Get Ready for Storm Season

It may seem a little early to be talking about storm preparedness, but spring arrives this month and so does the possibility of severe weather. It is never too soon to start taking a proactive approach to your safety during severe weather situations. While many may associate local storms with summertime, it was only two years ago that DEC was faced with restoring large-scale power outages caused by severe weather in early spring. On April 1, 2023, a record-breaking EF-3 tornado touched down near Greenwood and left a 15-mile path of damaged homes and communities. For over 12 hours, Co-op crews worked to get the lights back on for more than 8,000 members. When severe weather strikes, it's important to be prepared. That's why DEC encourages our members to have an emergency plan, as well as an emergency preparedness kit. When planning for how you and your family will respond to inclement weather, it's important to consider the following three questions:                                                                                             

1. How will you get to a safe place in the event the storm becomes severe?
2. If you and your family get separated, how will you contact each other, and how will you locate each other?
3. How will you respond depending on the type of storm and conditions that are occurring? (The Co-op encourages members and their families to discuss various scenarios and practice your responses to each.)

Once you have a plan in place, members should buy or make an emergency preparedness kit. In the event of a major outage, you and your family could potentially be without power for several days, so it's important to include enough supplies for everyone in your household. When purchasing your kit or putting one together, DEC suggests focusing on these essential items.

1. Non-perishable food items, such as canned or dried goods, that don't require a lot of — if any — preparation.
2. Enough water for everyone in the household (The Red Cross says the standard amount is one gallon of water per person, per day.)
3. First-aid kit and/or supplies
4. Copies of important family documents
5. Extra clothing and personal hygiene items
6. Additional items such as a flashlight, radio and more.

As you prepare for whatever the storm season has in store, know that our DEC team is preparing, too. We will be ready to restore power and get the lights back on when severe weather strikes!