In support of National Preparedness Month, Duquesne Light Company encourages its customers to create a plan and be prepared for power outages. 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.
“Having an individual or family preparedness plan in place is critical should an unexpected situation arise,” said Mike Peluso, Manager of Distribution Operations at Duquesne Light. “While Duquesne Light makes every effort to restore power as quickly as possible, prolonged outages can occur, particularly during times of bad weather. Preparing for an outage is the best way to keep your family safe.”
Duquesne Light offers the following tips to help prepare before and during an outage:
Before a Power Outage
- Build an emergency preparedness kit, including a three-day supply of non-perishable food, bottled water, medication and cash.
- Always have a first-aid kit with current supplies in a convenient location.
- Place flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries in an easily accessible location.
- Charge cell phones and any battery-powered devices.
- 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.
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