REC crews, contractors and related field teams have already restored more than 5,000 outages that occurred after powerful winds today followed yesterday’s soaking rains, downing trees and power lines.
As of 1 p.m., about 1,800 outages remain, and additional outages are expected to occur into this evening.
All workers will continue to restore power, but some outages will continue into Saturday and possibly Sunday, depending on whether conditions worsen. The majority of the outages are in REC’s Western counties, but outages are widespread and are also affecting members in Eastern counties area as well.
In addition to REC’s line workers, contractor line crews and tree workers are also assisting in outage restoration. Specialized equipment including Bigfoot trucks are also being used to reach damage sites, and mutual aid crews are being requested. Many outages are in remote, difficult-to-reach locations, including rights of way in the mountains. REC has plenty of materials such as poles and transformers to make all repairs.
Field teams continue to battle wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Temperatures will drop into the single digits overnight —with wind chills expected to be below zero.
REC urges member-owners—even those who currently have power—to prepare now for the potential of an overnight outage.
- Gather blankets and extra layers of clothing.
- If someone in your home requires electricity for a serious medical condition, consider an alternate location with power that you can rely on during an outage.
- •Make sure you charge critical electronics such as cell phones, and make sure your family has a flashlight with batteries.
- Bookmark REC’s website to report an outage or to find the latest on restoration efforts. You also can sign up to receive Outage Text Alerts: myrec.coop/outagecenter.
- Remember that you can use your smart phone to report power outages at myrec.coop/out. You also can report an outage in MyREC SmartHub.
- If you see a downed power line, always assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay away from the line and anything that might be in contact with it. Call 911 and contact REC at 800-552-3904 to report downed power lines.
- If your backup power plan includes using a generator, it is critical to follow all safety recommendations.
