With forecasters predicting snow and possibly icy precipitation in the next few days, Alabama Power wants customers to be prepared. Ice storms – prolonged periods of freezing rain – can result in power interruptions and create hazardous road conditions.

 

Here are some tips for staying prepared and safe during wintry weather:

 

• Check your supplies of non-perishable foods and heating fuel and replenish if needed.                  

 

• Charge cell phones and other electronic devices before the storm.

 

• Have enough prescription medicine to last several days.

 

• Make sure you have flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries.

 

• Ensure elderly family members or friends who live alone are prepared for the weather.

 

Should a loss of power occur:

 

• Call Alabama Power’s Automated Outage Reporting System at 1-800-888-APCO (2726). It’s the fastest and most effective way to report a power outage.

 

• Disconnect or turn off appliances that were on when the power interruption occurred. Leave a light on to know when service is restored.

 

• If you use an electric generator, operate the unit outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes to the home. Keep it protected from direct exposure to rain or snow.  A good location is an open shed, under a canopy or a carport. Never use a portable generator indoors or in attached garages. Never plug a generator into a household wall outlet. Power from the generator can feed back into wires outside your home, creating a threat to repair crews. Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy-duty outdoor-rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.  

 

• Avoid opening refrigerators or freezers. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36 to 48 hours if the door remains closed. If the freezer is half full, food will generally keep 24 hours.

 

• Stay clear from areas where repair crews are working.

 

• Stay away from downed lines.

 

For more safety tips and information about how to conserve energy during the winter months, please visit www.alabamapower.com. 

 

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state.

 

News Media Contact:  Keisa Sharpe, 205-257-4155