Company launches new video series answering questions about hurricane-related power outages
ATLANTA –– The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season is here, and Georgia Power is encouraging its 2.6 million customers to prepare for an expected active Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, with the official June 1 start of hurricane season.
Georgia Power has launched a new video series answering some of the questions most often asked by customers.
Georgia Power also offers tips for preparedness year-round:
· Build an emergency kit – Gather supplies that will last for several days for everyone living in your home. Don’t forget to consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly. Check out Georgia Power’s video about the supplies to collect to build and maintain a robust emergency kit.
· Have an emergency plan – Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate in an emergency.
· Understand your risks – Learn more about threats from potential emergencies around your home and business, such as flooding potential, dangerous trees and likelihood of blocked evacuation routes, and plan appropriate responses to them.
· Downed Tree Safety – Downed trees are usually the cause of an outage after a major storm. Never attempt to pull tree limbs off wires yourself.
· Generator Safety – Never use generators in an enclosed space or near open windows. They produce dangerous carbon monoxide that can’t be seen or smelled.
Severe weather can happen anytime across Georgia:
· Before a Storm: Know your risks of storm surge and tropical storm or hurricane strength winds. Check your emergency kit, unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power.
· During a Storm: Have several ways to receive emergency notifications and weather updates. If your area is under an evacuation order, follow safety orders from local officials immediately.
· After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging 2021 wire, including telephone or TV wires that could touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off power lines or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage. Additionally, do not walk or drive through standing water as it may conceal live wires brought down by the storm.
For storm tips, customer service and restoration efforts, customers should follow @GeorgiaPower on Twitter and at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm.
Additional Tools You Can Use:
· Outage & Storm Center – Available at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, customers can visit this site to sign up for Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can 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.
· Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go.
· Outage Alerts – Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and updates via text message.