Electricity powers the everyday moments families count on: a warm dinner, a load of laundry before school, a comfortable home. September is National Preparedness Month and Pepco is encouraging customers to take a few simple steps now to protect those routines before severe weather and other emergencies happen. The awareness campaign, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), highlights the importance of having an emergency plan, staying informed and being prepared for both natural and man-made disasters.
Pepco provides resources and information to help customers stay safe before, during, and after severe weather events. We also strengthen and modernize the local energy grid so customers experience fewer interruptions – and get power back faster when outages do happen. Today, outages occur about 51 percent less often than they did a decade ago, and Pepco has prevented nearly 112,000 outages so far this year. For customers, that means fewer spoiled groceries, fewer disrupted work days and fewer nights without heat or air conditioning.
While these investments are making a difference, severe weather can still cause extended outages — and having a plan in place makes a real difference for your household. Pepco recommends customers take these steps now:
Build a Family Emergency Kit with essential supplies, including:
- Flashlights and fresh batteries. Use flashlights instead of candles to reduce fire risk.
- A battery-operated radio, a fully charged cellphone with a car charger, and a corded telephone.
- One gallon of bottled water per person per day, along with shelf-stable food and pet food.
- Cash, first aid supplies, blankets for colder weather, and refills of important medications.
- Keep your vehicle ready by maintaining a full gas tank or a fully charged electric vehicle.
Prepare Your Home:
- Have a plan to keep refrigerated medications cold during an extended outage.
- Protect electronics and appliances by plugging them into surge protectors.
- Ensure medical equipment is fully charged with backup power options available.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help preserve food during an outage.
- Follow the rule: “When in doubt, throw it out” when evaluating perishable foods after an outage. See the U.S Department of Agriculture’s guidance on food safety.
Generator Safety:
Make sure to use generators properly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Never use them inside your home or in an attached garage.
- Have them installed outside, in well-ventilated, dry areas, at least 20 feet from your house. They should point away from your home’s air intakes.
Additional Tips
- Keep a list of emergency phone numbers, including Pepco’s outage line (1-877-Pepco-62) and remember – always assume power lines are live and never touch a power line.
