Utility companies across Georgia are getting ready for what’s expected to be a major winter storm. The storm, named ‘Izzy’ by the Weather Channel, is expected to move into the South from the midwest Saturday before heading north.
Izzy dumped up to a foot of snow on parts of northern North Dakota and western Minnesota. A couple inches of snow blanketed parts of the Twin Cities. Snow fell at the rate of 1 inch per hour Friday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa, according to the Weather Channel.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency for 91 Georgia counties ahead of the storm and power companies are getting ready.
Georgia Power and local electric cooperatives are bringing in outside crews and resources to assist with restoring power outages that are likely to occur.
Habersham EMC is one of the main utility providers in Northeast Georgia, serving over 26,000 members in six counties.
Now Habersham asked its Director of Strategy and Communications Nicole Dover about preparations for the storm. Here’s the Q&A:
How is Habersham EMC preparing for the predicted winter storm? Habersham EMC personnel are monitoring the forecasts and are ready to respond should outages occur. HEMC has also called in additional utility contractor crews to assist with restoration efforts. These crews will be stationed in our service area Saturday afternoon in anticipation of the winter storm. We also have staff prepared to assist members with reporting outages.
With current forecasts as they are, do you anticipate widespread power outages and, if so, how should members prepare? Widespread power outages are a possibility given the current forecast. Depending on the type of precipitation and winds, these could be extended or some members may experience recurring outages due to additional damage to infrastructure. We encourage our members to always have an emergency kit prepared for their homes, offices and vehicles. FEMA’s Ready.gov website has several checklists to help members assemble their personalized emergency kits. Members need to have a plan to keep warm, prepare food, keep foods/medicine cold, take care of medical needs and stay informed during a power outage.
What do you advise members to do in the event of prolonged power outages? Please know that HEMC and additional crews are working to restore your power as safely and quickly as possible. Immediately following a storm, HEMC personnel assess the damage to determine the extent and what resources are needed. This takes time due to blocked roadways that must be cleared, etc. Then crews must transport the materials needed to the sites and begin the work. Electricity has to have a complete circuit in order to reach the destination. While you may not see much or any damage at your location, the damage along the circuit must be repaired before the electricity reaches your location. If the damage is repaired at your location, but not further down the line, you still will not have power until that damage is repaired and the circuit is complete.
Is there anything else you would like to add? Avoid downed lines and treat all as if live. Report hazards and outages through the SmartHub app, online portal or by phone: 706-754-2114, 706-865-4362 or 800-640-6812. Please do not attempt to report through social media as these accounts are not monitored 24/7. Using the app, online portal or calling will instantly record your outage. Please be aware that the outage map updates frequently, but your outage may not show immediately after reporting.
Other Georgia EMCs and Georgia Power also offer important information on their websites about preparing for winter storms, reporting outages and staying safe.
