2014 Hurricane Preparedness Guide To report an outage, call 361-632-9288 View outages using the NEW Storm Center Outage Viewer at www.nueceselectric.org
Hurricane Threat & NEC In the event of a hurricane or other disaster, phone service may be interrupted, or you may receive a busy signal when you try to obtain or report information to us. Please recognize that NEC does have 24-hour outage service and all available phone lines are monitored 24-hours a day. If lines are busy, please be patient and continue trying to call us. Nueces Electric Cooperative provides regular updates on outages and power restoration efforts to area media until all power has been restored.
NEC has a dedicated Storm Center which is accessible 24-7 via www.nueceselectric.org. You, or an out-of town family member, can access the NEC website for regular updates and to view outages through the NEC Outage Viewer. If you have an emergency situation, please contact your local law enforcement office.
Basic Storm Safety… • • • • • • • •
Unplug major appliances to protect them from a power surge when power comes back on. Leave a light turned on so you know when power is restored. Refuel heaters, lamps, and generators outside, and stay away from any flames or sparks. Wipe up fuel spills immediately. Do not plug generators directly into wall outlets -- this protects you and our line workers as they work to restore power. Never operate generators, lanterns, heaters, or fuelfired stoves without proper ventilation. Avoid downed power lines or sparking equipment. Never remove debris that’s within 10 feet of a power line. Prevent children from carrying candles or oil lamps.
2014 NEC Hurricane Guide
□□ Start with an easy to carry, watertight container. A large, plastic trash can will do, or you can line a sturdy cardboard box with a couple of trash bags. □□ When storing your documents, use a a portable, waterproof (airtight) bag that’s brightly colored, so you can quickly find it in the dark.
WATER
Sanitary □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□
□□ Water: 1 gallon per person per day.
First Aid □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□
Bandaids Gauze Roller bandages Aniseptic Latex gloves Adhesive tape, 2-inch width Anti-bacterial ointment Cold pack Small scissors Tweezers Sunscreen Thermometer Safety Pins CPR breathing barrier/ face shield Non-prescription drugs (e.g., aspirin or non-aspirin pain relievers)
Food □□
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Ready-to-eat, non-perishable foods, such as canned meats, granola bars, instant soup and cereals, fruits and vegetables, canned or box juices, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, bread and any special dietary items you and your family need. Dry milk and juices Manual can opener Baby supplies: formula, bottle, pacifier, soap, baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food and juices Food, water, leash and carrier for pets
Garbage bags Large trash cans Towelettes Bar soap and liquid detergent Shampoo Toothpaste and toothbrushes Feminine hygiene supplies Toilet paper Household bleach Rubber gloves
Supplies □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□
Paper plates & napkins Duct tape Matches Foil Tools Signal Flare Ponchos Blanket or sleeping bag per person Battery-powered, portable radio or portable TV and plenty of extra batterie Flashlight and extra batteries Eyeglasses Games, such as cards, and quiet toys Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes
Document & Finance □□ Copy of driver’s license □□ Printed emergency contact list or address book (even if contacts are stored in a smartphone) □□ Insurance policies (health, home, auto) □□ Vital documents (birth certificates, passports, wills) □□ Bank account information (account numbers, passwords) □□ Cash and change □□ Photocopies of credit and debit cards (front and back) □□ Stock certificates, investment infor □□ Extra keys (home, safe deposit box, office and car)
Preparedness Kit
Getting Started
2014 NEC Hurricane Guide
New Outage Viewer Now Available Nueces Electric Cooperative members can now view out-
Bringing this technology to members is another way the Co-op is being accountable and transparent to members. Not only can members see how their area is affected, but it also allows members to see the bigger picture of what NEC crews are up against.
The outage viewer can be found in the Storm Center located on the nueceselectric.org website.
NEC crews work all hours to ensure members electricity remains on, or is restored as quickly as possible. Currently the Co-op has twenty-four employees on the line-crew. With eight counties to cover and over 3,100 miles of lines, the crew is often stretched thin. During a major outage all crews are called in and work in sixteen-hour shifts. They go on “sleep-time” for eight hours, and then return to work for another sixteen. This will continue until all services are restored. Outage response includes everything from a simple line fix that could take twenty minutes, to a major pole reconstruction project that could take ten workers up to twelve hours to repair.
ages 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the comfort of their office, home, car or anywhere you can access the internet.
