Kentucky Power Ice Storm Preparation
Tuesday, February 9 at 3 p.m.
Summary
Weather forecasts are calling for severe weather to move into the Kentucky Power territory beginning Wednesday morning and continuing in some areas through Thursday. Ice is the biggest threat at this time which can cause significant damage to electrical facilities, causing power outages and providing unsafe travel conditions.
Storm Response Efforts
In addition to Kentucky Power’s crews and business partners, nearly 220 additional personnel will arrive in the area this evening and tomorrow to be ready to respond should outages occur. In the event of outages, restoration efforts will be an all-hands-on-deck approach and crews will work until every customer is restored.
Damage assessment is the initial step in power restoration once it is safe for crews to travel. Restoration is completed through a prioritized process: 1) essential facilities such as hospitals are restored first; 2) then large circuits affecting the most customers; 3) and then to other homes and businesses on smaller outage cases.
Customer Information
While Kentucky Power crews prepare, customers are urged to do the same. Make sure you have an emergency plan for your family and elderly relatives or neighbors.
Assemble an emergency outage kit that includes the following items, at a minimum:
- Charge your cell phone and other devices
- Have on hand flashlights and fresh batteries
- Have extra water for drinking and cooking
- Portable heater (oil or gas)*
- Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
- Manufacturers’ instructions for power-operated equipment such as the garage door, generator
- Important medicines you need to take. Better to locate them while the power is still on.
* Caution: Some portable heaters can cause fires or other safety hazards when not used as specified by the manufacturer. Be sure to review the safety specifications of your specific model before using it during an outage.
For More Information
Customers can report outages and check the latest restoration information for their account anytime at kentuckypower.com/outages or by downloading the Kentucky Power mobile app at kentuckypower.com/app. The outage map is updated every 15 minutes. Restoration information is added when known. Click on “View Outage Map” to access the map on a computer, cell phone, or tablet. Customers can report outages online, on their mobile device or to our Customer Operations Center at 1-800-572-1113.
Customers also can get specific information about outages via text message and/or email by subscribing to Kentucky Power outage alerts. To sign up, please visit www.kentuckypower.com/alerts. Information also is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyPower and on Twitter at twitter.com/KentuckyPower or @KentuckyPower.
Safety Message
Stay away from all downed lines or sparking equipment, and keep children and pets away from fallen lines and anything the lines may touch.
For everyone’s health and safety with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, please do not approach power company personnel in the field.
Next Update:
Wednesday, February 10, 10 a.m.