Storm Safety (5/3/07)
Dangerous summer storms can develop quickly leaving little time for preparation.
Power outages can occur without warning due to high winds and lightning. Power lines and poles may be damaged and electric service may be interrupted. Kaukauna Utilities urges you to be prepared to make sure you and your family can weather a storm safely with as little inconvenience as possible.
Keep an emergency kit in an easy to find location. Make sure all family members know where it is located. The kit should include:
A battery powered radio flashlight and clock.
A few extra batteries
A first aid kit and manual
A small fire extinguisher
If room permits blankets and pillows
A stash of books and rainy day activities for the kids.
A cellular phone- A cordless phone won’t work during a power outage.
It is also a good idea to know how to shut off the power to your house using the main fuse or breaker at the service panel. If a severe storms hits, your local disaster officials may instruct you to shut the power off. If flooding occurs do not use any electrical devises and turn off the main circuit breaker only if you can reach it without touching water.
Surge suppressors are a great investment to protect sensitive electronics and appliances.
A lighting strike or downed power line can send damaging surges through the home.
If your power goes out, call Kaukauna Utilities right away. Don’t assume someone else has called. Each call helps us locate the outage and determine the extent of the problem. Unplug or turn off as many appliances as possible. This will prevent damage from a power surge when the power is restored. Plug them in and turn them on one at a time when the power is restored. Leave one light on during the outage to determine when the power is restored.
If a big storm is approaching, your emergency plan should include other necessities such as medicines, baby supplies, non perishable food items and drinking water. The American Red Cross recommends reserving about three gallons of drinking water per person.
If you have someone on a life support system, please let us know so we can note a life support system exists at that service location. An emergency plan should be arranged to get them to a safe location where their needs can be met.
Always stay away from downed power lines and anything that may be touching them such as tree branches.
If you have a gas or diesel fired generator, do not overload the generator and carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep the generator dry and do not operate inside or in an enclosed area. Generators can develop high levels of carbon monoxide very quickly.
If storms occur, Kaukauna Utilities will make every effort to restore power as soon as possible. Your patience and understanding in these circumstances are greatly appreciated.
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