Through the nueceselectric.org website, the outage viewer site securely interfaces outage information with our dispatching personnel. As outages are repaired, the program automatically updates to reflect the progress. Members can view the entire NEC system at a glance to determine how many folks are out in their area and how many other outages are happening at the same time. Each outage has a colored dot, and some will have a “halo” around the dot. The color of the dot represents the number of members affected. The halo represents the a larger land mass that is affected.
Be it a big storm or small rain, NEC is here for you when you need us.
Report outages to: 1.800.632-9288
View outages at: www.nueceselectric.org Under the Storm Center menu option
2014 NEC Hurricane Guide
Hurricane Command Center T
he NEC command center: It’s high tech. It’s encased in eighteen inches of concrete. It has seating for three employees and eight senior staff. It is where the magic will happen in the event of a category three, four or five hurricane. It is definitely the coolest room in the entire cooperative. When building the new headquarters, durability and longevity were on the top of the long list of concerns. Living on the coast, designers had to take into account that hurricanes can, and do, impact the area. That is why the NEC blueprints included a specially designed (“hardened”) room which will withstand high force hurricane winds. The room is specially designed and outfitted with its own back-up generator and computer system. In the event of a hurricane, the coordination of restoration can be manned from one of three chairs while management coordinates department efforts and communication from the conference table in the back portion of the room. Rest assured that in the event of a hurricane, NEC will work day and night until all members power is safely restored.
NEC Is On it!
NEC prepares year-round for storms
R
esiding on the coast certainly has it’s benefits. Beautiful sunsets, awesome bay fishing, and friendly folks just to name a few. But it is also the second-windiest location in the nation (the lakes of Michigan are the first) which make it ideal for kite surfing, sailing, and wind mills. As beautiful as these activities are, high winds mean system issues at the co-op. High winds beat up power poles, stretch lines, cause debris to crash into transformers, and cause poles and crossarms to break. Fortunatly, the Co-op is ready for all of these situations and proactivly tackles maintenance to ensure the NEC power distribution system remains reliable even during a storm. The number one cause of outages accross the nation is tree limbs. When an object, such as a tree limb, comes in contact with a power line, circuit breakers or other protective equipment shut off the flow of power. Members connected to that circuit will be without power until crews safely remove the object and reset the equipment. As a result, NEC contracts a tree trimming service to trim trees and clear brush from powerlines. Additionally, NEC’s maintenance program includes daily visual inspections, infrared night inspections to determine hot spots in powerlines before they become an issue, and pole inspections. In 2013 alone, NEC contractors inspected and treated 11,528 poles. We can’t control mother nature, but we can do our best to keep the lights on for the members of Nueces Electric Cooperative.
Confidence in the reliability of YOUR power system is important. In 2013, NEC invested $2.9 million to maintain your powerlines.
2013 NEC Hurricane Guide
LEEWARD ISLANDS
2014 Storm Names Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fred Grace
. Henri
Ida Joaquin Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas
BARBADOS
Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda
LEEWARD ISLAN
BARBADOS
WINDWARD ISLANDS
WINDWARD ISLAN
Many of the roofs destroyed by hurricanes
All About Generators NEC Requirements to Keep Lineman Safe Generators 101 what lighting and If you plan to purchase or install a backup generator for your 1. Determine appliances you will want to
home, it is ideal to plug devices or appliances directly to the generator. However, in some cases members ask to run their home central AC unit to the generator. In order to do this, you will need to tie in the generator with the main breaker. For the safety of line crews and your home, there are certain issues you must resolve with NEC before you activate your system.
NEC requires you to have an electrician safely install a “break before make” transfer switch between your meter and main breaker, and have them tie in your generator to the electric transfer switch. This way the electricity your generator produces will be isolated from the power grid. If you plug in your generator and do not have this transfer switch, you are putting line crews working to restore power at risk of electrocution due to the backfeeding of electricity through your powerlines. When power is restored, simply reverse the transfer switch so the main source of power is coming from the powerlines. Talk to your electrician to see if an automatic or manual transfer switch is right for your home.
use and choose a generator that produces more power than will be drawn.
