Storm Season - Lakeland Electric
Transcription
Storm Season - Lakeland Electric
HURRICANE GUIDE During Storm Season and throughout the year, Lakeland Electric is Ready. Sources for Emergency Information Polk County Emergency Management (863) 519-7350 American Red Cross (Shelters) (863) 294-5941 United Way Information Referral Service (863) 648-1515 / (800) 881-8929 Citizens Information Line (863) 401-2234 / (866) 661-0228 Animal Services (863) 499-2600 FEMA (800) 621-3362 National Weather Service (813) 645-2323 Official Emergency Broadcasting Radio Stations WONN 1230 AM and WPCV 97.5 FM are designated as the primary emergency broadcast system stations for Polk County. Lakeland Electric does its best to keep these and other stations informed on the most up-to-date news regarding power outages. Please do NOT call these stations to report outages or ask for utility status information! Travelers Information: 1610 AM Important City of Lakeland Phone Numbers Outage Reporting (866) 834-4248 Customer Service Call Center (863) 834-9535 Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 8 pm (EST) Fallen Power Lines/Water Outages (866) 834-4248 TDD Number (Hearing Impaired) (863) 834-8333 Medically Essential Program (863) 834-1555 Tree and Lawn Debris Removal (863) 834-8773 Lakeland Police Department (Non-Emergency): (863) 834-6900 Lakeland Fire Department (Non-Emergency): (863) 834-8200 Important Websites Redcross.org Lakelandelectric.com Polk-county.net Lakelandgov.net Weather.gov 2www.lakelandelectric.com HURRICANE GUIDE 3-Day Emergency Kit • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 Reporting Outages • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6 If Your Power Goes Out • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6 Pet Care and Safety • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Hurricane Prep for Kids • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9 Power Restoration • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 10 Identifying Downed Power Lines • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11 Service Restoration Questions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 12 Storm Basics 101: From Warning to Aftermath • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 14 12 Steps to Flood Protection • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 Electrical Safety • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 Frequently Asked Questions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 16 Generator Safety • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18 Polk County Info/Special Needs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 19 www.lakelandelectric.com 3 3-Day Emergency Kit Plan to be self sufficient for at least three days during and after a disaster. Anticipate not having access to water, electrical power or utilities. To ensure the comfort of your family, we suggest you assemble and have readily available the items detailed below. Checklist: Battery-operated items (radio, flashlight, etc.) and extra batteries Canned and non-perishable foods Drinking water in non-breakable containers (one gallon per person per day) Fully charged cell phone First aid kit and prescription medicine Personal aids such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc. Credit cards, cash, and an extra set of car keys Infant care items Sleeping bag, blanket, sheet and pillow and portable chair Special dietary food, if required Change of clothes and rainwear Identification, valuable papers, policies and photographs in waterproof containers 4 www.lakelandelectric.com Report An Electric Outage: 866-834-4248 Lakeland Electric’s automated outage reporting system allows you to report an outage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fallen Power Lines Fallen power lines are deadly! Stay clear of them. Don’t touch or try to move any object in contact or near the line. Do not trim trees or remove debris on or near downed power lines. Do not step in any nearby water puddles – they can be as dangerous as the live wires! If you are in a vehicle that accidentally gets entangled in a power line, stay where you are. Do not try to get out unless fire or severe injuries demand it. In these cases it’s important to break all contact with the vehicle in a specific way: keep both feet together and jump out of the vehicle and land, feet still together, on the ground. For tree and lawn debris removal call 834-8773 PLAN • PREPARE • PROTECT Make sure your family is ready for whatever the season brings. www.lakelandelectric.com 5 Reporting Outages If Your Power Goes Out 6 Q A After a major storm or hurricane should I report an outage right away? Q A Before reporting an outage, should I check anything in my home first? Q A How do I report an outage if it's not a household problem? We recommend that customers initially wait before calling to report an outage so that