Weathering the Storm

National Weather Service [5 PM Sunday – 4/12] **SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK LIKELY TONIGHT** The risk for tornadoes and widespread damaging winds exists for all of north and central Georgia tonight (after 8 PM) into early Monday morning. Stay tuned to your local media & be prepared to quickly seek shelter if a warning is issued. Large hail and torrential rainfall may also accompany the severe storms.

WEATHER UPDATES

National Weather Service

NWS on YouTube (regular updates posted)

13WMAZ.com

13WMAZ on Facebook

SIGN UP FOR ALERTS

📱❗️Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are one good way to receive Tornado Warnings 🌪️ on your phone if one is issued for your area. Here is a basic guide to ensure that your phone’s WEA alerts are enabled. For more info on WEA: ready.gov/alerts.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Houston County Emergency Management Agency

Houston Co EMA on Facebook

Another great way to receive weather alerts! Follow the link below to sign up for CodeRED notifications from Houston County. Make sure you select weather alerts when signing up to receive them immediately after the NWS issues them. SIGN UP HERE

REPORT POWER OUTAGES

Flint Members, be weather aware! Sunday’s weather forecast shows an enhanced risk for severe storms and strong winds for our service area. The most threatening weather is expected for Sunday evening through the early morning hours of Monday.

Call our outage line 1-888-354-6836 to report any outages. Please do not report outages through Facebook or Twitter as our social media channels are not linked to our outage reporting system.

Georgia Power remains committed to providing its 2.6 million customers safe and reliable service during the COVID-19 pandemic, while offering important safety tips and storm resources as storms are predicted to impact the state over the weekend. Spring is one of the most active seasons for severe thunderstorms with lightning, hail and tornadoes, though severe weather can happen at any time.

Storm Response Pandemic Preparations
Georgia Power constantly monitors changing weather conditions and is prepared to respond to service interruptions that might occur because of severe weather while taking proactive actions including special “distancing” and other precautions to help protect customers and employees from the spread of the virus.

The company’s investments in Smart Grid technology and increased automation in recent years mean an increased ability to more quickly to isolate outages to smaller numbers of customers and reroute power remotely for improved reliability. In addition, the company’s comprehensive pandemic plans help ensure readiness of the critical personnel and facilities necessary to continue providing the safe and reliable energy customers expect and deserve.

In the field, the power restoration process includes these key steps:
• Assessing Conditions – Responding crews – or in major storms, damage assessment teams – work to identify trouble spots and the resources needed to fix them, which could involve coming onto customers’ property. Crews will employ appropriate distancing efforts and customers are asked to keep children and pets indoors and maintain safe distances from crew members as well.
• Making Repairs – Georgia Power crews focus on repairs that return power to the greatest number of customers in the least amount of time.

Ways you can help keep workers safe while they work in the field:
• If you see utility crews, please stay back a minimum of six feet – much more if they are working.
• Please, no cookies or treats for workers during this time. Give a wave or thumbs up to workers you see. They’ll understand your gratitude as they work to keep the lights on.
• Don’t touch utility trucks or equipment. Electric providers are operating under modified conditions to keep workers safe, which includes additional cleaning and sanitation of tools and equipment.
• Post your appreciation for lineworkers on social media using the hashtag #ThankaLineman. April is lineworkers appreciation month.

Storm Safety
Georgia Power reminds customers to keep safety first during severe weather and offers the following storm tips:
• Before a Storm: Stay aware and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit, unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power.
• During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity – appliances, metal objects and water.
• After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off power lines or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage.

Remote Customer Resources
Customers can subscribe to Georgia Power’s YouTube Storm Channel for the latest safety videos and can connect with Georgia Power on Facebook and Twitter for helpful information every day, and restoration updates during severe weather. Georgia Power offers the following videos, tools and tips to help customers prepare for severe weather:
• Outage Alerts – Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and updates via text message.
• Outage Maps – Customers can follow progress on outages in their town or across the state on the company’s outage map available at www.georgiapower.com/storm online or on the Georgia Power mobile app on your smartphone.
• Build an Emergency Kit – A well-built kit should contain enough supplies to get you and your family through three days without electricity or running water.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).