Looking Forward In The Wake Of Hurricane Beryl

With three months of the Atlantic Hurricane Season left to go this year, the damage to our area after Hurricane Beryl in July offers a good reminder to always be prepared for Mother Nature’s unpredictability.

Information is critical, especially during hurricane season. Staying up to date with your community’s local emergency management offices, the National Hurricane Center, and reliable weather sources can mean the difference between being prepared ahead of the storm or rushing to catch up in the days before.

After the storm, you will most likely need to survive on your own for several days. Essential services such as police, fire and medical personnel, disaster relief, and stores or businesses may not be available for days after a storm due to flooding, road closures, fallen debris, or power outages. Communication towers and Internet connections are also affected.

Immediately following Hurricane Beryl, Wharton County Electric Cooperative reviewed our own response to the storm and updated our emergency plans. We encourage all of our members to do the same.

Preparation is key! Every household and business on the Gulf Coast should have a plan in place for the next weather event Mother Nature sends our way.

Ready.gov and Fema.gov offer resources for emergency preparation. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Before An Outage

• Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life. e Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home.
• Review the supplies that are available in case of a power outage. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water. e Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
• Keep mobile phones and other electronics charged and gas tanks full.

During An Outage

• If you plan to use a generator, know how to operate it safely.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators, camp stoves, or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows. Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.
• Unplug all appliances and electronics so they won’t get damaged with power restoration.
• If power lines are on the ground, stay far away from them and warn others to stay away. Contact WCEC and let us know because the lines could still be live. Any power line that is dead could become energized at any moment due to power restoration or backup generators.
• Check on friends and relatives—especially children, seniors, and those with medical conditions or disabilities. These people may need to seek emergency cooling shelters.
• Go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
• Keep a first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Make sure that it includes scissors, tweezers, safety pins, aspirin, eyewash and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A freezer that is half full or full can keep foods frozen 24 to 48 hours. Foods can stay safe in an unopened refrigerator for up to four hours. If an outage lasts longer than four hours, remove and pack meat, milk and other dairy products in a cooler with ice.
• Maintain food supplies that do not require refrigeration.
• Use safe alternative food preparations. A barbecue grill is an excellent way to prepare food. Always grill outside.

After An Outage

• When in doubt, throw it out! Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
• If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. If a life depends on the refrigerated drugs, consult a doctor or pharmacist and use the medicine only until a new supply is available.

More resources are available at WCEC's Outage Center.