the phone lines can remain open for emergency situations. If lines are down or sparking or if there's a potential hazard that would prevent you from leaving or entering your home or neighborhood, call 911. Yes, check all circuit breakers and fuses to help determine if the outage is a household problem. If it is, you may be able to reset your own power. Call the Lakeland Electric Automated Reporting Line at 834-4284 or 866-834-4248. o Keep flashlights and spare batteries in an easy-to-locate area that’s safe to enter in complete darkness. o Check all circuit breakers or fuses to make sure the problem is not in your home. o Call the Lakeland Electric Automated Reporting Line at 834-4284. o Do not report the same outage to Lakeland Electric more than once. o Leave the doors of freezers and refrigerators closed except when you need an item. Limit the number of times you open the door. o Do not refreeze food once it begins to thaw. o Turn off or disconnect an electric range or any other heating or cooking device you were using. o If there is a potential of flooding, do not store items on top of a heater, range or other cooking device. o Leave all electrical appliances and lights turned off except for one light in a location that will indicate the return of service. o Turn off battery backup systems on computers to conserve battery power. o Keep blinds and curtains closed to help reduce the interior heat of your home. o All electric garage door openers have manual releases or manual operators. o After your service is restored check your breaker panel or fuse box to insure that individual breakers or fuses do not need to be reset. Limit your electric use for one hour so circuits are not overloaded. www.lakelandelectric.com IMPORTANT: Please Call! Lakeland Electric Customer Service at 863-834-9535 PRIOR TO STORM SEASON and verify your information. We need your current phone number on file to match the one registered to your account for our automated outage system to work efficiently. 866-834-4248 Lakeland Electric’s Automated Power Outage Reporting System allows customers to report an outage 24/7 The outage reporting system provides customized, call-handling services that allow Lakeland Electric to keep in touch with their customers, especially in the event of an emergency. You can track power outages on our website. VISIT: www.lakelandelectric.com www.lakelandelectric.com 7 Pet Care and Safety Taking Care of Your Pet Pet owners need to have a pet plan in place prior to the storm. Most public shelters in our area do not allow pets; however after the 2004 Storm Season Polk County Emergency Management established three pet shelters in the County: • Philip O’Brien Elementary, 1225 East Lime Street, Lakeland • Lake Region High School, 1995 Thunder Road, Eagle Lake • Alta Vista Elementary, 801 Scenic Highway, Haines City Due to space limitations, the sites will be strictly for pet-friendly groups and will be limited to providing shelter only for dogs, cats, birds and their owners. As in any other sheltering situation, residents are advised to consult the local media or Citizens Information Line to ensure a specific shelter is open and operating before proceeding to that facility. Other shelter requirements include: • Complete shot records for each pet, which will be reviewed upon arrival at the shelter; • An airline-approved carrying case, in which each animal brought to the shelter will remain for the duration of their stay; • Food for the pet for at least a three-day period; • An agreement, signed by the pet owner upon registration, that confirms that the pet will be accompanied by an owner through the duration of the sheltering. Failure to comply with any of these items could preclude someone being able to enter the shelters. Please visit www.polksheriff.org for more comprehensive pet disaster planning tips. Pet Survival Kit Consider bringing these other items for your pet: Collar with tags and a leash for dogs Harness with tags and a leash for cats Current photo of your pet with your name, address and email address on the back Manual can opener and plastic sealable bags Cat litter, liner and a pan Plastic trash bags and scoop for waste Newspaper and paper towels for cleanup Toys and other comfort items Note: If you do not wish to take your pet to one of the county-run pet-friendly shelters, several of the area kennels, as well as area motels accept pets during a storm. However, each facility accepts the pet on a case-by-case basis and prior arrangements are necessary. Make sure ALL Members of your family are ready for Hurricane Season! 8 www.lakelandelectric.com e n a c i r r Hu Prep CK BACKPA CALM LAN FAMILY P LISTEN PLACE MEETING PHONE RADIO SAFETY KIT SUPPLY fo ki r ds Power Restoration Lakeland Electric’s process of restoring power first emphasizes health, safety, essential community services and re-establishing service to the greatest number of customers. Specifically, we: 1. Clear main transmission lines that carry bulk electrical power and substations that facilitate the long-distance transportation of power from various generating sources. These facilities facilitate transmitting power from the generation units to the end-users. 