Hurricane season prep guide

Even though we don’t live at the seashore, we should still prepare for hurricane season.

“Many of the largest power outages in Walton EMC’s service area are due to tropical weather systems,” says Tim Morris, vice president of engineering and operations. “When a hurricane is predicted to come ashore anywhere in the Southeast, we pay attention.”

Your cooperative has an extensive storm plan that covers all sorts of contingencies, from supplies to housing visiting power crews to feeding hungry linemen. You should have a storm plan, too.

Give attention to these items when making your storm checklist:

LOVED ONES | If a family member has a medical need for power, secure a backup source, like a properly installed generator. Have extra medical supplies on hand and a plan to relocate if conditions warrant.

MEDICAL NEEDS | Ensure prescription drug supplies are adequate and have a first-aid kit.

LIGHT | Have battery-powered flashlights and lanterns at the ready. Avoid candles and other light sources that require flames.

WATER | Stockpile bottled water for drinking. If you’re on a well, prefill bathtubs and other large containers for household use, like flushing toilets. If you have livestock or your livelihood depends on a water supply, have a generator to run the well.

FOOD | Foods that don’t require cooking are ideal, like canned fruit, peanut butter, trail mix, bread and crackers. Cook outside on a grill or an LP-powered stove or griddle.

INFORMATION | Charge cell phones with a power bank or in the car. Have a battery-powered AM/FM radio and NOAA weather radio. Use a power inverter to run a laptop from the car.

MONEY | Have extra cash on hand.

COMMUNICATING WITH WALTON EMC | View and report power outages using waltonemc.com or the Walton EMC app – please do not report outages through social media. You can get updates on large outages by visiting our Facebook page at facebook.com/waltonemc.

Visit the Walton EMC Storm Center for preparedness tips and more.