To protect your home and property during a power outage, remember these facts:

• Stay away from all downed lines. Always assume a downed power line is live.

• Do not drive over power lines lying on the road.

• Keep children and pets away from downed lines.

• Call the power company or your local police or fire department for help to have a downed line barricaded until it can be repaired.

• If your power is off, make sure you turn off appliances to avoid any potential safety hazards when the power is restored.

• Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer. If the doors remain closed, food stays frozen 36 to 48 hours in a full freezer.

• If you use non-electric space heaters, use them only in well-ventilated areas.

• If you use a generator, plug appliances directly into the generator. Do not plug the generator into house wiring.

•Be assured the power company is doing everything to restore power as soon as humanly possible.

When your power goes out:

• Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer 36 to 48 hours provided the doors remain closed.

• Don’t prune trees on or near electrical power lines.

• Disconnect or turn off appliances that were on when the power outage occurred. Leave one light on so you know when the service has been restored.

• If given warning of the storm, fill your bathtub and spare containers with water in case your electric water pump or the city water system is affected.

• A non-electric unvented space heater should only be used in a well ventilated area.