2. Repair the main distribution lines (feeders) to service-essential customers – essential to the health, safety and welfare of the community. 3. Restore selected distribution lines to energize large groups of customers. 4. Block by block restoration of remaining power lines. As neighborhood and individual service assessments occur, customers are notified by a door hanger, as appropriate, regarding special problems that may require an electrician before Lakeland Electric can restore service. Note: Non-operating traffic signals belonging to the City, County or State must be repaired or replaced by their respective crew before Lakeland Electric re-energizes their power lines. The utility prioritizes traffic signal restoration by geographic region at City and County request. These intersections shall be treated as 4-way stops while signals are not functioning. Q A 10 Who are Lakeland Electric “Essential Customers”? Essential Customers provide the community with health and safety services. If possible, and depending on the weather, available crews, materials, extent of damage to the service territory and flooding, all essential customers receive equal priority and attention. Essential customers include: • Public service facilities (City/County essential facilities) • Utilities (water, wastewater, telephone, gas) • Communications • Medical (hospital, surgical facilities, blood banks) www.lakelandelectric.com Identifying Downed Power Lines During major storms and Hurricanes, Lakeland Electric may have more downed power line locations than crews can immediately get to and repair. For these locations, special warning tapes and signs will be used. These signs and tapes will alert First Responders and the general public that there is a potential hazard and to stay away. As these locations are identified, a report is generated and put on a list. Then, as crews become available they will perform whatever work is needed to make the location safe. How We Restore Power This diagram illustrates the major components the electrical system uses to deliver electricity to Lakeland Electric homes and businesses. 1 Power Plant 2 Transmission Lines 3 Transmission-to-Distribution Substation 4 Distribution Feeder 5 Power Pole 6Fuse 7 Tap Line 8 Pole-top or Pad-mount Transformer 9 Service Lines 1 2 3 4 6 9 8 9 7 5 8 www.lakelandelectric.com 11 Service Restoration Questions Q A Patrols to assess service damage are initiated as soon as the storm passes. The initial damage assessment reports are evaluated, tools and materials identified and crews scheduled and dispatched immediately. Note: Customers with SMART meters have the benefit of the utility knowing their power is off. Q A Q A 12 How will Lakeland Electric know my power is out? You only sent an inspector to look at my damage. Why not a crew to fix the problem? Patrols are trained to assess damage and determine the priority and type of crew needed to repair service. The damage done by a hurricane can be much more severe than normal service outages. Uprooted trees may knock down power poles. Inspectors arrange for tree crews to remove the trees and for pole crews to replace the poles, as needed, so line crews can repair the conductors. Be assured that Lakeland Electric makes every effort to restore service as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Underground versus overhead electric service? The different kinds of damage that could occur in a severe storm are as different as the two systems. Overhead service is mostly exposed to high winds and flying debris. Underground facilities are subject to flooding or damage by nearby uprooted trees. Lakeland Electric crews install and repair overhead lines and install and repair underground cable. Most neighborhoods have one type of service or the other, and crews are assigned to restoration work accordingly. Repair and replacement time is about the same for equipment with similar functions - transformers, for example. Damage to an overhead transformer may be readily visible, but replacement or repair must be done off the ground. Damage to a pad mounted transformer that serves underground cable may not be readily visible without opening the equipment. Pad-mounted transformers also are bigger and heavier if replacement is necessary; however, once placed they can be worked at ground level. www.lakelandelectric.com 1 è è 2 1 è 2 4 } Who Is Responsible For Fixing What? 3 1 è If your electrical components are damaged, you may be responsible for repairs. Identify your type or service connection below to learn YOUR responsibilities, in BLUE; and LAKELAND ELECTRIC’s