Special to The Beacon September is National Preparedness Month and Georgia EMC is encouraging electric membership corporation members across the state to take time now to prepare for emergencies, especially as the Atlantic hurricane season continues through November 30.
“Helping each other in times of crisis is part of who we are,” said Harry Reeves, vice president of training and safety at Georgia EMC. “When storms hit, whether in Georgia or in neighboring states, our linemen don’t hesitate. They feel a calling to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow line crews and do whatever it takes to safely bring the lights back on for families and communities.”
As Georgia’s EMCs stand ready, they also encourage their members to take simple but important steps to safeguard their homes and families in the event of a major storm.
Be prepared before a storm hits
• Make an Emergency Plan ‡ Identify your safe space and ensure every family member understands what to do during an emergency.
‡ Visit ready.gov/plan for help creating a family emergency plan.
• Know your family’s medical needs ‡ If anyone in your household relies on electrically powered medical devices, have a plan in place. This may include a battery backup, generator or pre-arranged relocation plan for extended outages.
• Prepare an emergency storm kit ‡ Every household should have a ready-to-go kit stocked with food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, and a weather radio.
‡ Visit ready.gov/kit for a complete checklist.
• As a storm approaches ‡ Secure your home by protecting windows, doors
and bringing in outdoor items.
‡ Fill your gas tank to ensure you have a backup power source for charging devices or evacuating if needed.
‡ Charge medical equipment
or relocate if necessary.
‡ Stay informed with trusted weather apps, local news and weather.gov.
‡ Know how to report an outage.
Georgia EMC and its 41 member cooperatives, along with their statewide generation and transmission partners, remain committed to safety and reliability, especially during hurricane season.
