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MidAmerican Energy Issues Storm Safety Tips in Conjunction With Iowa’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 2-6
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For more information, contact:
Tina Potthoff, Media Relations Manager, at 515-281-2585
Tim Grabinski, Director, Communication Planning, at 515-281-2343
DES MOINES, Iowa – (April 3, 2012) – The spring and summer storm season brings the potential for electric outages, as wind, rain and lightning can bring down trees and power lines.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2011 was an active year for tornadoes across the U.S., with a total of 1,691 tornadoes reported across the country, more than any other year on record except for 2004. Several tornado records were broken in 2011, including the greatest number of tornadoes in a single month with 758 tornadoes in April 2011 and the greatest daily total with 200 tornadoes on April 27, 2011.
In conjunction with Iowa’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 2-6, MidAmerican Energy Company offers the following tips for staying safe during and after a storm.
- If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and don’t touch it. From a safe distance, call MidAmerican Energy immediately at 800-799-4443.
- If you lose power to your home during a storm, check your fuses or circuit breakers first, then call MidAmerican Energy.
- Never assume someone else has reported a power outage. If you lose power during a storm, call MidAmerican Energy at 800-799-4443. Your information helps the company’s electric outage management system pinpoint the source of an outage and speed the restoration process.
- Use caution when stepping outside your home during a power outage. A downed power line may be just outside your door or may be hidden by brush or debris. Use extra caution picking up metal debris, such as awnings or metal roofing, which may be in contact with a hidden downed power line.
- Never use a grill, space heater or portable generator intended for outside use inside your home. Similarly, never attempt to heat your home with a gas range. All can emit deadly carbon monoxide.
- Keep fresh batteries in flashlights and lanterns for use during emergencies, and have extra batteries on hand.
- Use caution and common sense in the placement of candles and oil lamps for light. Never leave candles burning when you go to bed. Keep them away from drapes and other materials that could catch fire. Avoid placing candles on low tables where pets or children could knock them off.
- If a power line comes down on a vehicle while someone is inside, that person should stay in the vehicle until utility crews arrive and make the situation safe.
Additional information about the causes of power outages, preparing for a storm, and how MidAmerican Energy restores power is available in the Storm Center on MidAmerican Energy’s website, www.midamericanenergy.com/storm. This week, MidAmerican Energy will issue severe weather safety tips on the company’s on the company’s Twitter and Facebook pages, which also can be accessed on MidAmerican Energy’s website.
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