responsibilities in RED. 1 2è 3 è 2 4 è 2 4 Q A 3 è 1 WEATHERHEAD 2 ATTACHMENT HARDWARE 3 RISER 4 METER CAN 1 SERVICE LINE 2 METER You must repair any damage to your home’s electric system before Lakeland Electric can restore your power. If you feel your home may be unsafe to carry power, call a licensed electrician. We’re not permitted to repair damage to other electrical wiring, the weatherhead or your piping. Why am I the only house on the block without power? There could be a number of reasons: (1) fuses or circuit breakers in your home tripped, which causes the flow of power to stop; (2) trees fell on your service cable; (3) the transformer that serves you blew a fuse or is otherwise damaged; (4) the primary line feeding the transformer is de-energized because of damage. 1 Q A Why is my neighbor’s power on and mine is not? Even homes that are next to each other may receive power from different transformers or lines. www.lakelandelectric.com 13 Storm Basics 101: From Warning to Aftermath 14 When the Storm Threatens • Check/Update your three-day emergency kit. • (See the checklist on page 4.) Listen to our official emergency broadcasting radio stations: WONN 1230 AM, WPCV 97.5. Unplug major non-vital appliances. Prepare for high winds. Board or tape windows and other glass. Anchor objects outside. Brace the garage door. Move boats and trailers close to the house and check mooring lines of boats in the water. Fill your bathtub with water for sanitary purposes. Because water conducts electricity, it’s not safe to run water during a storm. Establish an out-of-state contact. Know where to locate your electric panel or fuse box. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Shut off gas, water and electricity at the breaker box if you evacuate. • • • • • • • • When the Storm Hits • Stay indoors, in an inside room away from doors and windows, electrical outlets and water pipes. • Don’t go out in the brief calm during the eye of the storm. • Keep television and radio tuned for information from official sources. After the Storm Passes • Never go near downed power lines. Always assume they are energized and extremely dangerous. If someone suffers an electric shock, call 911. Even minor shocks may cause serious health problems later. • Check for electrical damage inside your home, such as frayed wires, sparks or the smell of burning insulation. If you find damage, don't turn your power on until an electrician inspects your system and makes necessary repairs. In the Aftermath Following a hurricane, it may take several weeks to restore services and clear roads and even months to remove all debris from neighborhoods. Please be patient and cooperate with instructions and requests from authorities. We can’t guarantee that things will be fixed overnight, we can guarantee that we won’t rest until they are. When needed, Lakeland Electric requests aid from other utilities to help us to restore power. Crews work extended hours until every home that is safe to receive electricity has electricity. • Don’t use tap water until it’s safe. Use your emergency supply or boil water before drinking until you receive official word that the water is safe. • If possible, wait until crews are finished restoring power to your area before cleaning your yard. • If you must remove debris from in or around your home, don’t pile it under or near electrical lines, by equipment or where the lines or pole were located before the storm. • Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and downed power lines. www.lakelandelectric.com 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Flood Hazard Flooding can occur almost anywhere. Find Flood Hazard risk areas by visiting www.floodsmart.gov and by looking at a flood hazard risk profile. Flood Safety Do not walk through flowing water. Keep away from flooded areas, power lines, electrical wires, animals and snakes, etc. Look before you step. Electricity must be turned off by the Electric Company. Be alert for gas leaks. Flood Insurance Standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Contact your insurance company for flood insurance or call 1-800-4274661 for information about the National Flood Insurance Program. Property Protection Measures Move needed items to upper floors. Use sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber to help reduce flood damage. Natural and Beneficial Functions Floodplains absorb large amounts of rain, filter stormwater runoff, reduce flooding and provide wildlife habitat. Preserve the floodplain for its natural state. Flood Warning System Local emergency broadcasts at WONN 1230 AM Radio, WPCV 97.5 FM and WFTV channel 9 TV. Visit www.Lakelandgov.net for emergency broadcast information. Floodplain Development Permit Obtain permits before you build on, fill, alter, or regrade your property in a floodplain. Report suspected illegal activity to Building Inspection at 