NEWS RELEASE
Date September 14, 2017
For Release Upon Receipt
Contacts Jessica Rock
412.430.3404
Duquesne Light Company Joins FEMA in Encouraging Customers to #PlanAhead
September is National Preparedness Month
PITTSBURGH – In light of the events that continue to unfold in Texas and Florida during a particularly volatile 2017 hurricane season, Duquesne Light Company encourages its customers to use National Preparedness Month as an impetus to develop a home emergency plan for any type of event that could cause a prolonged power outage. National Preparedness Month, as recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is a nationwide campaign that creates awareness about emergency, severe weather and disaster readiness.
“We have a lot of empathy for the many people who have been impacted by epic recent weather events,” said Mike Peluso, Manager of Distribution Operations at Duquesne Light. “While our location in western Pennsylvania typically protects us from these types of major occurrences, we encourage our customers to make some practical preparations in the event that a prolonged electric outage occurs at any time throughout the year.”
Duquesne Light offers the following tips to help prepare before and during an outage:
Before a Power Outage
- Place flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries in an easily accessible location.
- Keep a three-day supply of non-perishable food, bottled water and medication on hand for each person in the household.
- Always have a first-aid kit with current supplies in a convenient location.
- Use surge protectors to protect sensitive electronic equipment.
- In the winter, have an alternate source of heating, along with fuel, available at all times.
During a Power Outage
- Report outages or potentially dangerous situations to Duquesne Light by calling 1-888-393-7000
- Do not touch downed or hanging power lines or anything in contact with them.
- Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36 to 48 hours if the door remains closed.
- Disconnect or turn off appliances that were on when the outage occurred. Leave a light on so you will know when power is restored.
For more outage preparedness tips, visit DuquesneLight.com/outages/storm-plan. To learn more about National Preparedness month, visit Ready.gov/September or follow along on social media by searching the hashtag #PlanAhead.
About Duquesne Light Company
Duquesne Light Company is committed to more than keeping the lights on; it powers the moments in its customers’ lives. As a next generation energy company, Duquesne Light Company’s nearly 1,500 employees are dedicated to delivering reliable and safe energy to more than a half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.
###