2. It is best to plug appliances directly into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor extension cords. 3. Every year, people die in incidents related to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from using portable generators. We can’t say it enough: Never Use a Portable Generator Indoors! This includes inside a garage, carport, basement, crawlspace, or other enclosed or partially-enclosed area, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home. The CO from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death, but CO can’t be seen or smelled. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY - DO NOT DELAY! Because you may have windows open to get fresh air while the power is out, be sure to place the generator away from windows, doors, and vents
2014 NEC Hurricane Guide Do Today - Before the Storm ȗȗ Monitor local weather forecasts. Sign up to receive local weather alerts by text or e-mail. ȗȗ Talk to your household about hurricane issues. Create a household disaster plan. Choose an out-of-town contact for everyone to call to say they are safe. Learn evacuation routes. Determine how you would go and how you would get there. ȗȗ Determine the needs of your household members who may live elsewhere but need your help in a hurricane. Network with neighbors and share contact numbers. Consider the special needs of neighbor, such as disabled or those with limited vision problems. Call2-1-1 to register those people for evacuation assistance. ȗȗ Prepare to survive on your own for at least a week. Assemble a disaster supply kit. Buy food, first aid, and hygiene supplies. ȗȗ Make plans to secure your property. Shutter offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up using plywood that is cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking. ȗȗ Learn how to shut off utilities and where they gas and water shutoffs are located. Do not shut off the gas to see how it works. Only the gas company can safely turn it back on. ȗȗ Be sure trees and shrubs are trimmed. Dead limbs could cause personal injury or property damage. Clear loose and clogged gutters and drain spouts. ȗȗ If you have a boat, determine where you will secure it in an emergency. ȗȗ Purchase flood insurance well in advance. There is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance takes effect. ȗȗ Make a record of your personal property. Photograph or video the inside and outside of your home and personal belongings. ȗȗ Make arrangements for your pets in a shelter or include pets supplies, ID & records, medications, and carrier supplies. ȗȗ Assemble important paperwork. Mail copies to someone who lives outside of a hurricane zone. Include policies, contracts, deeds, bonds, passports, shot records, house inventory, marriage and birth certificates. ȗȗ Learn hotels along the evacuation route ȗȗ Assemble a list of doctors numbers and prescriptions you will need. ȗȗ Put cash in envelopes for emergencies. ȗȗ Purchase a generator and learn how to use it ȗȗ Fill all available gas containers
When a Watch is Issued Outside Your Home ȗȗ Locate storm shutters, boards, garage supports, hardware tools ȗȗ DO NOT PRUNE TREES. Tree / brush collection will be delayed and loose branches may become dangerous. ȗȗ Fill your evacuation vehicle with fuel. Park spare vehicles in the garage or as close as possible to the side of the home. ȗȗ Locate water, gas and electric shutoffs. Shut them off if you evacuate. ȗȗ Make hotel reservations. Inside Your Home ȗȗ Go over your family plan and complete evacuation preparations ȗȗ Check hurricane supply list, first-aid kit, medical supplies and prescriptions to be sure you have least a 2-week supply. ȗȗ Be sure all battery-operated TV’s, radios, flashlights, and lanterns are working and you have spare batteries. ȗȗ Place all valuables and copies of records in a waterproof container ȗȗ Make sure you have enough cash.
When a Warning is Issued ȗȗ Secure all windows with shutters or plywood. ȗȗ Drain in-ground pools and ponds. Bring in any outdoor objects ȗȗ Disconnect gas and propane, unplug electronics ȗȗ Turn your refridgerator and freezer to the coldest settings and do not open. ȗȗ Clean your bathtub with bleach and fill with water to use for flushing and bathing. Not drinking. ȗȗ Follow all instructions from local officials, and leave immediately if told to do so. Turn off water and electric utilities. ȗȗ Pack your Family Disaster Supplies Kit, extra blankets and sleeping bags. ȗȗ Take copies of important papers such as insurance policies and a list or photos of your home’s contents. ȗȗ Lock windows and doors before leaving home. ȗȗ Follow recommended evacuation routes to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges. ȗȗ Be sure someone knows where you are.
Restoring power after a sever storm involves much more than just flipping a switch at a substation or pulling a fallen tree off a down powerline. Highly trained line crews from NEC, crews from neighboring co-ops work together around the clock to restore service. Shown here are the steps co-ops follow to restore power. At each stage, the primary goal is getting the greatest number of members online in the shortest amount of time possible.
Graphic created by: Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives