BARC Offers Tips For Customers Before The Storm

 

BARC’s service area is bracing for the next winter storm event making its way to Virginia. BARC’s management team, field crews and staff have already begun preparations to respond if necessary to power outages.

All BARC crews will be sent home for the weekend with staged trucks as the area expects impacts from this major winter storm beginning Sunday afternoon, January 16th, and lasting into Monday morning. Additionally, BARC has four contractor crews arriving Saturday evening to be on stand-by to help with restoration if needed.

Current weather models suggest BARC’s service area could potentially be hit with 9-15 inches of snow and a coating of ice and freezing temperatures. These weather conditions increase the possibility of widespread power outages. BARC is urging its consumers to prepare now for this storm, considering the possibility of widespread power outages and the inability to travel. BARC continues to monitor weather forecasts and suggests consumers remain weather aware beginning Sunday.

BARC is asking consumers to consider the following for outage preparation:

  • Consumers can download BARC’s mobile app and setup account information prior to Sunday to report outages as phone lines could become overwhelmed in the event of widespread outages;
  • Fully charge electronic devices leading up to precipitation;
  • Prepare a home outage kit, to include flashlights, extra batteries, blankets, canned or packaged foods; bottled water; a first-aid kit; hygiene products; and prescriptions and medications
  • Ensure any alternative heating sources have enough supply, such as wood for wood stoves;
  • If consumers are considering using a generator, be sure to practice generator safety;
  • Make arrangements for alternative housing, if necessary, especially for consumers on life-sustaining equipment that requires electricity.

Additional information about BARC’s outage preparation and restoration process will be shared in the coming days.

If outages occur, BARC will provide regular outage and restoration updates on their website www.barcelectric.com and on BARC’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BARCElectricCooperative/.

 

 

 

The News-Gazette

The News-Gazette Corp.
P.O. Box 1153
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 463-3113

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