Nebraska Public Power District
Columbus, Neb. – Much of Nebraska got its first taste of snow over the holidays and Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) wants to remind customers of the importance of safety during severe winter weather.
Severe winter storms with heavy amounts of snow, wind, or ice can impact powerlines and result in downed powerlines, downed power poles, and can cause power outages.
“If anyone were to come upon a downed powerline, they should stay clear of the area. Getting too close or touching a downed line could result in serious or fatal injuries,” says NPPD Vice-President of Energy Delivery Scott Walz. “Our crews are prepared and ready to respond to power outages during winter storms and will work to restore power to customers as quickly and as safely as possible.”
NPPD encourages customers to assemble a few items including a flashlight, extra batteries, a portable radio, at least one gallon of water, and a small supply of food, to access in case of a winter outage. It is also suggested that the refrigerator and freezer doors should be kept closed during an outage to keep food cold.
Customers with access to a generator that can be used during an outage, should make sure they are never used indoors and are installed by a licensed electrician. “Generators and grills should not be used in areas that don’t have sufficient ventilation, such as a garage,” adds NPPD Corporate Safety Manager Brad Palu. “It’s also important to make sure indoor fireplaces are properly maintained and ventilated to ensure no one in the home breathes in dangerous fumes or that the fire spreads outside the fireplace.”
Customers can find outage information using the “NPPD On the Go!” mobile app or by going to nppd.com.