Timely Topics
JANUARY 2017 Volume 45 Issue 1
A publication of
Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corporation
Winter Storm Preparation and Survival In 2009, our neighbors in north Arkansas were hit with the most devastating ice storm in their history. That storm narrowly missed Woodruff Electric's service area. For a month, we kept only a skeleton crew of line workers at home while the majority went to help our neighboring co-ops restore power to their members. We never know when we will be hit with an ice storm that causes major damage, but there are some simple and inexpensive preparations that you can make to be prepared just in case. – Have plenty of non-perishable food on hand -- canned or boxed foods that will keep for a long time and do not require refrigeration -- A manual can opener. An electric can opener will not work if the power is out. -- A non-wireless telephone. For those homes that still have regular phone service, a cordless phone will not work during a power outage but the old “wired” telephones will work. During a widespread power outage, cell phone towers will lose power, but may be backed up with an emergency generator. -- Bottled water. If the water system that supplies your water does not have a backup power supply, it may be unable to pump water into the system. -- Flashlights and battery radio and extra batteries. The radio may be your only source of information if the power is out and the roads are impassable. -- An emergency heating source such as a kerosene or propane heater. A small portable heater can heat one or two rooms. Be sure to follow all safety precautions for venting to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Prepare ahead – make sure you have the fuel for your heater. --If you will use a fireplace that you haven't used in years, make sure the flue is clear and clean. – Extra blankets and warm clothing. If there is no heat in the house, these will be needed. -- Camp stove or grill. This may be your only way to cook and heat water. Be sure to use them outside because of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. -- Rock salt or a large bag of oil dry to melt ice and help with footing on walkways. -- Matches, candles, or better yet, one of the newer LED lanterns and extra batteries. -- Extra essentials, such as prescription medicine, diapers, oxygen tanks, baby food, pet food, insulin, toiletries and again, batteries. -- Entertainment items. If there is a power outage, having board games, a deck of cards and craft projects will keep everyone busy and may generate some good memories from a bad experience. --If you plan to use a generator, be sure you know how to use it safely and test it out well before you need it. Take the proper precautions to make sure it does not backfeed onto the power lines. Set it up in such a fashion that there is no danger of carbon monoxide entering your house.
Automatic Bank Draft It’s Easy and Fast to Sign Up!
Woodruff Electric Cooperative P.O. Box 1619 - 3201 Highway 1 North Forrest City, Arkansas 72336 Telephone: 870/633-2262 Fax: 870/633-0629 Office Hours: 8am to 5pm Monday - Friday
Outage Reporting FREE GED CLASSES Offered in Cross, Lee, Monroe & St. Francis Counties FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1-(870)633-5411 OR 1-(800)842-2317 Crowley’s Ridge Technical Institute 1620 Newcastle Rd., Forrest City, AR 72335 (Mission: To provide a competently trained, educated, and retrainable workforce to support agriculture, business, health services, industry, and government)
870/633-7100 or in AR: 888/559-6400
Contact Numbers Augusta............................870-347-2431 Forrest City......................870-633-2262 Moro.................................870-768-4821 Barton...............................870-572-2800
www.woodruffelectric.com
If you are planning to build a new house, get your free booklet from Woodruff Electric, “Building Guidelines for Energy Efciency” or download your copy at www.SmartEnergyTips.org