Gulf Power Company is making preparations should Tropical Storm Isaac threaten Northwest Florida.

“We are keeping an eye on the track of Isaac,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power spokesperson. “Our crews have extensive experience in hurricane restoration and we will work as fast and as safely as possible. We will also be in touch with neighboring utilities to make sure we can call in extra workers if necessary.”

Smith said all Gulf Power employees have a hurricane assignment and that the company reviews detailed storm plans during the year. 

“We also go each year to help other areas of the Southeast when they have hurricanes so we refine our plans each year based on different scenarios,” Smith said. “This experience pays off when we have a storm in Northwest Florida.”

Despite this planning, Smith reminds customers that hurricanes can cause lengthy power outages — up to two to three weeks for major storms.

"We encourage everyone to prepare and to have critical supplies on hand to help see them through this period,” said Smith. “Gulf Power and Southern Company crews are very experienced and prepared for storm restoration, but if we’re hit with a major storm, residents need to be prepared to go without electricity for an extended period of time. We also urge residents to follow safety guidelines and thank them in advance for their patience. After a major storm it’s our first priority to get power back on as quickly and safely as possible.”

Smith said residents can visit Gulf Power’s Storm Center website, which contains information on how to prepare for hurricane season,along with safety and other storm survival tips. At GulfPower.com, click on the “About Us” tab and scroll to “Storm Center.” This page will be prominently featured once a storm enters the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition, customers can follow updates on Gulf Power’s Facebook page or Twitter feed: www.facebook.com/gulfpowercompany or www.twitter.com/gulfpower. Customers can also report outages on their mobile phone at www.gulfpower.com. Just click the “Log In” button in the “My Account” box.

The Gulf Power Storm Center website covers such subjects as Preparation and Safety, Restoration Process, Meter Box Damage, Generator Safety, Power Outage FAQs and General Storm Tips.

Some of the most critical issues are generator safety and power line safety.

Here are some power line and generator safety tips from the Gulf Power Storm Center site:

· Treat any downed wire as if it is energized. You can't tell by looking if a downed wire is live or not. Telephone or cable television wires that are touching a power line could become energized and should also be avoided. Notify Gulf Power, your local emergency agency, or call 911 to report the location of any downed lines.

· Don't attempt to repair the electrical system or pull tree limbs off lines. Let trained workcrews perform this potentially dangerous work.

· Stay clear of areas with substantial debris or downed trees because it could conceal an energized power line. Also stay clear of chain link fences which may be energized if touching a downed line.

· Wait a reasonable time before calling Gulf Power if your entire neighborhood is without power.

· If you have an electric generator, please ensure that you have isolated your home or business from the utility electrical service lines by opening main breakers or otherdevices.

· Do not connect portable generators to your household electrical wiring. This can cause serious injury to you and to Gulf Power employees working on the lines in your neighborhood.

· Connect only essential appliances — such as freezers and refrigerators — directly to the generator.

· NEVER use a generator in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide very quickly. When you use a portable generator, remember that you cannot smell or see carbon monoxide.

· NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as "back-feeding." This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit-protection devices.

 Here are some more storm tips from the Gulf Power Storm Center site:

· Turn your air conditioning down to cool down your house before the storm. If you keep thedoors and windows closed you can keep your house relatively cool for about 48 hours after the storm.

· Charge your cell phone before the storm — and anything else that needs to be charged.

· Keep freezer doors closed and sealed. Well-filled freezers keep most foods frozen two to threedays if the door is kept closed.

· Be prepared to disconnect or shut off any appliances that will turn on automatically when power is restored. When power is restored, appliances may overload your circuits or pose fire hazards.

· Leave a porch light switched on so that utility crews will be able to determine immediately thesuccess of specific repairs.

Log on to gulfpower.com for more information on storm safety.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 435,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electric service to our customers while working to improve the communities we serve. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”