ATLANTA – Hundreds of Georgia Power employees are headed south for storm restoration duty as Hurricane Charley is expected to move into the coastal area of south Georgia and cause widespread power outages.

Georgia Power has committed 225 line crew personnel, engineers and other technical support staff and 175 contractors to help in power restoration efforts. In addition, two storm semi-trucks will transport supplies and equipment to personnel in the field. All crews are scheduled to arrive at staging areas in Brunswick, Kingsland and Savannah by midday Saturday.

The Storm Center was activated Thursday morning and employees are closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Charley.

In the event of a major power outage, Georgia Power’s first priority is to restore electricity to emergency public service agencies, such as police and fire departments, and hospitals. The next priority is to restore power safely to as many customers as possible with each repair.

Once all Georgia Power customers are restored crews will travel to Florida to assist in restoration efforts there.

Here are some safety tips for customers to follow when severe weather hits:

Residents who have a life-threatening medical emergency should call 911.

Always avoid downed power lines. Any downed line should be considered energized and therefore dangerous. Report downed lines immediately to local public safety authorities and stay out of the immediate area.

Avoid debris lying on the ground that may conceal downed power lines and make sure there are no downed lines before allowing children out to play.

Steer clear of Georgia Power crew work areas. Equipment and energized lines may be in the area that could create a safety hazard.

When driving, watch for crews working along the roadways, and obey all traffic signs and directions around work areas.

When leaving your home and power is off, turn off the main breaker as a precaution to avoid a power surge once the power is restored.

Don’t attempt to make repairs to Georgia Power’s electrical system or pull limbs off lines.

Be patient. Be assured that Georgia Power crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to customers.

Customers should use extreme caution if using candles during a power outage. Always keep candles away from flammable objects and never leave them burning unattended.

If the weather interrupts electrical service, customers are urged to call the Customer Care Center at 1-888-891-0938. This line is answered by an automated system designed to handle power outage calls; however, customers may also talk directly with a customer service representative. The most efficient way for customers to report outages is to leave all information on this system.