Co-op urges members to prepare for Winter Storm Gianna

The National Weather Services is issuing a Winter Storm Watch for our local area ahead of Winter Storm Gianna. The East Coast storm this weekend is expected to intensify into a bomb cyclone, with heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding from the nor’easter that will affect the Carolinas to New England.

Portions of A&N Electric Cooperative’s local service area are expected to receive significant snowfall from the storm. Early projections anticipate the local area receiving as much as 5 to 8 inches of snow. Strong winds associated with Winter Storm Gianna have the potential to cause some scattered power outages. Snowfall could lead to hazardous travel conditions, particularly during periods of heavier snow.

Snow from the storm is expected to spread into our region on late Friday with the bulk of the snow expected through Saturday and into Sunday. Winds are expected to be heaviest Saturday night into Sunday morning.

A&N Electric Cooperative personnel will be ready to respond to any weather-related power outages as they arise. The cooperative is urging members to prepare for the possibility of some scattered power outages through the duration of the storm.

Poor road conditions have the potential to prolong outage restorations.

Residents in the cooperative’s service territory should continue to monitor official forecast updates as the weekend approaches.

REPORTING OUTAGES

Co-op members should report an outage through one of the following methods:

Through the cooperative’s SmartHub app
Text OUT to (855) 940-4016
Call (757) 787-9750

Do not report power outages or hazardous situations through social media. Please use one of the three options above, which are connected to our outage management system.

DOWNED POWER LINES

The cooperative anticipates the possibility of some downed power lines due to the nature of this storm. Co-op members are urged to maintain a safe distance from any downed lines and to report the issue to the cooperative or 911 immediately. For safety, treat any downed line as if it was an energized power line.

Vehicles should not attempt to drive over fallen power lines across roadways. Instead, maintain a safe distance, report the issue and wait for a qualified electric line crew to remove the hazard.

CHECK YOUR BREAKER

In the event you lose power, please check your main outside breaker (if applicable) to ensure an overloaded circuit didn’t trip, resulting in power loss to only your home. Reset any tripped breakers as necessary. If you remain without power, please report it. Checking your breakers prior to reporting an outage can cut down on unnecessary service calls during larger-scale outages.

PORTABLE GENERATORS

A portable generator may be very beneficial during an extended outage. Generators can also pose serious safety hazards to you and to others. Be sure to follow all safety instructions provided by the manufacturer. Generators produce carbon monoxide, please follow these safety instructions: