Hurricane Ian’s devastating impact on Florida should serve to raise awareness about how much a hurricane can threaten lives, property, and critical infrastructure.While we hope we won’t see a storm as powerful as Ian make landfall in the United States again this year, the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs until November 30. So, if you haven’t already completed hurricane preparations, now is the time to get it done. That’s one of the primary messages behind the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction on October 13.
Danella Will Help Get You Back in Business
As soon as a storm threatens the United States, Danella’s storm team will be mobilized to help with all aspects of restoration. In many cases, the team will be deployed prior to the storm’s arrival – positioned in a strategic location so they can get to work within hours after the storm has passed to begin repairing electrical poles and lines.Our specialized fleet is ready to address virtually every aspect of storm restoration and includes bucket trucks, digger derricks, trailers, utility trucks, dump trucks, crane trucks, and even a Mobile Command Center to help coordinate and direct our response. Our storm response teams work 7 days a week until power is restored. Danella’s storm team prepares for large events like hurricanes, but they’re ready for smaller events too, from summer thunderstorms to winter ice storms. Read about our response to a severe thunderstorm outbreak in Iowa here.
How You Can Get Ready: Your Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
- Develop a Plan. Don’t wait until the storm is at your doorstep to plan what steps you will take in the event of a storm. Where will you go if you need to leave? How will you get there? Who is driving? What will you do with your pets? What supplies do you need if you decide to ride out the storm?
- Gather Supplies. Make sure you have an emergency supply kit that includes a food and water supply, necessary medicines, emergency power sources such as flashlights and cell phone chargers (make sure you have extra batteries), personal items, some emergency cash and any important documents including your driver’s license and any other identification you need.
- Fuel Up Your Vehicles. Make sure your cars are full of gas in advance of the storm in case you need to evacuate. Fuel may become scarce prior to the storm and especially once the storm hits.
- Prepare Your Property. Clear outdoor spaces of anything that can move around during the storm including lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, trash cans and lawn ornaments. Cover up windows and doors. Fill up clean water containers with drinking water in case you lose your water supply during the storm. Check your carbon monoxide detector’s battery to help prevent CO poisoning.
- Make Your Decision: Stay or Go? Pay attention to local authorities and evacuate if directed to do so. If you have time, unplug your appliances, and turn off the power and water to your home. Listen to direction for the best routes to avoid traffic delays or flooding. Do not return until told it is safe to do so.
- Stay Inside, Away from Windows. If you choose to ride out the storm, stay inside your home away from windows. Have a plan to retreat to an interior room with no windows such as a closet if it becomes necessary. When you’re able to go outside, stay away from any downed power lines. Always assume a downed power line is live and dangerous. Remember a downed power line can energize objects around it like fences or lawn furniture – so stay as far away as possible.
- Use Generators Safely. When using a generator, make sure the generator is outside away from your home. Never use a gas-powered generator indoors as carbon monoxide can accumulate in your home. If you have a wired-in generator, please install a manual transfer switch. This helps protect the workers restoring power in your area from electricity that gets back-fed from your generator back to the grid. If you do not have a manual transfer switch, turn the main breaker off to alleviate this hazard.
Do your part to get ready for the next big storm and know that Danella is prepared to be there for you – to help restore power and critical infrastructure as quickly as possible. Learn more about Danella’s storm response here.
RELATED: Danella storm response team helps devastated Sanibel, Florida. Watch video.
Visit our Telecommunications Services page for more information.