June is National Safety Month, an annual observance to help keep people safe in any environment. National Safety Month was established in 1996 by the National Safety Council and offers a multitude of free resources that highlight leading causes of preventable injury and death.
Our top priority at NES is to provide our customers with safe and reliable electricity. With the utility specializing in electric work, NES would like to offer some helpful tips to customers on how to prepare and stay safe in the event of a severe weather occurrence:
Before a Storm – Stay Prepared
- Make sure your contact information is up to date with us.
Be sure your current phone number is tied to your NES account so that we can easily identify your location when reporting an outage. To update your number, log into My Account at nespower.com. - Assemble an emergency kit.
Take a quick trip to the grocery and pharmacy to stock up on essentials like:
- non-perishable food
- blankets
- portable chargers
- flashlights and batteries
- medication
- bottled water
- pet food
- infant formula and diapers
Also, make sure cell phones are fully charged and unplug sensitive electronic equipment. If the electricity goes out, use a car charger to power up your cell phone if the battery is running low.
- Have a back-up plan for life-support equipment.
If you or a family member rely on an electrical life-sustaining medical device, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there or to a hospital during an extended outage.
During a Storm – Stay Safe
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
Food in an unopened fridge will be safe if power is out four hours or less. A fully stocked freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours.
- Follow all safety guidelines when operating a portable generator.
Ensure proper ventilation outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust. Install a carbon monoxide detector inside your home as a safety precaution. - Never go near downed or sagging power lines.
In case of an emergency or hazardous condition, call 911 to report the issue. NES will be notified immediately to respond.
After a Storm – Stay informed
- Report your outage.
Quickly report power outages by calling, going online or texting from your mobile device. - Stay updated.
Go online to nespower.com to view our outage map for near real-time updates. We also provide storm information on Twitter and Facebook.
For more information on National Safety Month, click here.
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