Backup plan vital if relying on medical equipment
If you or someone in your home depends on electric medical equipment, it is vital to have a backup plan in place in case of severe weather events, which can cause prolonged outages.
Backup safety tips include the following:
• Have an emergency plan in place with friends and family that outlines places you can go in the event of a long-term outage.
• Find out if the medical equipment safely runs on a backup power source and for how long before you have an outage. (See manufacturer’s recommendations.)
• Keep a full charge on battery-powered devices and have extra batteries available.
• Consider buying a portable battery pack to power devices if recommended by the manufacturer.
• Gather related resources that will last for two weeks, including batteries, supplemental equipment and prescriptions.
• Realize that shelters and hospitals that are also experiencing an outage may be at capacity and have limited resources, including auxiliary power.
• Think about other special equipment you might need, such as coolers for refrigerated medicine.
• Keep up regular maintenance.
Visit safeelectricity.org to learn more about preparing for an emergency.
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members FEBRUARY 2024
NAEC's 2023 Youth Tour delegates Jude Everett, Briley Hickman, David Williams and Kaden Wendfeldt YOUTH TOUR Juniors: Apply for the 'Trip of a Lifetime' JUNE 15-21 | WASHINGTON, D.C. • An all-expenses-paid trip to the nation's capital courtesy of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative • Visit historic monuments, tour world-class museums and meet elected officials Download the application at naeci.com/youth-tour! Applicants must be high school juniors with a parent/guardian who is an NAEC member. Deadline to apply: March 15
POLE INSPECTIONS — NAEC has contracted with Osmose to inspect poles in areas of Baxter and Izard counties. Affected members were mailed a postcard. Osmose employees will drive trucks and wear apparel with the Osmose logo. Work should be done in April.
Operation Round Up scholarship applications due by April 11
The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) member-funded Operation Round Up® program awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to local graduating high school seniors each year. In 2023, 14 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, and three students were awarded $4,000 scholarships to be disbursed in $1,000 installments for up to four years.
NAEC is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 scholarship program. The application is available at naeci.com or through high school counselors’ offices.
Applicants must mail or deliver the typed application to NAEC by April 11. They must include a transcript and three letters of recommendation.
To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must graduate at the end of the 2024 school year, and their parents or legal guardians must be NAEC members. Applicants also must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale through the first semester of senior year.
The scholarship must be used to attend an accredited institute of higher learning on a full-time basis.
For more information, please contact Tori Moss at 870-895-6210 or tmoss@naeci.com.
Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their accounts in Operation Round Up. Volunteers allow their bill to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. Call 870-895-3221 to join today!
ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH
Area rugs are an easy, cost-effective solution to cold floors. Adding them to hard-surface flooring can add warmth to a room and keep feet cozy on cold winter days. Choose rugs made from wool or other natural fibers and plush or high-pile textures for the most insulation. Place rugs in areas where you need more warmth, such as the foot of a bed or under a coffee table.
DAILY HIGHS & LOWS — DECEMBER
2023
Average Daily High: 53.29° compared to 47.77° in 2022
Average Daily Low: 37.94° compared to 29.98° in 2022
Total Rainfall Amount: 1.82” compared to 2.39” in 2022
Warmest Day: Dec. 7, 63.3°
Coolest Day: Dec. 19, 25.9°
IMAGES: BILLY SMART; CAPTAINVECTOR/ADOBE STOCK; CHRIS HICKMAN; CHRIS HICKMAN; CHRIS HICKMAN; ZAURRAHIMOV/ADOBE STOCK; NEW AFRICA/ADOBE STOCK
895-3221 info@naeci.com naeci.com
NAEC ON THE FRONT Ravenden, Nelsonville, Ash Flat and Cherokee Village areas RIGHT-OF-WAY
Lead line technician Tim Thurman, left, and line foreman Grant Hyslip show protective equipment and tools used in line work at the Highland FFA Ag Fair on Jan. 9.
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