834-6012. Substantial Improvement Requirements Obtain permits before substantially improving your property. Drainage System Maintenance Keep debris out of drainage swales and ditches. Report illegal dumping to Code Enforcement at 834-6251. Lakeland Flood Hazards The Lakeland urban areas most prone to flooding are within the drainage basins of Blackwater and Itchepackesassa, Poley and English Creeks. Flood Elevation Certificates Flood Elevation certificates are available at City Hall in the Building Department or online at www.lakelandgov.net. Flood Hazard Maps Flood Maps are available at the main Lakeland Library and City Hall or visit www.fema.gov Always be aware of the potentially deadly hazards after a storm: Home Hazards: • Generator back feed • Energized downed wires • Broken standpipes on weatherheads Safety 12 Steps to Flood Protection Things that may become energized and cause shock or death when in contact with live wires: • High or low water levels • Temporary lane marking tapes used on roadways • Chain link and other metal fences • Concrete sidewalks and walls (this material • • • • holds water that can conduct electricity) Trees and limbs Metal clothes lines Guardrails Railroad tracks Hazards Near Utility Poles: • • • • Energized down guys (support wires) Energized ground wires on poles Disconnected or stolen ground wires Damaged poles, hardware, equipment ready to fall Other Cables/Wires: • Energized metal messengers used with fiber optic cables • Energized telephone and cable TV lines and Drops • Wire and cables overstressed and under extremely high tension • Uprooted buried electrical conduits and water lines Manufactured Homes Manufactured homes are not normally considered safe to withstand the impact of hurricane force winds. You may be asked or you may volunteer to evacuate. Regardless of your intent to evacuate, your mobile home must be tied down. For more information on tiedown procedures, refer to www.mygreathome.com. To report downed wires or outages call (866) 834-4248 www.lakelandelectric.com 15 Frequently Asked Questions How Are Fallen Trees Handled? One of Lakeland Electric's priority efforts is removing trees and debris that have damaged electrical equipment and are preventing service restoration. Do not attempt to remove or trim foliage within 10 feet of any power line. If a power line has fallen, please contact Lakeland Electric and do not attempt to get close to the line. Since electric service restoration is Lakeland Electric's primary responsibility, the utility clears only debris that directly affects electric facilities and service lines or access to Lakeland Electric equipment. Downed trees and large limbs that are not near power lines should be trimmed to approximately four feet in length and placed along the curb for eventual collection. Do not pile storm debris near utility poles. Piles of trash and debris make it difficult for utility crews to access facilities in order to restore service. Make safety your first priority when you prune limbs. Look up. Be especially careful when working with a ladder, scaffold, pole or tree in your yard. DO NOT TRIM NEAR A POWER LINE. TREE AND LAWN DEBRIS REMOVAL: 834-8773 Q Does Lakeland Electric ever disconnect power to facilities because of anticipated damage (flooding)? A Lakeland Electric does not de-energize facilities because of anticipated damage such as flooding or high winds. The protective, disconnect devices on all electrical equipment remain energized until adverse conditions of a storm or hurricane cause them to operate as designed and shut off current if conditions demand. The devices will not be switched on until the storm passes and the facilities are inspected to ensure safe re-energizing. Q A 16 What circumstances might prohibit Lakeland Electric from turning the power back on? Once sustained winds reach about 40 mph (and building), Lakeland Electric does not attempt to restore service when conditions endanger the safety of employees. After the storm passess, assessments are made and crews are deployed. Poles down, wires down, trees in the lines and other unsafe conditions are all examples of damage that prevent Lakeland Electric from turning the power on; other work is delayed until these repairs are accomplished. www.lakelandelectric.com If Lakeland Electric doesn’t get my power back on within a certain time, don't you have to pay for the food that spoils? A Since Lakeland Electric has no control over the damage done to its facilities during hurricanes or other natural disasters, neither Lakeland Electric nor its ratepayers would be expected to pay for food that might spoil due to storm damage and resulting electric service interruptions. Q A Will my service be turned off if I am unable to pay my utility bill due to the hurricane?