Delmarva Power Prepared for Approaching Winter Storm

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Utility Asks Customers to Prepare for Possible Outages

SALISBURY, Md. – Delmarva Power is closely monitoring a wintry mix of hazardous weather that is expected to reach our region this evening. The National Weather Service is predicting that the Delmarva Peninsula will experience rain, high winds and snow into Thursday. Storms can bring down tree limbs onto power lines, causing power outages. Delmarva Power will schedule and adjust its workforce to respond to any outages that may occur.

Delmarva Power urges customers to stay safe and offers the following preparation and safety tips.

Preparation Tips

· Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.

· If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there during a prolonged outage.

· Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.

· Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.

· Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.

· Protect your electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.

· Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. However, if you have an electrically operated sump pump, you should not turn off your power.

· Fill your gas tank so you can run your automobile to charge mobile devices. In order to operate the vehicle safely, be sure to open garage doors, using manual door controls if your power goes out.

Safety Tips

· Tune in to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.

· Follow the advice of your local emergency management officials.

· If you need to use a portable generator, follow the manufacturer's instructions and use only when necessary. Don't overload it and turn it off at night while you sleep and when you are away from home.

· Take cover if necessary.

· Customers are asked to call Delmarva Power to report a power outage, a gas emergency and/or if they see a downed or damaged power line. Stay away from downed wires. Assume any downed wire is energized. The numbers to call are:

· Delaware: New Castle County: 1-800-898-8042, Kent and Sussex counties: 1-800-898-8045.

· Maryland: Cecil and Harford counties: 1-800-898-8042; Eastern Shore: 1-800-898-8045.

· To report a Delmarva Power natural gas emergency in New Castle County, call 302-454-0317.

For more information and updates, visit www.delmarva.com and follow Delmarva Power at http://twitter.com/DelmarvaConnect.