experience high winds and heavy rain – prime conditions for toppling trees that could bring down power lines.  Electric cooperatives are based in the communities they serve, so if outages occur, they are in place to begin restoration efforts as soon as conditions are safe.

Cooperatives are encouraging their members to prepare now {video link}. Create an emergency kit that includes non-perishable food and bottled water, a flashlight, radio, batteries and any other items necessary for getting through a power outage. Charge your cell phones in advance of Matthew's approach so that you can stay connected to emergency and safety reports even if the power goes out.

Electric cooperative members should also make sure they have their electric cooperative's outage reporting phone number available. The outage reporting phone numbers for the state's 26 electric cooperatives can be found at www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/storm/outages.htm.

If you encounter a fallen, sparking or sagging power line, do not touch it. Stay far away, and report it to your local electric cooperative or call 911 immediately.

North Carolina's 26 electric cooperatives collectively serve approximately 2.5 million people in 93 of the state's 100 counties. Six electric cooperatives serve 16 North Carolina beaches, and many more serve hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in other parts of eastern North Carolina.

SOURCE North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives

Related Links

http://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com