` Note: If you incur significant damage to your home or business that requires you to Q How can you tell the difference between telephone, TV and electric lines and if they are energized? A There’s no easy way to describe the difference. Wires maybe energized, especially if they are wrapped around an energized power line a few feet, or even a block away. Q A How can I tell if a fallen electric line is energized? Q A How can I tell if standing water is energized? Q What should you do when a traffic light is completely out? A A traffic signal that is completely dark should be treated as a 4-way stop. Q What should you do when a traffic light is flashing? A A traffic signal that is flashing “ALL RED” (red in all directions) should be treated as 4-way stop. Approach yellow flashing signals slowly and proceed with caution. If a hurricane approaches Lakeland Electric’s service territory, the utility temporarily suspends collections for the affected geographical area. Collection activity resumes upon returning to normal business operations. temporarily or permanently relocate, please contact Lakeland Electric regarding your account and address. You can’t; so consider all wires energized. Frequently Asked Questions Q There is no safe way to determine this. Consider the water and any wire in it energized. Even a fallen power line several blocks away can energize water. 17 Portable Generators PORTABLE GENERATORS CAN BE DEADLY TO YOU AND OUR CREWS! ALWAYS: • Run a generator in an open, well-ventilated area • Use good condition electrical cords, rated for the current required by your connected devices • Keep children away from a generator • Use an isolation device between your generator and our service conductor. A “double throw switch” or transfer switch meets this requirement • Read and follow the generator owner’s manual • Have a qualified, licensed electrician make any electrical wiring modifications • Call your local electrician if you have any questions NEVER: • Feed power from a generator directly into your electrical system or any wall • • • • • • outlet. This type of connection can cause a dangerous electrical back feed into our power distribution system that can cause serious injury or death to our repair personnel Operate a generator near combustible materials or expose it to water or rain Leave excessive lengths of cord coiled while carrying current. This can cause a fire Refuel a generator while it is running; allow it to cool before refueling Store fuel indoors Leave a running generator unattended Operate a generator indoors, within an enclosed space, or by a window that can be opened. Generator engines emit deadly carbon monoxide fumes that are odorless and can kill. Failing to properly and safely connect your generator delays electric service restoration to you and your neighbors. 18 www.lakelandelectric.com Polk County Emergency Management Evacuation Policy Polk County recommends in-place shelter as the primary option during a disaster. For those unable to remain in place, especially those in manufactured homes, consider these choices: • Evacuate to relative’s or friend’s residence • Evacuate the area at least 2 - 3 days before the storm is expected to strike • Evacuate to a hotel/motel and (make arrangements early as rooms go quickly) • Evacuate to a public shelter. Citizen Information Line: 401-2234 or 1-866-661-0228 Emergency Management: 519-7350 Registration for Special Needs Program: 298-7027 Animal Services: 499-2600 Polk Neighborhood Services: www.polk-county.net People With Special Medical Needs Because utilities cannot guarantee continuous power, especially during a severe storm or hurricane, Lakeland Electric recommends anyone using medical equipment requiring electric service make prior arrangements for back-up power or plan to relocate to a hospital or other facility. If you receive home health care, discuss emergency plans with your agency representative and/or contact the Polk County Special Needs Program. Polk County Special Needs Program The Polk County Emergency Management Special Needs Program provides shelter and/or transportation for persons who need assistance with physical or non-acute medical conditions who must evacuate during emergency conditions. It’s specifically for people who have no other transportation or shelter options. It is preferred that eligible persons pre-register. Eligible persons who evacuate to a Special Needs Shelter should bring all electrical/ oxygen equipment with them, including oxygen concentrators. For additional information, contact the Polk County Emergency Management Division at (863) 298-7027. www.lakelandelectric.com 19 501 East Lemon Street • Lakeland, Florida 33801-5079 (863) 834-9535 • Fax (863) 834-8450 www.lakelandelectric.com 20 www.lakelandelectric.com
Similar documents
KERNELS
L A K E L A N D E L E C T R I C . C O M Lakeland Electric customers may notice something new the next time they visit www. lakelandelectric.com. They will now find information faster and easier – t...
More information