Take Steps to Be Storm Ready as Spring Begins

The thought of springtime usually evokes images of tranquil, idyllic scenes — lush green fields, flowerbeds bursting with colorful blooms, and sunny, clear blue skies. Yet even this early in the season, it's possible for clouds to roll in and for severe weather to strike. Just three years ago this month, parts of DEC's service territory were hit by a historic tornado that left 8,000 Co-op members without power, caused numerous accounts of property damage and tragically took the life of one person. While this is an extreme incident, it's important to be prepared, and DEC encourages members to take the necessary steps to ensure they are storm ready. 

The first thing to do is develop a storm preparedness plan with everyone in your household. Your plan should cover topics such as where to meet should you and your loved ones get separated, how you should contact each other if this occurs, different preparation techniques for various types of storms and creating an emergency preparedness kit. Kits should include — at a minimum — one gallon of water per person, per day, nonperishable food, flashlights, a first aid kit, cell phone chargers and family and emergency contacts. 

Storm season is here, and with hurricane season only a few months away, proactively preparing for severe weather now can save you money and heartache later. Please visit Ready.gov for more information on storm prep tips and what to include in your emergency kit.