Chris Tackmann, General Manager & CEO
Now that summer is almost here, I welcome more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy the warm weather, especially after the cold, wet, and windy spring that we have had. Summer brings many favorite activities like cooking out with family and friends, afternoons on the water, and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life.
But summer months also make conditions right for dangerous storms. These potential weather events can cause issues with our electric system, but I want you to know that Oakdale Electric’s crews are ready and standing by to respond should power outages occur.
When major storms knock out power, our crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines. I would encourage you to also practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during storms and outages.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness, but you can visit www.ready.gov for additional resources.
- Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonperishable food, such as canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials.
- Ensure your First Aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages, and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current.
- Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener, and a portable, battery-powered radio or TV.
- Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location.
If you plan to use a generator during a prolonged outage, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Also, please make sure to contact us if you have one so that our crews are aware of it while restoring your power. More information about generators can be found on page 18 in the Plugged-In feature.
Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency information, and check Oakdale’s SmartHub app, website, and social media sites for power restoration updates.
After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. Allow ample room for our crews to safely perform their jobs, including on your property.
Advance planning for severe storms or other emergencies can reduce stress and anxiety caused by the weather event and can lessen the impact of the storm’s effects. Sign up for NOAA emergency alerts and warnings, and follow us on social media to stay abreast of power restoration efforts and other important news and information.
I hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict the weather. At Oakdale Electric Cooperative, we recommend that you act today because there is power in planning. I hope you have a safe and wonderful summer.