When the meteorologist says a major summer storm is coming, your first thoughts are probably to get the car in the garage and garden covered. We get it (we take a lot of pride in our tomatoes too).

We work hard to make sure you have safe and reliable energy, but occasionally the weather or other circumstances can create issues.

Stay up-to-date on efforts we’re taking to prepare for impending storms, weather related outages and news in your area on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

But there are other things to you need to do to keep you and your loved ones safe during the storm.

1. Set up an emergency kit.

It can be a designated drawer, or a box full of the things you’ll need. Just make sure it’s easy to access, even in the dark. Stock it with fresh batteries, a battery-powered radio and a flashlight. Avoid using candles, lanterns or oil lamps because they can present a fire risk. Be sure everyone in the family knows where it is located. 

2. Run your generator safely.
 

If you need to use a generator for power after a storm, be very vigilant about safety. Never run a generator in an enclosed space or indoors and always place the generator at least 20 feet from the house with the engine exhaust directed away from windows and doors. Generators should never be connected to home wiring without an approved device that ensures electricity is not fed back through electric supply lines to your home. Doing it the wrong way could electrocute line workers and ruin your generator. It’s also a good idea to use a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector. 

3. Check for damage to meters 
 

A damaged gas meter could potentially create a leak hazard. Damage can be caused from hail, trees falling, flooding, settling or erosion.  If you think your meter might be damaged, give us a call at 888-890-5554 and we’ll come take a look at it.

As for the garden, we’d be lying if we said we hadn’t shed a tear or two over losing our prized crops to hail over the years. We’ve had the best luck with placing large pots of buckets over plants. Make sure to put a stone on top so they won’t fall over in the wind. And cover your plants well before the storm is close to avoid being out when conditions start to get dangerous. No tomatoes – even those perfect, nearly ripe beef steaks - are worth a safety risk.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for the latest tips!